Comments on: What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t

By: Fobos

Fobos — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:42:15 +0000

Fobos…

[...]Moore to the Point – What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t[...]…

By: Short Sales In Utah Home

Short Sales In Utah Home — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:01:16 +0000

Short Sales In Utah Home…

[...]Moore to the Point – What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t[...]…

By: Claude Cunningham

Claude Cunningham — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:48:49 +0000

You don’t really know what you’re talking about until you consider the real feelings of the wounded party, the pleasure and power that they feel they are giving up by forgiving. It’s about punishment, isn’t it, about being safe in treating the other party with contempt, in relegating them to thing-hood. Basically forgiveness climbs down from the heady Sovereignty of refusing to forgiven.
Real forgiving means allowing God to take veangeance - it is “factoring” the debt to One who is much better equipped to collect it, and certainly who pays us a rich purse for the debt He buys from us.
I don’t think Jesus was forgiving the real guilty parties on the Cross - he was forgiving the ignorant soldiers doing their job. The essence of God’s forgiveness is about whether sinners “Know what they do”. And He understands that aspect far better than we do - and our need for forgiveness is something we need to trust to Him, by accepting His rules.

By: Points of Interests {This Week’s Must Reads} | Once Upon a Truth

Points of Interests {This Week’s Must Reads} | Once Upon a Truth — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:53:28 +0000

[...] piece on why women should stop submitting to men by Russell Moore and while you’re there catch this one on [...]

By: Grab bag « Words of Grace

Grab bag « Words of Grace — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:43:07 +0000

[...] Johnson offers “4 reasons to give thanks when hurt by sin.” And in a related post, Russell Moore relates forgiveness to trusting [...]

By: Bryant Owens

Bryant Owens — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:56:07 +0000

It is worth noting that forgiveness does not require passivity. The new testament does not require the Christian to maintain abusive relationships with fellow Christians. Forgiving often times requires to agree not to agree.

I think Dr Moore is correct in pointing out that peace come in conflict when we realize that the battle belongs to the Lord. Resting in God’s sovereignty to be THE judge both brings peace in knowing that I am not responsible for determining the consequences of my combatant and humbling in realizing that I too will face judgment in how I forgive or hold on to bitterness.

By: Lincoln – 22 November 2011 | Trust AND Obey

Lincoln – 22 November 2011 | Trust AND Obey — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:09:57 +0000

[...] in linking to noteworthy articles from other blogs and websites. What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t by Russell D. Moore A prisoner of war who forgives his captor or a terminated pastor who forgives a [...]

By: Monday Links and Bullets 11.21.11 « pastorkevinb

Monday Links and Bullets 11.21.11 « pastorkevinb — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:15:44 +0000

[...] –What forgiveness is, what it isn’t. [...]

By: Michael Snow

Michael Snow — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:40:48 +0000

At the beginning of this century, a Christianity Today editorial noted that some basic Christian virtues, like forgiveness, have “undergone a metamorphosis that makes them nearly unrecognizable.” With this one popular word, the zeitgeist tries to cover all the bases except for one. Reconciliation, a key companion to forgiveness, falls to the wayside, a victim in today’s therapeutic market.

The key context in Jesus’ admonition about “70 x 7” concerns our “brother.” He never tells us to forgive our enemies. He tells us to love them.

The oft quoted Scripture, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” is also ripped from its context and made the standard rule rather than the exception. Jesus does not know his executioners. They are simply fulfilling their civic duty in carrying out the commands of their superiors. He asks his Father to forgive them “on the grounds of their ignorance; their sin is unwitting–a motif familiar in Luke” (I. Howard Marshall, NIGTC).

And Jesus’ rebuke to Peter did not rest on future judgment. He had taught his disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute. The sword was not the way of His Kingdom. “They that live by the sword will die by the sword” was not a ‘just wait, they will get theirs in the end’ remark.

No, our problem with forgiveness is that we want it without repentance. We want therapy, not reconciliation.

Contrary to the spirit of our times, C.E.B. Cranfield notes that forgiveness and reconciliation “though distinguishable, are inseparable,” that forgiveness “necessarily involves reconciliation.” And in the gospel of cheap grace, that fragment of gospel that is missing Jesus’ teaching about repentance, that ain’t gonna happen.

By: Monday Morning Mind Dump | Student Pastor Life

Monday Morning Mind Dump | Student Pastor Life — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:18:36 +0000

[...] Thanksgiving maybe a time of forgiving – Russell Moore’s thoughts on forgiveness [...]

By: The Truth About Forgiveness | Bob Pittenger

The Truth About Forgiveness | Bob Pittenger — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:56:53 +0000

[...] hope this insightful article will help as you seek to show forth the forgiveness of Christ. Click this link to read Dr. Moore’s blog. Share this:EmailPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in [...]

By: Michael Snow

Michael Snow — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:48:54 +0000

In the first year of this millenium, Christianity Today editorialized that some virtues, like forgiveness, “have undergone a metamorphis that makes them nearly unrecognizable.”

The leap outside the context of 70 X 7, which is explicitly about our relationship with our “brother,” to the subject of enemies illustrates that change. Jesus never told us to forgive our enemies. He told us to love them. On the cross, he prayed for forgiveness from His Father for those who were unwittingly crucifying their Lord and Savour in obedience to the commands of their superiors. [See I. Howard Marshall, Luke.]

The modern Christian swallows a truly liberal definition, where forgiveness swallows up other important concepts and becomes therapy for his existential angst. Repentance disappears as a key element in Jesus teaching on the subject. Not a hint is given that, as C.E.B. Cranfield writes, forgiveness and reconciliation, “though distinguishable, are inseperable.”

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Prayer-Forgiveness-Michael-Snow/dp/159467664X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321681496&sr=1-1

By: What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t | Time For Discernment

What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t | Time For Discernment — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:29:41 +0000

[...] http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/11/17/what-forgiveness-is-and-isnt/ Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in KFD. Bookmark the permalink. ← Humilitas [...]

By: Terri Deviney

Terri Deviney — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:40:45 +0000

…..but if forgiveness is real then I don’t think we should do it thinking God will “revenge” later. I know that makes it easier at first, but God keeps working on me to forgive and really pray for that person and let go more each day. This is hard when the world and your flesh says you are “justified.” Forgiveness seems to be a process rather than a one time event……

By: Justin Garcia

Justin Garcia — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:52:32 +0000

Thanks for the reminder. To rest in God’s justice (whether at the cross or future judgment) is to have peace with others.

By: Russell Moore on Forgiveness: « Daniel Darling, Author, Pastor, Speaker

Russell Moore on Forgiveness: « Daniel Darling, Author, Pastor, Speaker — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:26:42 +0000

[...] the whole thing here: Moore to the Point – What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t. Related postsFriday Five- Brian GoinsWhy Campaigning is Easy, but Governing is HardJohn Chrysostom [...]

By: Mark Reimer

Mark Reimer — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:59:57 +0000

While I appreciate the exhortation to forgive, also have some questions regarding this post. Does Jesus really tell us to forgive our enemies? Is forgiveness merely acknowledging (as important as this is) that vengeance belongs to the Lord? Certainly the Christian life does not allow for vengeance, but is not harboring bitterness the same as forgiveness? While God does not forgive unrepentant sinners, his wrath against them is fully just and right. So then, there is a way to withhold forgiveness yet remain righteous. Are we not called to follow God’s example in forgiveness (Eph 4:32)? Consider Luke 1:3-4. Notice that the condition of forgiveness here is repentance. My main point is that I think there exists a distinction between forgiveness (a relational term between two parties involving the cancellation of debts) and the importance of trusting God’s sovereignty and his ultimate justice in the world. Thoughts?

By: Eliza Huie

Eliza Huie — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:57:06 +0000

Forgiving does not mean excusing. Many people seem to think it does. ‘The man has broken a solemn promise.’ Exactly: that is precisely what you have to forgive. This doesn’t mean you must necessarily believe his next promise. It does mean that you must make every effort to kill every trace of resentment in your own heart- every wish to humiliate or hurt him or to pay him out.
Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse, after all allowances have been made, and seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness and malice, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it. That, and only that, is forgiveness; and that we can always have from God if we ask for it.
The injured parties do not forget even if they forgive.
The work of forgiveness has to be done over and over again. We forgive, we mortify our resentment; a week later some chain of thought carries us back to the original offence and we discover the old resentment blazing away as if nothing had been done about it at all. We need to forgive our brother seventy times seven not only for 490 offences but for one offence.
This is hard. We are also called to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life- to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son- how can we do it? Only I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers ‘ Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.’
To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.
“On Forgiveness” By C.S.Lewis (Fern-seed and Elephants, and Other Essays on Christianity pp.42-43)

By: Worth Reading–November 18, 2011 « Gospel Encouragement For Everyday Life

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:17:58 +0000

[...] is a great article from Russell Moore on [...]

By: This and That 11-18-11 « The Thompsonian Times

This and That 11-18-11 « The Thompsonian Times — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:01:21 +0000

[...] What Forgiveness is and isn’t – When we forgive, we are confessing that vengeance is God’s (Rom. 12:19). We don’t need to exact justice from a fellow believer because justice has already fallen at the cross. We don’t need to exact vengeance from an unbeliever because we know the sin against us will be judged in hell or, more hopefully, when the offender unites himself to the One who is “the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2). – Russell Moore [...]

By: What I Read Online – 11/18/2011 (a.m.) | Emeth Aletheia

What I Read Online – 11/18/2011 (a.m.) | Emeth Aletheia — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:35:55 +0000

[...] Moore to the Point – What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t [...]