It is said the tongue is wicked. We curse and bless with it. We lie and repent with it. It creates hurt and tragedy, and it can as much bring healing or revelation.
In as much written word is similar. It can defend or attack, create hate or inspire love. We live by written laws, and by them condemn and justify.
Having said this now, I ask you to consider the following question:
If there was no word for forgiveness, what action would express it?
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My daily prayer, I say it in my head, I say it often. The voice is my head is mine, the words it speaks are in my native language. I sometimes mix up the wording, and have to restart the prayer. In that prayer, I say in my head, "forgive me, as I forgive others".
I say it in a way that means 'I ask forgiveness from you, because I have obeyed, and been forgiving of others. The word for forgiveness represents something, what does it represent?
On the internet, I found this worldly explanation of what defines forgiveness:
Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. ... Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, nor does it mean condoning or excusing offenses.
So what I gain from this, is the world considers forgiveness to have its basis in emotional stability. Meaning, my emotions are negative towards you, and forgiveness allows me to suspend that negativity, so I can be free of it, while still holding judgement over you.
The pre-Christian(Judaic) view on forgiveness teaches that because humans have been given free will, they are responsible for their own actions. If they commit an action which is wrong, then they must seek forgiveness. Forgiveness can only be accepted from the victim. Jews place great emphasis on teshuva(repentance).
So what I gain from this is that forgiveness is an act of free will, just as the act that needs forgiving, was an act of free will. This does not consider that the one who needs to be forgiven, should no longer act in such a way, nor does it consider that what replaces the acts that needs forgiving should be replaced with sincere acts worthy of that forgiveness.
Which brings me to the lessons of forgiveness which Jesus taught. James speaks of bearing fruit worthy of repentance. Peter was told to forgive not just seven times, but seven times seventy. Christians are forgiving because we believe that spiritually our lives are forfeit under grace, and the ability to forgive echoes the forgiveness we have in Christ by his blood.
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So then, what is forgiveness beyond the word itself?
As believers, we forgive acts against us with loving acts in return. We show kindness to the bitter, we love those who hate us, we show patience with those who are rash and impatient, we do good thing for those who have done bad, we are gentle with the abusive, we are peaceful when set upon by aggression, we are faithful when others have doubt, we find joy and celebrate it with thanks when others only express sorrow and despair, and we have self control when others bring us their reckless behavior. -
So instead of reacting emotionally, or holding judgement, we bear loving fruit in the moment. And the same as when we are forgiven by another, we bear these fruit and do not return to the acts that required their forgiveness.
So when we ask God for forgiveness, what should we be doing? Aligning ourselves to his will, and seeking these holy fruit, these states of perfect love, so we can have that strength to act on. So perfect forgiveness is identifiable by the fruits it supplies.
I wrote this because there is a spiritual maturity in overcoming the use of the tongue amd the reliance on written word to provide loving ways. Action speaks louder than words. Acts of forgiveness are no different.
Consider this. Pray.
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