Beware of the Unforgiving Forgiven
Jun 6, 2020 7:44:39 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jun 6, 2020 7:44:39 GMT -5
Beware of the Unforgiving Forgiven
How many times have you forgiven someone and expected appreciation, only to have that person very cunningly feign to accept the forgiveness and then dig his meat hooks deep into you in many diverse and subtle ways? It seems inexplicable and confusing, doesn't it? After all, why isn't the person showing appreciation instead of viciously striving to do you harm?
The confusion might come from feeling that the forgiven shares your viewpoint concerning the matter. You see, the forgiven person might not feel that he deserved your condemnation to begin with. Instead, he might deeply resent the hurt emotions you forced him to undergo and might be perceiving you as an ingrate who should have shown more appreciation. How dare you have treated him that way! You must be made to pay in order for his sense of justice to be satisfied. So what better way than to feign humbleness by appearing to accept your forgiveness in order to remain within striking range?
In such a case, you are your worse enemy. Why? Because you are exposing yourself to harm via an over-trustful attitude. Trustful of what? Trusting that the forgiven appreciates the forgiveness and will therefore not adopt a vendetta mentality. It involves the refusal to believe that the forgiven person is actually striving might and main to do you in via seemingly friendly and helpful but very hypocritical ways. In short, the assumption the individual adheres to his same moral standards. Of course, that would be fine in an ideal world, but unfortunately, in this fallen world, full of fallen people, it just doesn't work that way.
Since this is the case, does it mean you should never forgive? Not at all. It simply means not to assume that the forgiven appreciates your forgiveness. It means you should wisely remain vigilantly on the lookout for any attempts at revenge.
It means remaining alert to the crafty possibility will reduce the chances of being victimized while being baffled as to why those nasties always seem to be associated with the forgiven.
In fact, it might even entail forgiving but maintaining a safe distance just in case. After all, Jesus told us to be very careful. This means keeping ourselves from being too trusting of fallen human nature and staying out of reach.
Matthew 10:16 ►
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.