Forgiving the Unforgivable Taps a Divine Source

Asking people to forgive the unforgivable borders on being offensive. I realize that. But Jesus' perspective on life was often offensive because he saw things from a different perspective. If we can gain that perspective it might transform the entire discussion. That's my hope.

Tapping into a Divine Source

Forgiving the unforgivable requires tapping into a different source. Our human capabilities quickly dry up when called to this level of forgiveness.  We are right in believing it is impossible, if...we look at ourselves. I’m suggesting that we tap into the life that God offers us.Jesus referred to it as being "born from above" or eternal life. The apostle Paul referred to it as resurrected life. To gain this new life requires letting go of our former life. It’s the difference between being connected to a house faucet or a fire hydrant.

Abundance and Scarcity

I’ve written in another post about the difference between abundance and scarcity mindsets. The person who says they can’t forgive lives out the scarcity mindset.  They believe  that certain offenses use up all grace and then some. They focus on the enormity of an offense compared to our inadequacy to handle it.The person who is willing to forgive the unforgivable lives out an abundance mindset. They believe that there is a never-ending storehouse of grace for both them and their offender. No act of humanity can overwhelm the abundance of God's grace. He is like a fountain that is always gushing more water to dry land.

God's Strength Made Perfect in Weakness

I don't mean to over simplify complex realities. But at the same time I don't want to make them harder than they are. When faced with our weakness we typically despair. But from a biblical viewpoint that could be our defining moment.The apostle Paul struggled with his weakness until God spoke to him...

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 

Paul then comments...

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight  in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,  in persecutions,  in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I don't think there is any trick or magic to forgiving the unforgivable.  What it requires is an utter dependence on God...a willingness to tell God that you can't do it but you believe he can. It may take moments, months or years. But in him it is possible. God does through us what we can't do ourselves.

Forgiving the Unforgivable  is a Risk

Forgiving the unforgivable is a journey whose sight is set on God.  It’s a risk. Faith  always is...like a trapeze artist trusting that their catcher will grab them as they hang in thin air. But the rewards are high. Refusing to forgive is a dead-end because it relies purely on oneself. It offers nothing to the offender or the offended. Surely God has more for us than that. Watch short videos of people telling their stories of dealing with forgiveness here.

A Final Word

Short blog posts on such serious matters risk being trite and simplistic. That's not my intention. I ventured into this topic because what I've read lately about forgiveness in our culture has reduced forgiveness to a self-serving mechanism to separate oneself from an offender.  That definition is inadequate and I wanted to bring some balance.For what it's worth I hope these posts have helped. I realize that there are large holes to fill in such a brief discussion. But that's what you are here for!  Please bring balance, correction and affirmation to what you've read here. It will benefit us all.Backtrack to read the entire thread. Please forward on Facebook if you found this discussion helpful.

Related articles

• Forgiving the Unforgivable (readingremy.com)
• The Difference Between A Scarcity and Abundance Mentality (readingremy.com)