Forgiveness and Forgetting

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

Dunemus@aol.com aka Marlon wrote:

>I must comply with this statement.  I have often said that I have ever
> experienced more hurt from any other source than I have from the >church itself.  And though not necessarily proud of it,  the things >that have happened to me in the church have caused me to consider >whether or not to continue being saved.  Many nights my tears have made >the pillow too wet to sleep on.  I have even wondered if God wouldn't >just take me home.  And what really seems to get to you,  is the fact >that it always comes from those who you would never expect.  Often it >comes from the top down to the bottom.  You are left bewildered.  You >think to yourself "If I can't even peace and understanding in the >church,  where can I find it?" Just wondering if anyone else has had >this same experience.

Dave responds:
I've learned that people are not worth me losing my salvation over. If
people don't like us, that is their problem, not ours. Jesus said that
we would be hated for His names sake. They hated Him without a cause, so
why should it surprise us when we're spoken about in a negative manner,
especially when it's not true. Consider the following verses:

Ps 41:9
9	Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my
bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Ps 55:12-14
12	For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne
it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me;
then I would have hid myself from him:
13	But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14	We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in
company.

Zech 13:6
6	And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then
he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my
friends.

And Jesus commanded (not suggested) us:

Luke 6:27-28
27	But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them
which hate you,
28	Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you.

Rom 12:20-21
20	Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21	Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

What to do when faced with circumstances:

1 Pet 4:12-13
12	Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13	But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy.

James 1:2-3
2	My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3	Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Conclusion? Sure...most of the hurt comes from those we know personally.
Very rarely do hurts come from people we don't know. I've listed
severals scriptures that show how we are to react towards situations
that we are confronted with. 

It's easy to shout for joy when everything is going good. But what about
when things don't go good. What are we to do? The Bible says "Count it
all joy!!!" That's the time to shout! When things aren't going well. It
takes faith to be able to forgive. 

Even our Lord was betrayed by a disciple He hand picked. Even Peter
denied the Lord three times. Jesus felt the same hurt as people feel.
However, He is our ultimate example and we should follow it.