I know I have to forgive people who hurt me, but does that mean I have to trust them again, and does that mean I automatically forget the offense?"
If you missed last week's post, go here.
A lot of people allow the inequities and hurts of life to become their defining moments. They make a cognitive choice not to forgive. In short, they assign negative emotions to what happened and anger rules their lives. Remember, anger is a choice.
Obviously, Joseph remembered his brothers' harsh treatment years prior; however, he chose not to rehearse the details and to lay aside the emotional residue of his offense. In that respect, he was able to forgive and forget! When we place such matters in God's hand, it is possible to forgive those who sin against us. Forgiveness causes our memories to fade and our souls to heal. In a very real sense, we do forget. God heals our soul as we release our pain to Him in prayer. The Spirit of God heals both our mind and emotions.
How do we know when we've truly forgiven someone? When the offense comes to mind, if indeed it does, and it no longer hurts. The sting is gone! Prayer is therapeutic, and as we release those who hurt us, the Holy Spirit gives us a new interpretation of the situation and eliminates the pain. Remember, Joseph had thirteen years to process his pain! You can bet that his initial decision to forgive still held pain! Eventually, total forgiveness erases any negative memories and anger dissipates. Our Pentecostal forefathers called this "praying through." This is just one of the beautiful and practical aspects of sanctification.
Now let's turn to a more theological discussion. To fully experience they dynamics of forgiveness and forgetting, we need to understand the act of justification. Justification is God's judicial act of declaring believing sinners to be righteous and acceptable in His sight. It is a legal term. Justification is possible because Christ has borne the sinner's sin on the cross, and "has been made unto him righteousness" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Romans 3:24 says, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Justification springs from the fountain of God's grace. "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:4-5).
It is operative as the result of the redemptive and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ, Who has settled all the claims of the Law. Justification is on the basis of faith and not by human merit or works. In this marvelous operation of God, the Holy Judge of the universe judicially declares righteous the one who believes in Jesus. Romans 8:31-34 says, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all. How will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."
A justified believer emerges from God's great court room with a consciousness that Another, his Substitute, has borne his guilt, and that he stands without accusation before the bar of God. The believer is justified in Christ and "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
So, if God for Christ's sake forgives us, we can forgive others. And if God looks upon us "just as if we never sinned," then we can look upon those who sin against us in the same manner. It's all by His grace and empowerment. The prophet Micah was outspoken and fearless in denouncing the iniquities of Judah. However, he ended his prophecy with these wonderful words: "Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in His unchanging love He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (7:18-19). Even God's anger does not keep score. He casts all confessed and repented of sin into His "sea of forgetfulness" to be remembered against us no more.
Yes, I definitely believe that in the biblical sense we can forgive and forget, with the Holy Spirit being our helper and strength!
This blog has certainly forced me "out in the open!" Keep those questions coming! Send them to me by Facebook private message, or to my email address: loomisrl@windstream.net.
I grew up listening to country music. Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Connie Smith, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Charlie Pride, Minnie Pearl, Johnny Cash, and many other country artists shaped my boyhood. As a matter of fact, my dad and his three brothers formed a country band and we cousins were often found sitting against the walls at Jewel's Dance Hall in Austinburg, Ohio on the weekends. Believe me, the country music of the 1960's is not the same as the country music of today, and I'll stop there!
Should Christians listen to country music? Should they listen to jazz? The blues? Mozart? rock and roll? I heard jazz-blues artists Louis Armstrong's infamous song the other day, "What a Wonderful World." His mellow, scratchy voice intrigued me. The lyrics were warm and "clean." I enjoyed it! Later I heard Tom Jones sing, "The Green, Green Grass of Home." I literally cried as memories of my dad and uncles singing that song came crashing into my mind.
Let me put it this way: Don't be looking for a sermon from me on the evils of country music anytime soon. I think we many times major in the minors! Like you, I am indwelled by the Holy Spirit. He leads and guides us into all truth. He's the One Who gives us marching orders. I personally enjoy many music genres. Some of the love songs of the late 50's and 60's were simple and innocent. You just can't beat Bobby Vinton's "Roses are Red," or "Blue Velvet." I don't always listen to gospel music. In my opinion, some of today's gospel music sounds like it was birthed at the Hard Rock Cafe, or at an acid rock concert! Once in a while I turn on the "oldies." I personally don't care for a lot of contemporary country music, but I can become sentimental (even fight back tears) listening to Loretta Lynn sing, "Coal Miner's Daughter."
What's the bottom line? Stay in the Word, and listen to the dictates of your heart. If the Holy Spirit convicts you of listening to something, then DON'T LISTEN! Really, I think some of us need to lighten up. It goes without saying that some music, regardless of the genre, is inappropriate for believers to embrace. The lyrics are either sexually suggestive or down right filthy. Those types of songs are "no-brainers."
There are on/off buttons on TV's, radios, CD's and Ipods for a reason! Use them righteously. TV remotes allow us to choose clean viewing options; although admittedly our options are becoming fewer and fewer!
Should you listen to country music? Ask the Boss! (and I'm not talking about Bruce Springsteen here.) The indwelling Spirit will tell you when to "switch channels or stations!" Truthfully, I think we many times complicate the non-essential matters. Admittedly, I mostly listen to gospel, but occasionally I enjoy some blues--jazz, easy listening, golden oldies, and classical country. But I turn it off or switch channels when Conway Twitty starts singing, "Tight Fittin' Jeans."
Gifted artists from all genres and walks of life have celebrated their talents through good clean songs down through the years. We all have our personal preferences. The Holy Spirit inside you will tell you when it's time to turn the dial! In the meantime, I still laugh when I hear Ray Stevens sing about the "Mississippi Squirrel."
In conclusion let me say, the closer we get to the Lord, the more sensitive we'll become to these types of issues, and the "whether or nots" will become easier to discern.
Perhaps you have a question that you'd like for me to address? Send it to me by facebook or email it to: loomisrl@windstream.net.
In my experience, a lot of believers totally misunderstand what blaspheming the Holy Spirit really means, and unfortunately, they erroneously try to tell others what they think the Bible teaches on the subject. Like anything else, we want to embrace the truth! So, here we go!
Once a man was overheard saying, "This Holy Spirit stuff (he was specifically speaking about tongues in the corporate worship services) is a bunch of nonsense." Did he blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Probably not, but I'm sure he grieved the Holy Spirit. That man needed an encounter with the Holy Spirit! Some years ago I sat in a Sunday School class where the teacher told us that speaking in tongues was of the devil. Was he blaspheming? It was probably not his intention to blaspheme. He only taught what his denomination believed, and perhaps God will not hold this to his charge. I'm not the judge!
I often remind believers that they may or may not agree with certain teachings about the Holy Spirit, and they may not feel comfortable in churches that we identify as "Spirit-filled," but they should be careful about what they say. I tell them, "Never attack another Christ-honoring church, just because they don't believe certain doctrinal truths you they might hold dear."
So, what constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Let's allow the Scriptures to speak for themselves. Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day in Matthew 12:31-32: "Wherefore, I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
I'm not going to attempt to wax theologically eloquent on this point. Allow me to simplify it for you. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is rejecting the Holy Spirit's convicting power. Because a person can be saved only by the Holy Spirit drawing him, to refuse to repent or to acknowledge one's sin is to refuse God's forgiveness. In short, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is rejecting Jesus Christ!
Sometimes believers worry that they have accidentally committed this unforgivable sin. But only those who have turned their backs on God and rejected all faith have any need to worry. Anyone who continually rejects the prompting of the Holy Spirit removes himself from the only source that can lead him to repentance and restoration to God.
If you're afraid you have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, you're probably on good ground. Had you truly rejected Him, you would not care. Your conscience would be seared!
Jesus makes an interesting statement, "...neither in this world, neither in the world to come" (v. 32). To what is He referring? Those who blaspheme the Spirit can't be saved in this life, and as a result will suffer eternal separation from God because of their choice. In the final analysis, who goes to hell? Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ!
Some have wrongly taught that using God's Name in vain or using God and Jesus as cuss words constitutes blasphemy Of course, such talk is dreadful to hear, but Jesus makes it clear that blasphemy relates only to the Spirit's work. I hate it when people use God's Name or Jesus' precious Name as curse words. They curse the only One Who can save them! But the Scriptures make it clear that the Spirit draws--He convicts of sin--Jesus forgives and then presents us to the Father because of His shed blood!
Why not welcome the Spirit's work in your life today? The Holy Spirit is so wonderful. He always glorifies Jesus Christ. And He wants to draw you to the Master today. If you're already saved, ask the Holy Spirit to touch you more deeply. He desires greater intimacy with you!
Kathryn Kuhlman was a nationally-acclaimed healing evangelist, who taught me as a young believer to respect the Holy Spirit. She never wanted to do or allow anything in her services that grieved Him. While her mannerisms may have been somewhat peculiar, I loved to listen to her, for she loved and honored the Holy Spirit. And God showed up in her meetings!
Let's bid Him welcome today and always!
Perhaps you have a question that you'd like for me to address? Send it to me by facebook or email it to: loomisrl@windstream.net.
