TM - 95 - Who do you need to forgive?

[on_holy_ground]

"And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us." ~ Matthew 6:12

I need to forgive anyone who wishes to be forgiven.

Now, having said that, I would like to add that I am not simply saying it because of my calling as a priest. While it is indeed one of my responsibilities to absolve those who seek forgiveness, it is God who is doing the actual forgiving, and I am merely the vessel that He uses to do so. That is forgiveness of a divine nature.

However, I am also talking of forgiveness of a mortal nature, and not just that which is divine. You see, while we cannot ever hope to be able to forgive as God does, the rest of us should at least try and use the example of divine forgiveness in our everyday lives.

All of us sin at one time or another, and we all have things that we wish to be forgiven for, or that require forgiveness. It is a choice to forgive, and if we do not choose to forgive those who wrong us, then how is it that we can expect others to be willing to forgive us when we wrong them?

Comments

[kronos-endtime.livejournal.com]

...forgive as God does, the rest of us should at least try and use the example of divine forgiveness in our everyday lives.

"How do you know we cannot forgive as well, if not better, than the gods?"

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"I didn't say the gods, but am referring specifically to the Christian diety. According to scripture, He forgives any who seek his forgiveness, and who allow Him into their hearts and lives. As for many of the other panetheon of gods, I thing we do forgive just as well as most of them are shown too."

[kronos-endtime.livejournal.com]

"Do you mean to say, pantheios. Define what you mean by this. The gods of a people, the gods of all people... "

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"My apologies, as I did not mean to be unclear. I am referring to the Gods of all people in general, regardless of the creed."

[kronos-endtime.livejournal.com]

"I say man can forgive as well as they can." He nods and strolls closer. "Are you daring to say that one god holds higher a right of forgiveness than another?"

ooc: Sorry I had to step out for a bit. btw I enjoyed the response to TM by Darius. *g*

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"No, I am saying that one of them seems to hold forgiveness in a higher regard than the others often seem too. At least according to what is known of them."

[kronos-endtime.livejournal.com]

"Forgiveness or guilt," he chuckled. "You see, as it appears to me your god uses guilt as grounds for the need for forgiveness. Long and sordid history Christianity, with many abrupt turns in philosophy. As a religious concept, one could say forgiveness appears to be a Christian innovation, born not of any regard for psychological cleanliness, but of millennia of sacrifice to a jealous Yahweh and the conquering influence of Greek thought." He eyed Darius thoughtfully but then grinned. "Priest fed the gods that they needed and forgiveness between two men has its roots in this, sacrificial bargain, nothing more. As their needs and societies needs changed, thus did religious needs."

He sauntered in a circle around Darius then finally came to a stop in front of him. "I say the experience of divine forgiveness and pardon is universal, reaching to supplicants in all the world's religions. Of course all this is based on a belief that there are gods." He grinned again but it did not reach his eyes. "No god has higher authority over man to forgive. Is not the basis of your god's forgiveness, that man forgive each other."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Watches him, nodding slightly, his expression calm. "If there is no guilt or remorse over what has been done, then we would not feel the need to be forgiven. We would simply continue on and not worry about it. All things change as time moves on, religion included, but the association between guilt and forgiveness has been around as long as man has been walking the earth, and long before the advent of Christianity as we know it today.

He doesn't move as Kronos circles him, not even to watch, he just waits for him to stop again with the same calm expression. "And it is universal, I agree. I am mearly saying that the way that scripture speaks of forgiveness is something that man can rarely achieve, as many often don't truly forgive, but mearly speak the words without having their heart behind them."

[kronos-endtime.livejournal.com]

"Oh? I always thought guilt came with the advent of organized religion. Guilt that had any consequences that is, for one's soul." He shrugged. "And what was that original sin again?" He grins.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps guilt with consequences came after organizied religion, but as an emotion it has been around as long as people have been around to feel it."

He lifts an eyebrow slightly. "You mean in relation to guilt, or just in general."

[kronos-endtime.livejournal.com]

"Well since we're talking about guilt.... that one. Unless you think the generalized is more important." He grins and plops down on the bench.

ooc: Kronos is having a very nice time chatting with Darius! *g*

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius slips his hands into the sleeves of his robes as he considers that for a moment before speaking. "Whether or not it is more important is up to the individual, but most feel that the guilt they bring upon themselves is more important than 'original sin' which they have no control over."