Page 885 … on Forgiving others
“God will grant us forgiveness if we forgive others. We forgive others so that our hearts are not poisoned. We forgive ourselves so that we can continuously focus our eyes on the cross.”
This is a bold statement, my Friend, and yet you neglect to note or mention the three following fundamental Truths tied to any Forgiveness that count as both viable & pure:
Truth: It is impossible for us to truly forgive another if we are doing so to gain any sort of benefit for ourselves.
Truth: It is impossible for us to truly forgive another who has not sinned against us (and homosexuals have most certainly not transgressed against you, my Friend – and therefore they most certainly do not need your forgiveness).
Truth: It is impossible to grant sincere forgiveness while exuding callous judgment against those you would forgive (in the case at hand, your judgment against homosexuals that is not only fully misplaced, but also fully hypocritical).
“You hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup [of others], but inside are full of greed and self-indulgence … First clean the inside of your own cup, so that the outside might also then become truly clean … Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this young child is the greatest in the Kingdom” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 23:25-26 + Matthew 18:3-4)
P.S. And here is a bonus Truth for you & yours: It is impossible the fulfill the Way of the Cross while you are keeping your eyes on the cross itself. In other words, it is impossible to abide in the commandments of Jesus to pick up your own cross and serve others if you are doing so in any way for your own salvation or redemption – for you cannot carry your own cross at all while you are vacantly staring at his!
“Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who cherish their own life will lose it, and those who fully give of their life for my sake will find it.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:37-39)
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