Unforgiveness is one of the heaviest burdens to bear for anyone – Christian, or not
But in this post we’ll talk why forgiveness is important to us as Christians
Needless to say, forgiveness is a central theme in Christianity. It is emphasized throughout the Bible as an essential aspect of a Christian’s faith and relationship with God. Christian men, like all believers, are called to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who exemplified forgiveness in his teachings and actions.
Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV): “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Christian men should forgive themselves because holding onto guilt, shame, or self-condemnation hinders their spiritual growth and hampers their ability to fully experience God’s love and grace. By forgiving themselves, they can find healing, restoration, and freedom from the weight of their past mistakes or shortcomings. It allows them to embrace the truth that they are forgiven by God and enables them to extend that forgiveness to others.
To forgiving ourselves, we could start by acknowledging our mistakes or failures, and recognizing that no one is perfect. We should accept God’s forgiveness and trust in His mercy and grace. It is important to understand that forgiveness is not about excusing or minimizing the wrongdoing but rather releasing the burden of guilt and choosing to move forward in God’s love and forgiveness.
Colossians 3:13 (ESV): “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
In addition to forgiving ourselves, we as Christian men are also called to forgive others. Jesus taught that forgiveness is not optional but rather a commandment. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs his disciples to pray, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, ESV). This demonstrates the reciprocal nature of forgiveness—our willingness to forgive others is directly connected to our receiving forgiveness from God.
When we as Christian men forgive others, we imitate the character of Christ and exhibit the transformative power of love. Forgiveness breaks the cycle of bitterness, resentment, and anger, fostering reconciliation and promoting healthy relationships. It releases the offender from the debt they owe and allows for the possibility of redemption and restoration.
If we as Christian men do not practice forgiveness, we may experience different negative consequences. Unforgiveness can lead to bitterness, which can poison relationships, hinder spiritual growth, and rob us of joy and peace. The Bible warns against harboring unforgiveness, stating that it can give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:26-27) and hinder prayers (Mark 11:25). Therefore, forgiveness is not only beneficial for the person being forgiven but also for the one extending forgiveness.
I’ll end with these two very powerful verses on forgiveness:
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV): “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Mark 11:25 (ESV): “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
These verses highlight the importance of forgiveness in the Christian faith and provide guidance and motivation for Christian men to forgive themselves and others. By following these teachings, I believe we as Christian men can experience the transformative power of forgiveness and foster healthy relationships grounded in love and grace.
Amen!
Jeff Hagen
President & Founder
Hill Cities, Inc.
A difficult hurdle. One can forgive but terribly difficult to forget, even with solid prayer and christian doctrine. But I get the concept.
Pat, agreed. We need the grace of God to forgive. It is a choice to forgive like love is a choice.
The great gift of God is when He gives a command, to forgive or to love, He always gives the power, ability to obey.