quote from page 74
The Ragamuffin Gospel by
Brennan ManningThe saved sinner is prostrate in adoration, lost in wonder and praise. He knows repentance is not what we do in order to earn forgiveness; it is what we do because we have been forgiven. It serves as an expression of gratitude rather than an effort to earn forgiveness. Thus the sequence of forgiveness and then repentance, rather than repentance and then forgiveness, is crucial for understanding the gospel of grace.
Marcia
Thanks Marcia for the above quote!
I understand what Mr. Manning is saying, but I think he is basing his conclusion on a misunderstanding of the biblical meaning of the word "repentance."
The modern English usage of the word repentance means changing our actual behavior through the strength of our own wills. In this sense of the word he is absolutely correct that change will only come after forgiveness.
When I talk of "repentance" I am referring to the Biblical meaning of the word that literally means "a changing of one's mind."
Peter, in Acts 2 ,tells the Jews that they must----
"Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. There are conditions for forgiveness, according to Peter here, and some people (like Church of Christ folks) see a merit salvation scheme in it.
I believe they miss the point of what Peter is saying here re. repentance, as did Mr Manning in his quote, and that is that Peter is asking the Jews to think differently about this Jesus "whom they crucified."
In other words: change your thinking that sees Jesus as a heretic and a liar and accept a different view that he is indeed the Messiah and the Son of God!
Baptism was needed, not to earn God's forgiveness, but to demonstrate to the world one's sincerity. Likewise, a
hidden change of mind from a former Assembly leader (though God knows the heart) will not heal a broken relationship between a wronged former member and a leader.
What is Mt.18:15- all about? This is a process to bring healing to a relationship that includes a change in attitude by the one doing the offending before there can be reconciliation (which must include forgiveness).
The process in this passage involves three steps, that we are all familiar with, but which show us clearly that there can be no forgiveness for the offender if he is unwilling to:
1.) "Hear" the complaint of the offended party alone.
2.) Bring in a second party to help mediate, if still not resolved.
3.) Tell the whole church the situation in an attempt to get the offender to listen, admit his wrong, and change his attitude (repentance) toward the offended member(as a last resort).
If the above offender refuses to receive entreaty after all of this Jesus does not recommend that the wronged person just, "forgive and forget," rather, the offended is to
change their own attitude toward the offender (repent) and treat him like an unsaved individual.
For former/present Assembly leader/members who have wronged us there must be a demonstrated willingness to follow the above guideliness Jesus has given us in Mt. 18 or we have no obligation to forgive and forget the wrongs they have perpetrated upon us; on the contrary, we are advised to consider them as estranged from Jesus himself and one that Jesus is against as well.
This does not mean we can't pray that God would bring the offender to repentance, or that we need to hold on to bitterness in our heart toward them. However, forgiveness and forgetting is not what Jesus is telling us to do here.
Re. bitterness: It is easy for me to tell folks not to "hold on to bitterness" but another thing to actually have some success with this negative emotion. Following Jesus direction in Mt. 18 re. the process of reconciliation will do more to free one's heart from bitterness than our attempts to "transcend the hurt" via the unbiblical means of "forgiving and forgetting."
Jesus words allow for a process that includes face to face encounter, vs. some kind of idealistic escapism via some kind of denial of the facts of how one was wronged. Forgiveness is always connected with moral clarity and even if the offender refuses to be entreated we can realize that justice will be accomplished by God on the offender.
When I know that I am right, vs. feeling guilty about my negative feelings toward the offender, there is a sense of relief that goes a long way toward helping me to get beyond any bitterness, and/or grudge I may be holding. Repressing anger and attempting to forget my abuse does not cure the problem---- on the contrary, it only makes the matter worse.
Jesus, Paul, etc. used very harsh language, at times, against those they considered to be offensive to God's children (in teaching and practices) and I would expect some of those telling us to "forgive and forget" would want to correct them for doing this (if they could).
The Assembly attempted to rob us of the legitimate use of our emotions that declared outrage against wrongs. We were told that this is "un-spiritual" and that we must shove down our passions (crucify the flesh) and be passive in our trust that "God will vindicate us
if we are right".
It is no wonder that when out of the group and being released from the pseudo "spiritual" denial of our passions that one might explode in anger against those that controlled and abused us.
The fact is that Jesus is mad at unrepentant abusers too! "Aren't we all just sinners Mark?" Yes, but some of us can admit that, while others continue to deny their culpability re. their behavior while in the Assembly. It is not the sin that is the issue for forgiveness, but the willingness to actually own up to that sin and seek reconiliation with the one you've wronged.
God Bless, Mark C.
