forgiveness

[mcgyver]

Personally, I am so glad that Jesus didn't say: "Well Peter, I forgive you but I'll never trust you again" or "I forgive you, but your days of ministry are over" or "I forgive you but (insert favorite here)"

He said:
“Feed My lambs.”

“Tend My sheep.”

“Feed My sheep."

Jesus "cancelled the debt", and really...what is forgiveness except cancelling a debt entirely...wiping it off the books completely...never to be brought up again?

 

[By Grace]

Personally, I am so glad that Jesus didn't say: "Well Peter, I forgive you but I'll never trust you again" or "I forgive you, but your days of ministry are over" or "I forgive you but (insert favorite here)"

He said:
“Feed My lambs.”
“Tend My sheep.”
“Feed My sheep."
Jesus "cancelled the debt", and really...what is forgiveness except cancelling a debt entirely...wiping it off the books completely...never to be brought up again?

Permit me to "push that a little further".

Supposing that a congregant molested children once. Would the church be wrong if it excluded that repentant congregant from having any contact with any child, or teen in the future?

Supposing that a congregant, holding office as a treasurer cooked the books, and embezzled church funds. Would the church be wrong if the repentant congregant returned all the monies, made restitution, etc, but forbade the congregant from having any contact with money, even excluding the person from ushering?

It is standard practice among many evangelical denominations that if a pastor does anything improper, he is automatically out of a job, and must go through counseling and rehabilitation in order to return to the pulpit.

So what I am getting to is this: Are there circumstances where forgiveness is given, but the practical application requires that fences be built around the forgiven sinner to prevent future harm to others?

 

[iLOVE]

Permit me to "push that a little further".

Supposing that a congregant molested children once. Would the church be wrong if it excluded that repentant congregant from having any contact with any child, or teen in the future?

Supposing that a congregant, holding office as a treasurer cooked the books, and embezzled church funds. Would the church be wrong if the repentant congregant returned all the monies, made restitution, etc, but forbade the congregant from having any contact with money, even excluding the person from ushering?

It is standard practice among many evangelical denominations that if a pastor does anything improper, he is automatically out of a job, and must go through counseling and rehabilitation in order to return to the pulpit.

So what I am getting to is this: Are there circumstances where forgiveness is given, but the practical application requires that fences be built around the forgiven sinner to prevent future harm to others?

The first two examples you used are crimes. We must follow the law of the judicial system that is in place.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1

 

[iLOVE]

The first two examples you used are crimes. We must follow the law of the judicial system that is in place.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1

2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. Romans 13:2-5

 

[By Grace]

The first two examples you used are crimes. We must follow the law of the judicial system that is in place.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1

Of course. I have no problem with quoting Scripture; however, to take the Scripture from its context (in this case the role of civil government in relation to the Christian) most often results in a pretext. So while you are stating that the church DOES have authority over the individual believers who attend, and does have divinely directed authority to set the qualifications for its members and officers as well as the disciplining of the same, where does a "clean slate forgiveness" end, and future protection begin?

I am not asking you in particular, but I AM attempting to dialog about that point for the sake of discussion among others.