Bible Question:
MY question is: If a person hurts you and ask forgiveness from you. Can you still exclude them from your life due to not trusting them? My situation is that I have an Aunt that for 46 years she and I have never had a cross word. ( she was there when I got saved at home) Then a Lady where we attended church at lied about me and my Aunt chose to believe her and screamed at me at the teachers meeting and because she was on the broad took away my Sunday school class and the play that I was working on with the children. I left that church and started attending the one that I go to now. This happened 2 1/2 years ago. This past January she came to me and ask for forgiveness and said that if she could she wouldn't have believed that woman. ( she and her are still friends) I was starting to let her back in my life and she was friendly only to get the information that I had on getting Sunday school teacher books. After that I have not seen her again. Which it did hurt to feel used. I have forgiven but I don't want her as part of my life. This is my Mothers favorite sister and my Mother says if I don't let her in my life I will go to hell. But it says I thought in the word to avoid those. Am I wrong? |
Bible Answer: Dear Katie, Matthew 6:14-15 we are told to forgive without condition. Yes, it is hard, really really hard. That's why it is in the Lord's prayer that we have to prayerfully ask God to help us. However, please be mindful that you won't fall into the temptation of being self righteous with the act of forgiving. Shouldn't it be thankful to God that she found you helpful in providing her Sunday school teacher books despite her motive could be using you? Read through Roman 12:9-21 and meditate. Not because we are afraid of going to hell to follow the command, but the Holy Spirit works in us that we are obedient to His Word; thus, we may grow and bear fruit for His glory. I have witnessed some very very close relatives of mine hurting each other because of misunderstanding and not forgiving or even false forgiving thus rooted with bitterness. It is indeed extremely heartbreaking to me. Please, when there are still chances for reconciliation, do it, for we are to be peacemaker. Shalom Azure |