Category: Forgiveness

This I Believe The Light Of Forgiveness. Imagine if you could make a pun with the word ‘light’ tho coz u know u said being unforgiving adds load to u lol

When I was younger, I would make a conscious effort to remember every offense done against me. In my mind, these faults seemed like the most important thing, because surely, it must be serious if someone had hurt me. It was a vicious cycle I could never escape — another offense, just one stone added to the hefty load I seemed to carry. It felt like everyone was against me. Looking back, I was just one of the million unlit candles, living in the dark without the light of forgiveness.

A year later, as I was reading the Bible, a verse stood out to me — “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” I thought about how God had forgiven the inexcusable in me, and how I should do the same for others. Why was I robbing myself of a peaceful life by being so unforgiving? So from then on, I decided to live a life of forgiveness, and this has brought me a peace I am very grateful for.

Now, I try to be forgiving — if someone ever hurts me, I usually forgive them. There is no point in letting that negativity fester. After all, on the larger scale of life, most of these events are, quite frankly, insignificant to me. And each time I forgive, it feels as if a load has been lifted, and I feel much lighter. So I choose to just forgive those mistakes, and let myself have peace.

While I do my best to forgive others, I often forget to extend the same forgiveness to myself. Till now, I struggle with blaming myself for mistakes I’ve made that have hurt others. So what do I do when I fall into this pit of self-blame? I simply remind myself to not dwell on my mistakes. And with every reminder, it’s like a ladder has slowly formed, and I can finally climb out of the dark pit I had been in.

I believe that by forgiving one another and ourselves, we can bring peace to our lives. Just as I have been forgiven, I will try to continue forgiving others, showing compassion even when none might be deserved. If I remain unforgiving and let resentment grow in my heart, I will become a prisoner of my cell, locking myself up in my hatred. So instead, I choose the other route — to forgive.

To me, forgiveness brings peace, freedom, and restoration, instead of pain and resentment. It is letting go of the strings that I still desperately hold on to, even if it hurts. It is not about letting the anger simmer within, but rather pouring it out before it overflows.

I truly hope that my small acts of compassion have lit a flame that will spread to the millions of other unlit candles. I believe that the light of forgiveness can shine through the darkness of the world, making it just a little brighter.

Once a Hindu friend of mine asked me a question. Why do you follow Jesus who was born and belongs to another community and is 5000 miles away from our country? We have good leaders to follow why Jesus? When there are so many gods in India why do you have to follow a foreign God? What is special about that God whom you are following?

The answer I gave was Jesus loves everyone and he loves me and you and similarly he asked us to love our neighbours that is why we follow him. Then he said even the Hindu religion says you should love your fellow human beings what is different about it? Then I said in India there are good leaders to follow as role models but they don’t love everyone they have preferential options to love based on their caste, status, and state they show their love. It is not just loving your neighbor who is nice to you or your family and friends but he asked us to love our enemies. And he showed us the way too how to love our enemies. He was surprised to hear that. Then the next question he asked me was do you follow that teaching of Jesus? If you are a follower of Christ then you should be doing that too he said. That was challenging. It was easy for me to say what Jesus said but the challenge is how to live as a follower of Christ in the world where we need to be a witness of Christ.

Luke 6:27-38 gives those instructions where Jesus teaches his followers to love their enemies. Alongside the traditional Hebrew teaching to love God and to love your neighbor, the command of Jesus to love your enemy is a challenging one. It feels uncomfortable, unrealistic, idealistic, naive, almost impossible ‘and certainly not the way of the world.

But the words are there, reminding us: love your enemy. It would certainly be easier to focus on loving God and neighbor, to pick and choose where to direct our affection and compassion, but that is not the way of Jesus. He says love your enemy ‘ and that isn’t easy. Each of us here can probably remember occasions when we have been hurt by careless words, or done something against you. Loving those who hurt you is hard. Loving enemies not only applies to personal enemies but also applies to community, national, and international relationships, but humanity hasn’t been very good at that, either.

Who are our enemies? Now what can you actively do to seek their good? That is the way Jesus is training his disciples to think.

Jesus says that we are not to just force a smile and mind our own business when we are hated and mistreated. We are to actively try to do good towards our attackers.

Jesus uses four very strong action words in these verses:

1. Greek agape — love your enemies
2. Greek poime kalos — do good to those who hate you.
3. Greek eulogy — to speak well of
4. Greek prosenchyma — to pray for, to intercede for.

None are in the passive voice. They don’t just take care of themselves. They are active verbs describing deliberate action to do good to one’s enemies.

How do I love my enemy? you ask with all seriousness. This isn’t a matter of just thinking nice thoughts. We need Jesus to do a heart change within us.

There are steps we can take towards loving our enemy that will bring transformation within the person or community or it can bring healing for others, healing in relationships and ultimately healing for our own lives ‘ and they apply at both personal and community levels.

‘Agape’ is one of several Greek words for love. When the word ‘agape’ is used in the Bible, it refers to a pure, willful, sacrificial love that intentionally desires another’s highest good.

Agapa’ is a rare word in Koine Greek. It was developed almost exclusively in Christian literature to refer to the kind of love that doesn’t serve itself but extends itself for the sake of another. The other Greek words for love are eros, erotic love, Philos, love for family, brotherly love, and stereos, natural affection. Agape love is a different category of love that the world hadn’t seen in action until Jesus came along and infected his followers with it.

What does it mean to love one’s enemies in actual practice? It turns out that Christians are not merely commanded to be reactive in a peaceful way and avoid retaliating against their enemies (as we see in Matt. 5:39), but are also to be proactive, seeking opportunities to show mercy to them. The Sermon on the Mount itself gives some specifics: bless them, do good to them, and pray for them (Matt. 5:44). Loving one’s enemies also includes greeting other people, even those whom we would rather avoid (see Matt. 5:47). Paul offers a similarly concrete description of what is required: ‘If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink’ (Rom. 12:20).

1. Love your enemy starts with Forgiving

Loving our enemies means first and foremost forgiving them. Forgiveness is not ignoring evil denying wrongdoing or putting a false label on an evil action. Nor is forgiveness forgetting, in the sense of erasing from our memory the evil act. Forgiveness names evil as evil, but it eliminates the need to return evil for evil. Forgiveness releases the victim from the need for vengeance. When we forgive we determine to let go of the need to retaliate and execute judgment.

Only forgiveness can break the cycle of violence making redemption and reconciliation possible.

Mrs Staines and her husband Graham had spent quite 30 years working with leprosy patients in Baripada district within the eastern state of Orissa.

In January 1999 Graham and his two sons Philip, 10, and Timothy, eight, were burnt to death by a mob of Hindu fanatics who accused him of forcibly converting poor Hindus to Christianity.

The three were asleep in their jeep when the attack happened.

They tried to flee the flames but the mob – led by principal suspect Ravindra Pal, alias Dara Singh, and armed with axes – prevented them.

Despite the tragedy Mrs Staines stayed on in India together with her daughter, overseeing the completion of a hospital for leprosy patients in Orissa. She left for Australia only in 2003.

She announced her forgiveness of those who had murdered her family. due to these events, Christ has been proclaimed on the front pages of the newspapers in India. In the face of persecution, many are coming to Jesus from families that have rejected the gospel for years.

Gladys returned to India in June 2006, and in an interview underlined the importance of forgiveness. ‘In forgiveness, there’s no bitterness and when there’s no bitterness, there’s hope. This consolation comes from Jesus.’

Loving your enemy means forgiving them by showing love.

2. Do good to those who hate you

Secondly is to be open and honest in asking why people may not like us or may even distrust us. It is about identifying what is less than good within us, and, once conscious of it, to seek to change it. Step two is to look for the goodness in the other person, to personally appreciate it, and perhaps express gratitude for it, to strengthen the value that each person places on the other.

Gradually, we may then find that the practice of actively loving our enemies has a redemptive capacity. It can transform an individual; it can transform a relationship; and it can make for a better life for each of those involved. A life lived in looking for goodness in us and in others can bring more happiness than a life lived in suspicion.

But it’s not easy ‘ Jesus never said it would be ‘ and the hardest part can be getting started. Generally, the bravest person is the one who starts the process of breaking the link of mistrust or hostility.

When Lincoln was campaigning for the presidency, one of his political archenemies was a person named Stanton. for a few reasons, Stanton hated Lincoln. He visited all types of extremes to degrade and humiliate Lincoln in the eyes of the general public, even caricaturing his physical appearance. Despite this Lincoln, of course, was elected President.

When Lincoln set about the task of choosing his cabinet, he unbelievably selected Stanton for the post of Secretary of War. There was an instantaneous uproar within the clique of Lincoln’s advisors because the news spread of Stanton’s appointment. Lincoln was advised by his most trusted associates, ‘You can’t do that. This man is your enemy. Remember all the horrible things he said about you. He will surely seek to sabotage your program.’

Lincoln told them, ‘Yes, I’m conscious of the items he said about me. But, after surveying the requirements of our country, he’s the simplest man for the work .’ So Stanton became Lincoln’s Secretary of War and rendered a useful service to his nation and therefore the President. Not a few years later when Lincoln was assassinated, many great things were said about him, but perhaps none stood out the maximum amount because of the words of Stanton, his former enemy. He said of Lincoln that he was one of the best men that ever lived which ‘he belongs to the ages.’

Lincoln, through the facility of forgiveness, transformed an enemy into a lover.

Yes, loving your enemy is hard, but we have been shown the way. The ministry of Jesus was a demonstration of what it means in practice. For example, in the violence of his arrest in the garden he healed the wounded ear of the one who came wielding a sword; and on the cross, he offered forgiveness to the robber by his side, and died even for Judas ‘ that was truly love of his enemy.

3. Love that includes all.

Finally, the most powerful thing about loving your enemies is that it is a love that includes all. loving your enemies means no one is excluded. Loving your enemies can change people’s hearts, and it can change the world.

Ultimately, we love our enemies, not to change them or convert them, but because God loves God’s enemies. We love our enemies. We are God’s children because we share the heart of God. God loves the very ones who ignore, reject, and scorn him and we are called to share his nature. Certainly, we pray and hope that our enemies will discover God’s love for themselves and have a change of heart, but whether they do or do not, we love them because God loves them.

Love of enemies is not a sign of weakness, but rather an expression of moral and spiritual strength. Hate is born in fear and pride; love casts out fear and is nurtured through courage inner resilience and integrity. Love of enemies is not the abandonment of justice still must contend for justice equality and fairness. We still must defend the defenseless and champion the marginalized. Loving enemies does not mean that we become a doormat. At times we must stand our ground and not give in. But other times we become a target, letting the enemy aim and shoot without resistance. Always our response is governed by an ethic of love, not by regulations and laws.

That brothers and sisters is the Spirit of Christ; that is the Spirit of God’s new world. Only love can defeat evil, not by destroying it, but by transforming it. Evil is not out there, it is in here, in every one of us. And this demon will not be expelled by the threat of damnation, but only by the redemptive power of love.

The call to love enemies has been central to the formation of Christian identity from the earliest times. It has also guided Christian response and action both at personal and social-political levels in various ways and at different times. The call to love enemies will continue to echo in history as the only true basis for genuine forgiveness and reconciliation at all levels of human existence whether personal, social, political, or spiritual. The challenge lies with Christians who must take the initiative and take the first step toward action.

May God in Jesus grant us strength to love our enemies by forgiving them and doing good to them. May the church be the model of Jesus’ words in the community it is placed by coming out of our comfortable, conventional modes of being church and calling us to be a community of love, where there is compassion filled with justice for all. May God be with us as we transform our community by loving our enemies.

Personality is a primary foundation of leader behavior and Escribá‐Esteve et.al (2012) found that leaders with personalities associated with creativity will promote creativity in the organization. Therefore, the first step to becoming a creative leader is to recognize our personalities. Whether they are positive abilities and skills or negative areas that need improvements, knowing ourselves and what we can do can help us further develop strengths and overcome weaknesses to achieve goals. Through completing the “VIA Survey of Character”, I have an in-depth self-understanding and its influence on the team. The lower score in every category, the outstanding strength of every character.

One of my most significant strengths of mine is the virtue of Humanity (8.33 scores) which manifests in extending kindness (6 scores) and approaching others with love and caring (8 scores). I think kindness and love there two traits that are essential for strong leadership. A kind and compassionate leader should take care of every group member. When I work with my team, I excel at inviting the whole team to share in the collective goals, cherishing their opinions, and showing my respect. I believe that an environment where everyone can collaborate by sharing their ideas and thinking of creative solutions is a team that thrives. That is not coincidental but what a kind leader excels. I believe when I do favors for teammates, trust will be prevalent and they will demonstrate more innovative, positive, and collaborative attitudes. Further for closer relations, love here as a character strength rather than an emotion, refers to valuing close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated. When I see my colleagues stressed or depressed, I am willing to be a reliable listener and provide all that I can to support them. As a leader, I would like to convey my love to them and improve their belongings and commitment to the team.

Another strength of my character is having the virtue of Justice (8.67 scores) to ensure everyone within the organization gets a fair share no matter of materials, education, respect, or opportunities. Leadership (1 score) and teamwork (5 scores) are two aspects that need to be highlighted in my strengths as they are essential features to becoming a capable leader. In the university, most of my classes involve teamwork and I try to step up as a leading role whenever possible. First, I sat down with the team and discussed what goals we needed to achieve. Then I delegated tasks to them based on their strengths and set an earlier deadline for the project. The experiences allow me to develop skills in leadership, communication, and managing multiple tasks. As a creative leader, I also welcome questions and new ideas. Before doing the project, we always spend several hours brainstorming with the team and capturing different ideas from them, then vote on the top options with the most potential. Despite being a leader, I also paid effort to the role of a team player by examining all the tasks and providing help with the tasks that seemed to be overlooked or that the co-worker was struggling with. Consequently, for an innovative team, leadership, teamwork and the commitment to reach the organizational goals are critical, and I believe my strengths can contribute to achieving success.

However, I have a weakness that hinders me in my efforts to be a creative leader and I have to overcome it. It is mainly reflected in my personal Temperance, especially in the aspects of forgiveness (24 scores) and self-regulation (22 scores). The high score in forgiveness was because I always know precisely whom or what to love or hate, and do not forgive those who behave wrongly or hurt me. But I have to admit that forgiveness is an effective tool that a leader can use to attract innovative followers and comprise a nimble organization, therefore, I should improve my forgiveness. If someone makes a mistake at work, I need to think about whether he needs to experience positive growth and learn from it, instead of holding onto his mistake. I have to learn to accept others’ shortcomings and imperfections and give them a second chance. If I could be this type of leader and co-workers work in this flexible environment, they can be empowered to bring forward their innovative urges, to solve old problems with new approaches. They also dare to suggest something new although it is not fully tested or just an idea.

Lack of self-regulation is another weakness of my temperance because I am not able to have great control over my emotions and properly manage my actions. It will result in making impulsive and careless decisions when I am too angry or jealous. As a leader, if I cannot master my emotional state, it will destroy the collaborative relationship. To strengthen my ability to control emotions and impulses, practicing being calm and giving some time to think is a more mature way than responding immediately. Maybe I could write down all of the negative emotions on paper, which is better than speaking them aloud to the team. Consequently, becoming self-disciplined, especially controlling negative emotions is beneficial to helping me get along with colleagues, thrive the teamwork, and strengthen my morale.

The notion of imprisonment, both in a physical and psychological sense is explored in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest and also in Margaret Atwood’s postmodern novel Hagseed, which reimagines the trauma experienced by the protagonist and the challenges he must face to enable him to progress with life unhindered. In both texts, the past has manifested and shaped the present, and the future for the protagonists is determined by their ability to self-reflect, reconcile with those around them, and find forgiveness. Utilizing metatheatre, both composers present their characters in a state of flux where they are simultaneously prisoners of their past actions and controllers of their destiny. Thus, the prison motif represents a stage, a moment suspended in time when through their actions, the protagonists come to understand the true impact of their past behavior. Both texts employ the prison motif to reveal the essential humanity that binds and separates us, reflecting not only humanist values but the values and morals of their respective contexts.

Felix is guilty of allowing his emotions and desires to rule and imprison him, the Christian contextual values of paying penance are evident in “By choosing this shack and the privitations, that would come with it, he would of course be sulking. He’d be hair-shirting himself, playing the flagellant, the hermit.” The characterization of Felix as petulant and withdrawn allows the reader to begin to unravel the workings of his mind as to why he elected to deprive himself of the usual comforts of life as a form of self-punishment for allowing himself to be overthrown. The verb “playing” suggests that “he recognized his act, an act with no audience but himself”, and is self-aware of his brooding, shown in the luminescence of the all-inclusive meta-narrative structure. Felix is stuck in this role/facade and has fallen into the infinite chasm of his mind, causing him to become fixated on the compulsive need for revenge, “he has been chewing over his revenge for twelve years – it’s been in the background a constant undercurrent like an ache”. Gustatory imagery and the simile signify the grief and yearning for his daughter and how any pain he can cause others may relieve his own, the plotting and scheming of revenge acts as a negative form of catharsis trapping Felix.

The loss of power has made Prospero vulnerable and his exile leads him to become ensnared with the intention of revenge at the forefront of his mind. Prospero evolves into the embodiment of a puppet master, referring to the other characters as “demi puppets”. Prospero believes that he has full control of the island and its people, “this cells my court”, the possessive alliterative statement is ironic as although he has physically imprisoned the characters on the island, his desire for revenge and control has jailed him. In The Tempest, there is an internal struggle between omnipotence and humanity. Prospero attains a form of anagnorisis when he becomes aware of the paradoxically liberating and demanding nature of his relentless pursuit of knowledge and how it played a pivotal role in his usurpation and eventual fall from power. Prospero’s self-reflection and awakening are observed in the metaphor “to my state grew stranger, neglecting worldly ends… dedicated to the bettering of my mind”. Shakespeare represents the flaws of humans and establishes that a balance between power and altruism is required, depicting humanist tendencies.

The physical separation further removes Felix from the emotional connection of humanity. To combat this, Felix conjures up a hallucination of his daughter trapping her in his imaginative sphere, and “he engaged in this nonreality as if it were real”. Felix has captured Miranda inside the photo frame, “She was flying through the air; And now she would have to stay locked behind the glass” Miranda is suspended in a liminal point between heaven and earth and his desire and ability to connect with his ghost daughter establishes that humans have an innate longing for significant relationships which contradicts their concurrent need for control and revenge. Upon introspection Felix undergoes metamorphosis, “Anyway I succeeded he tells himself. Or at least I didn’t fail. Why does it feel like a letdown?” The rhetorical question signifies the realization that revenge will not bring his daughter back and fill the hole in his heart where she once was thus contemplation and forgiveness allowed Felix to finally free Miranda, “He knows what she truly wants and what he owes to her, to the elements be free he says to her and finally she is.” hence, liberating himself from the grief and guilt that marked his life causing his imprisonment that had taken form as an illusion in his mind.

Prospero’s hesitation between revenge and forgiveness defines the framework of the play, the Tempest is based on politics which is inwoven with human nature. Through self-reflection Prospero still seeks revenge but is satisfied with the atonement of their sins, “They being penitent. The sole drift of my purpose doth extend. Not a frown further”, the Christian value of paying penance for wrongdoing is displayed and the verb “drift” represents water imagery and illuminates the regaining of virtues of humanity which Prospero had previously lost in the “Tempest of existence”. Aligned with humanist morals, Prospero chooses to relinquish his power for peaceful freedom, “the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance”, the alliterative line acknowledges that his prosperity is dependent on his inner restoration of humanity. Prospero was paradoxically moved to compassion and introspection by a spirit illustrating irony, as forgiveness is the very essence of humanity. The rhetorical beginning in “Set Me Free”, is a self-reflective meditation where the art of theatre suspends the dramatic illusion and in doing so sets up a conceptual mirror that illuminates the conventional, illusory, and theatrical nature of everyday life. In The Tempest, forgiveness is seen as a means to resolution and provides an opportunity for freedom.

The centrality of the prison motif unites both Hag-Seed and The Tempest as it develops the protagonist’s perception of themselves in their environment and thus encourages the reader to reflect on their reality and existence which may result in new thought and introspection freeing us from the suffocating effects that rigid thought can have.

Prometheus Unbound, a lyrical drama depicting the resistance of Prometheus against the supreme ruler of Jupiter, was published by Percy Bysshe Shelley in the early 1800s. This drama depicted the punishment Prometheus received on a mountaintop since he gave fire to humanity. Shelley published this story in 1820, which was during a period of great social upheaval in England due to the corruption that came from increased industrialization and technological development. Many citizens were being reaped opportunities, leading the aristocracy to become richer through new industrial advancements while making the poor plummet further into poverty. The French Revolution occurred from 1789 to 1799, where many Romantics like Shelley got inspired by the rebellious nature of the people, fighting against corrupt establishments and for individual freedom. Amidst these events, this drama allowed for imagination to take root and emphasize the goal of social justice for many Romantics of the time. In Prometheus Unbound, Shelley illustrates the attainment of freedom through the unwavering resistance to oppression and embracement of love portrayed by Prometheus.

Although subject to severe forms of punishment, Prometheus persists through the pain and manages to find compassion through suffering. After Prometheus gave the knowledge of fire to humanity, Prometheus officially went against the supreme ruler of the world, Jupiter, and thus was subjected to “Three thousand years of sleep-unsheltered hours” (1.12-13) where “crawling glaciers pierce [him] with the spears of their moon-freezing crystals” (1.31-32). The vivid imagery of his physical torture depicts his excruciating pain and his recognition that opposing Jupiter came with a dire consequence: being banished to a mountaintop. However, he does not regret his actions and is willing to endure the suffering. His punishment has only made him stronger as he is now aware that hatred and envy will not help him attain justice. To Jupiter, he states, “Disdain? Ah no! I pity thee . . . / I speak in grief” (1.53-56). Through his physical torture, Prometheus realizes that Jupiter has abused his powers and thus will suffer the consequences. Oppressive actions do not go unresolved and from his personal experience, he wishes no other to undergo torture. Through suffering, he now has a bigger heart and this is portrayed when Prometheus uses the word “pity” rather than rage to describe his heartfelt emotions to his ultimate enemy. Prometheus in a way resembles many writers during the time of social upheaval in Britain. The British state would try to control the literature that was printed to prevent radical ideas from being released to the public during the era when the printing press became available to more people. Although many authors became charged with sedition or blasphemy, many writers such as Shelley endured these labels and continued to write what they wished to express. Even though they did not undergo the physical torture of Prometheus, their “labels” vastly degraded their social status. However, rather than abandoning their ideals, many authors chose to endure the pain and continue to write what they believed to attain individual freedom.

Forgiveness and determination allow Prometheus to stay driven and realize that hatred does not fuel triumph. Prometheus recognizes that he wished a dreadful curse upon Jupiter when he first became subject to his torture. To Jupiter, he had stated, “I curse thee! Let a sufferers curse / Clasp thee . . . / And thine Omnipotence a crown of pain” (1.286-90). Before suffering, Prometheus was engulfed in rage and thus used hatred as a coping mechanism. Anger made him seek sanctuary through violent thoughts, which ultimately imprisoned his soul. Only through experiencing his words of hate did Prometheus understand his wrong. Shelley let “his hero suffer his own words and discover generally how language may snare and deflect” (Llyod). After hearing the curse, Prometheus states, “It doth repent me: words are quick and vain; / Grief for awhile is blind, and so was mine. / I wish no living thing to suffer pain.” (1.303-305). Prometheus now has cognizance that treating violence with violence does not lead to a righteous outcome and that true strength comes with love and forgiveness. He uses words such as “repent” to show his sincere regret for acting in fury and his ultimate desire to undo his wrong. Because of this, Prometheus can endure the mental torture from the Furies when they mention how “In each human heart terror survives . . . / Hypocrisy and custom make their minds” (1.618-621) to make him lose hope in humanity. His persistent determination to oppose Jupiter’s tyrannical power and loving heart allow him to withstand the vivid imagery of chaos and approach the Furies only in pity. The initial rage Prometheus portrays as he bestows a violent curse upon Jupiter resembles how the rebels of the French Revolution sought a solution for the country through cruelty. To combat the oppression given by the aristocracy, supporters of the revolution initiated a period of absolute chaos, the Reign of Terror, where they utilized a guillotine to execute anyone who opposed the Revolution (Kennedy). Prometheus reflects that treating tyrants with violence only leads to further oppression and the possibility of generating even more fear. Being suppressed can cause one to wish for an evil destiny among others, but it is persistent determination and forgiveness that have the potential for a better start.

Even though the world is subject to Jupiter’s power, Prometheus sees that oppressive rulers are temporary and are prone to fall. When Asia speaks to the Demogorgon, she makes clear that she does not believe the world was initially created with evil spirits and hatred. The Demogorgon tells her that God created “thought, passion, reason, will,” (2.4.10) and implies that Jupiter initiated terror by bringing “First famine, and then toil, and then disease” (2.4.50). Through this encounter, Asia understands how specific individuals are those who corrupt power and cause suffering among humanity. Goodness and hope still lie on Earth but it is a matter of how people choose to utilize their power. She believes Prometheus will provide hope for the world with his good intentions and be “the Sun of this rejoicing world” (2.4.127). By using a metaphor to compare Prometheus to the sun, Shelley relates Prometheus to a source of light that will revive the world from its darkness and spread freedom just as Christ was deemed to purify the world from its sins. The potential for better change only comes with love and Prometheus embodies “humanity at an idealist extreme and outside the bounds of time and discrete identity” (Ward). Asia’s conversation with Panthea further foreshadows how love is the way to reform society when she states, “Common as light is love” (2.5.40). By describing love as “common,” Shelley makes it clear that love is not something exclusive and is available to all people. This makes it have the potential to illuminate human life after oppressive power is overthrown as represented when Jupiter sinks “Dizzly down – ever, forever, down” (3.1.81) from his throne. Jupiter’s fall from power resembles a biblical analogy to when Satan fell from Heaven into Hell. His evil deeds do not go unpunished in result in dire consequences. With the French Revolution, corrupt religious teaching in France was ended as the aristocracy lost its close ties between church and state to manipulate religious teachings for their benefit. Jupiter’s abusive power and spread of terror reflect how certain individuals can corrupt innocence in the world (the innocent Earth made by God and pure religious teaching in French society). Through Prometheus’ pure intentions, Shelley presents an alternative to the sinful nature of those in power.

Once the world is pure from oppressive power, Prometheus learns that through love, peace will be sustained. After Jupiter is overthrown, the Spirit of the Hour recounts how anger and hatred ceased to exist in the world. Earth is described as a place where “thrones [are] kingless, and men [walk] / One with the other even as spirits do,” (3.4.131-32) signifying that unity and freedom have been achieved. By using this effective imagery, Shelley portrays how people no longer have greedy ambition and are not in an infinite quest for power. This depicts how corrupt hierarchies are no longer in place and therefore cannot dictate society. Prometheus sees that these are all made possible when people embrace love since it “folds over the world its healing wings” (4.561). Shelley utilizes effective diction by using “healing” to portray how love allows for a purified society filled with knowledge and freedom where people are not subject to oppression. The Demogorgon’s recounts reflect Shelley’s belief “that man could free himself from tyranny, religious superstition, and social, political, and racial divisions through unity and love” (“Prometheus Unbound”). Even though the harmony on Earth may not be eternal, compassion, forgiveness, and love are “the spells by which to reassume / An empire o’er the disentangled Doom” (4.588-589). By comparing these emotions to a spell, Shelley enforces how empowering love can be as it has the potential to shape one’s actions. Hatred and cruelty will never enforce a righteous society and love is the way to triumph with goodness in the world. This realization of Prometheus reflects Shelley’s wish for nonviolent resistance to power, particularly in England. The French Revolution was filled with violence and rage and thus many Romantics like Shelley feared England with approached opposition in the same manner. From the French Revolution, he wanted people to understand a peaceful approach to change would only lead to social progression and this idea was reflected through the description Prometheus received of the new world after Jupiter’s defeat.

Through his experience, Prometheus can identify that persistent resistance to oppressive powers when in combination with love and compassion ultimately leads to freedom. It was his determined passion to oppose Jupiter’s tyrannical power that gave him strength amidst the physical and mental torture he faced upon the mountain. By suffering, he was able to identify the power of forgiveness, which ultimately shaped his perception of how the world should deal with abusive individuals. Through love, he realized that social progression would flourish as the world became filled with peace when people lacked envy and hatred towards each other. Shelley used this literature to embody trends of social and political upheaval in his society during the early 1800s. Amidst a period of vast social stratification, unequal distribution of wealth, and corrupt tyrannical power, this lyrical drama exemplified how he hoped to inspire others and change the faults of Britain. Shelley ultimately tries to show how a determined, nonviolent approach to oppression would bring freedom and progress to humanity.

Emotions are the human act of expressing certain internal feelings. These emotions are moods or actions you show when expressing what you precisely feel. While most humans never have a perfect amount of enthusiastic passions or feelings, it’s ever thus important to express the positivity that humans can have, this positivity is displayed throughout life. It’s incredibly important to recognize and be aware of our thoughts whether they are negative or positive because it could affect the outcome of our future. We all show our sentiments differently. Negative emotions can be defaulted into our mindsets and our sensibilities would strictly result in agonistic actions or behaviors. Without optimistic emotions, human thoughts would frequently be trapped from their expressions and could result in violence towards themselves and others.

Positivity brings serotonin and serotonin lowers heart rates and enhances determination. Positivity also releases endorphins, this will give an energy boost and will influence making it through the day. Your overall health can improve with just a bit of positivity, this gives access to an open mind and understanding of the world around you. Forgiveness over negative emotions is beneficial as well. An example of this was proven by the Stanford Forgiveness Project, “The practice of forgiveness has also been linked to immune function and a longer lifespan. Other studies have shown that forgiveness has more than just a metaphorical effect on the heart: it can lower your blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health as well.” The more negative thoughts you hold onto build up into long-term grudges and anger, forgiving will bring positivity into your life and release the grudges someone has held inside before. Positivity has an effect of lowering blood pressure which can sustain heart attacks and heart failure. This will expand your lifespan and will keep you healthier than before.

All of these effects and changes will be prompted or decided based on how someone acts, if you have a more negative mindset it’s important to embrace positivity. If you have a more positive mindset it’s ok to accept negative thoughts too, because it is normal to have these thoughts. Overall, these thoughts cancel out each other and release the strain on our emotions and feelings. Every thought you think affects your overall health, it’s important to embrace your positive side as well as your negative. It’s up to you to improve your health and mindset.

The source is about forgiveness, love, and not holding a grudge. The central basis is why this person chose this particular road to travel and what his life become if he did not change the course. The author’s purpose is to remind us all that we have not always done the right things in life, but change is possible within us; we just have to let it come out. The goal of this source is to inform people about forgiveness and not hold grudges towards people.

Forgiveness is not just practiced by saints and not only benefits its recipients but also has a strong connection with a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. It plays a great role in the health of families, communities, and nations. Forgiveness provides common ground for love, acceptance, harmony and true happiness Most spiritual and religious leaders of the world will agree that forgiveness of oneself and others is one way to clear the mind, heart, and soul and may result in a feeling of increased peace and happiness. ‘Forgiveness’ explores different examples of the benefits of forgiving to a healthy life, strong relationships, PS, and psychological well-being. Forgiveness leads to healthy peace of mind and soul and that is why people try to learn how to forgive. Holding resentments not only harm oneself but other relations as well. Other closer relationships might be affected by the non-forgiveness attitude of a person. Forgiveness has an important medicinal effect on health. Researchers and studies have shown that people who forgive have fewer chances of health issues like heart attack and brain tumors.

I have learned that in almost every controversial situation there is always more than one party to blame. When someone is blaming everyone else but themselves they are crippling themselves for change and maturity. I believe this applies to many situations except physical abuse. It is very important to forgive others. Forgiveness means to forget someone’s bad deed or mistake. Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never received. Your reaction to someone else’s mistake can be vital to your life and the lives of the others around you. Avoiding forgiveness can leave frustration in your heart and destroy your personality. You must learn to forgive others and yourself. It is very important to forgive.

According to the article source, two emotions work against us and those are intensity and duration; these are the two that affect our health the most. Many people who do not forgive or do not know how to forgive have rage and anger problems on many different levels. These problems proceed to escalate into health problems. Long-term repression is related to cancers. When people are stressed, bitter, angry, or depressed, toxic and unhealthy substances are created in our bodies; this is a substantial reason why it is so important to know how to genuinely forgive.

Knowing what forgiveness ‘is not’ is just as important as knowing what forgiveness is. What forgiveness ‘is not’ provides clear concrete boundaries of how to master the gift of forgiving. Forgiveness is not forgetting; it is remembering, but still forgiving. Forgiveness is not pardoning; pardoning means to release from penalty. It is not justifying, excusing, or condoning bad behavior because there is no excuse for bad behavior. Forgiveness is not denying; it is acknowledging. It is not asking God or a higher power to forgive; in the Christian faith, God has already forgiven sins.

Forgiveness is not telling others that you have been hurt. It is also not telling the ‘offender’ that you forgive them. Forgiveness is not approval for what they did. There is a fine line between understanding and excusing. They are two different things. You can understand something, but not excuse it. Excusing would result in compromising your morals and values for the ‘offenders” actions. It is not getting justice or revenge. Forgiveness is not based on the apology or restoration of the offender. It is not reconciliation; forgiveness takes one and reconciliation takes two and this also has a lot to do with trust issues.

There are many academic representations of what forgiveness is, however some academic resources such as a thesaurus. com defines forgiveness as being something that contradicts its valid meaning. According to the thesaurus. com the definition for the word ‘forgive’ means to stop the blame and to grant pardon. Some of the synonyms provided for the word ‘forgive’ are, to accept apology, excuse, acquit, dismiss from the mind, kiss and make, forget, to purge, to let go, to release, to let bygones be bygones, and to wipe the slate clean.

Contrary to what this website describes as forgiveness, its’ definition is none of these things it is the absolute opposite according to the things that forgiveness ‘is not’ as stated in the last paragraph. Forgiveness is justice, it is mercy, and it is grace. Justice is mainly concerned with what is right or wrong and punishment or reward ideas. Mercy is more of a feeling or act of pity and compassion. Grace is an act of favor and honor. Forgiveness is all of these things. An example of all three combined would be an act of crime such as shoplifting.

If someone shoplifts and gets caught the person who is the victim can seek justice, and they can have mercy on the offender by pitying them. They can also grant them favor or honor, not by excusing the crime, but by simply wishing them the best in life, praying for them, or even showing different forms of acts of kindness. Just because someone seeks justice does not mean they do not forgive the offender, as the saying goes ‘Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice (Harrison Ford)’.

What I found to be most interesting in the article source were the talks about how diverse religions interpret the meaning of forgiveness. According to Answers. com, Judaist believes that if a person causes harm, but then sincerely and honestly apologizes to the wronged individual and tries to rectify the wrong, the wronged individual is religiously required to grant forgiveness. After a certain point, three sincere apologies, an attempt at restitution, and a clear indication that the person has changed, it becomes the obligation of the wronged party to forgive.

According to the article source, a person knows when he or she has forgiven when anger dissipates, reconciliation sometimes occurs, behavioral responses are calmer and steadier, and motivation to the ‘offender’ changes when the situation is not dominating your thoughts as it used to be. A person’s energy is less negative and more positive, and when our emotions are a lot less intense we let go of them faster when we have forgiven and there is a change in physical appearance, mentality, and spirituality and it usually happens without them realizing it.

The author of the article tells us how it is important to react in the right way to someone else’s mistake. When you act in response to an act or mistake, it could cause damage to good and bad sides. Fighting or taking revenge will only make a situation worse and it also means that you would commit a bad deed as well. If you do not fight or take revenge but choose to forgive, you are in a higher place than the other person. By acting maturely and not fighting or taking revenge, you will not damage your self-respect. Also, there will be peace between you and the other person because you both acted maturely. It is important to react in the right way to someone else’s mistake.

Also, it is important to forgive because avoiding forgiveness causes frustration in your heart and destroys your personality. If you forgive someone, you will feel better about yourself. Your heart and your mind will become more relaxed because you have peace in knowing that you do not have to be angry with anyone. In history, war broke out because countries could not forgive each other. If you simply learn to forgive, your mind and heart will be at peace instead of at war. Forgiveness is very important.

Lastly, forgiveness is important to you and the people around you. If you do not find forgiveness in yourself, others can become victims of your ego and revenge. If you are too prideful to forgive someone, you need to change your mindset. If someone does you wrong, you must kindly treat everyone because it is not their fault. If you don’t forgive yourself, you can’t forgive others. Forgiveness is very important to you and the people around you.

In conclusion, it is very important to forgive others. It is important to react in the right way to someone else’s mistake. It is important to never avoid forgiveness. Also, the way you react to forgiveness will affect you and the people around you. It is very important to forgive others.

Introduction

Throughout the years of Christianity, beliefs and morals have been put down as the foundation of the religion. Some of these beliefs still stand today and are at the heart of many people around the world. This video will discuss the meanings of some of these beliefs, rituals, and practices used in Christianity and how we can put some of these beliefs and practices into action at St Joseph’s College.

Good and evil are seen as opposites in most religions such as Christianity. Good can be defined as actions that demonstrate certain qualities and morals. Good is shown through many acts that are done out of love, compassion, sympathy, empathy, selflessness, and genuine care. Evil is done out of characteristics such as selfishness, self-centered, and narcissism.

Evil is many things. It is the inability to empathize and to love others. Not being able to understand the importance of emotions and connections with other human beings. Viewing others as objects rather than living people.

Forgiveness and redemption can be understood as accepting and overcoming the sins that someone has committed against you or others. Forgiveness can sometimes be seen as rare and divine by the fact that people aren’t always able to do it.

Discussion

In the bible, the word good is passed around in multiple verses. In these verses, there is usually a situation of where someone has done something that benefits something or someone. This demonstrates many qualities and morals such as love and selflessness. In Christianity, the belief of God comes with that everything in his creation is rooted in divine goodness. “God is good and His love endures forever.” (Psalms 100:5) God is more powerful than the devil so good is greater than evil.

A sin is an evil act that goes against God’s will and affects something or someone else. “Evil is the absence of good.” Evil is often divided into categories. These categories are natural evil, such as natural disasters, diseases, and birth defects; and moral evil, or a human action that results in pain and suffering for others, such as genocide, war, cruelty, exploitation, and abuse. In Christianity, it is believed that evil stems from the act of going against God’s will which results in injustice, vanity, pride, dishonesty, aggression, violence, greed, and many other terrible acts in the world. This belief is derived from the story of Adam and Eve’s original sins. Eve went against God’s will which is an explanation for hate and suffering in the world.

Reconciliation is defined as the restoration of friendly relations. In Christianity, reconciliation is a rejoice of a relationship between man and God. It is the cleanse and forgiveness of any sins and a new bond created. In the Bible, it is said that Christ reconciled us to God meaning that we needed reconciliation because our relationship with God was broken. Our sins have clouded us from the will of God. These sins are forgiven through reconciliation.

Prayer is a gateway to salvation and the light of God. It can grant you the forgiveness and the help you need to get through difficult times or to help others going through difficult times. With the action of prayer, we can ask God for forgiveness of our sins or we can ask God to forgive someone who has sinned against us. Praying to God shows that you truly care about forgiveness and if God sees you are faithful, he will forgive you because he always wants to forgive. Praying for someone else’s forgiveness shows strength in character and a true sense of love and care.

Conclusion

Forgiveness and Redemption play a massive part in how we view one another as human beings and how our world operates. Without forgiveness and redemption, the world would be a much different place filled with eternal hate and suffering, similar to hell. Forgiveness allows us to put certain things in the past that are causing us to suffer and lose focus on more important things. Being forgiven gives a sense of relief and allows an opportunity to fix mistakes and redeem ourselves. The word forgive is used 109 times in the Bible. This shows that forgiveness is a big part of the Christian faith.

Forgiveness, healing, and redemption are put into action in many ways in different actions at St Joseph College. When an incident has happened and another student has been affected, the school will set a meeting in place between the offender and victim where an opportunity for forgiveness and redemption is given which leads to the healing of the situation. If a student has done something wrong and gets a punishment, the punishment can be used as a way for the student to redeem themselves and be forgiven. Students also have opportunities to heal with the resources provided by the school. Some counselors are always there during school hours to help you with anything you need and help to heal anything affecting you.

Ah, forgiveness. I feel like this can be just as touchy of a subject as a compromise from yesterday. Human nature says that some people don’t want our forgiveness. That some people have done things that we will never be able to forgive.

I’ll give you this, it’s not easy. It’s natural to hold a grudge. It’s natural to resent people based on the past. And it’s really easy to do this in marriage.

Now hopefully your spouse hasn’t done something extreme like abuse you or cheat on you. While these things can be forgiven in a different way (in a way where you can still set boundaries and get away from the person), that’s not really what I’m talking about today. I’m talking about the less extreme problems that rise up in marriage or in any relationship for that matter.

What is forgiveness?

Well, how about I start with what forgiveness is not? Forgiving is NOT the same thing as forgetting. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you completely and immediately give them back your trust.

One of the definitions of “forgive” on dictionary.com is “to cease to feel resentment against.”

You can truly let something go and stop feeling resentful toward someone without completely forgetting the offense. Maybe you set up new boundaries around that person or a situation. Maybe you never truly trust that person again. But you’ve stopped obsessing over the issue. You’ve stopped thinking about it all the time. You’ve even stopped wishing ill will toward the person who wronged you.

Why forgive?

Well, frankly because God asked us to. If you’re a Christian and believe the Bible is God’s word, look no further than Matthew 6:14-15:

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV

Or if you want to look further, Jesus says to forgive our brother “seventy times seven” in Matthew 18:21-22, but a similar story recorded in Luke 17:3-4 states that Jesus said to forgive your brother seven times IF he says “I repent.”

A somewhat more secular reason to forgive someone is that you can free yourself from the grudge. Holding a grudge is not fun. Or easy. It’s exhausting. When you feel resentment toward someone, it eats away at you. You can become irritable, angry, and just simply not a fun person to be around.

When you refuse to forgive someone, often you’re not even hurting them. If it’s not someone you spend a lot of time with, they may not even know you are still holding on. And they certainly don’t care. But you are hurting yourself. Can you ever truly be happy and free to live your life if you’re holding grudges against everyone who’s wronged you? I say no.

Basically, forgiving other people is good for your own mental health. It’s a form of self-care!

How to forgive?

First of all, remember that forgiveness is simply letting go of resentment. In other words, to stop being mad at someone or stop holding a grudge. It does not mean you forget what they did. That is much harder to do and frankly, not always beneficial. You should remember when people have wronged you and use that knowledge to help you decide how to handle that person going forward.

But one way to forgive someone is to pray for them. A lady at our church back in Ohio told me this once and it’s always stuck with me. She said it’s hard to stay mad at someone who you’re praying for. Pray for their well-being (health, finances, etc). Pray for their heart (to change their mind about whatever they did to you. Perhaps to forgive you too). Pray for their salvation (we should want all God’s children to be saved).

In addition to praying for someone, you could also try to see things from their perspective. Or maybe imagine that they were having a bad day. And most importantly, remember that resenting them hurts you more than them. You don’t need those negative thoughts taking up space in your brain. You have better stuff to think about.

Biblical Christianity for Thoughtful People

Introduction

From the very beginning, God created a world where all his creations would work in unity on earth. Everything that God created was planned out to benefit all and align with the future. God created a path for all to walk down and each step followed another for the path of life to be complete. With all that God has created, there will always be some aspects that God cannot control, such as, sinners. Taking this into account, God will always forgive those who sin, therefore, forgiveness structures that aspect of God’s character, the role of the bible and church, faith, and Jesus.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is one of the most important aspects of Christianity. The structure of forgiveness helps build an individual and the community that they are involved in. God pushes and encourages the idea of forgiveness through Jesus and though it may be difficult for many, to become a better person and build a stronger relationship with God one must be able to forgive. “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13, NIV). Through forgiveness, an individual can strengthen their love and trust for God and also be able to strengthen their relationship with themselves. Forgiveness is the underlying concept of Christianity through Jesus himself and the compensation for sin.

God, the Creator

God is the creator of all good things within the universe. He structured each creation to benefit those who live on earth. As explained in Genesis 1-2, God created heaven and earth, sea and land, and animals and humans. This can be followed with great reasons as to why God forgives all of his creations. “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sins the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit” (Psalm 32:1-2, NIV). From the very beginning, God has hated sin, however, he loves sinners. God has already paid the price with Jesus; therefore, God’s forgiveness is seen on a very high scale. Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for those who believe to be forever freed from the guilt of sinning. Though God forgives, that does not mean that all consequences are washed away. An example of this would be the story of David, he sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and killed Uriah, her husband (2 Samuel 11, NIV). Later when David repented and acknowledged his sin, that was when God forgave him for what he has done. Though God forgave, the consequences still stand and some of David’s consequences included, the betrayal of a son, Shimei’s verbal abuse, Absalom’s death threats, and physical abuse. Yet, through all of the painful events, David still worshipped and followed God’s guidance, proving that he understands his faults and accepts the decision God made following his sins.

Jesus and his Journey

Besides God has role in forgiveness, Jesus also holds a major role in the concept of forgiveness within Christianity. In the Gospel of Luke, one of God’s angels came down to Galilee where Mary a virgin lived and told her that she will be giving birth to a child named Jesus. The angel explained to Mary that this child is to be brought upon the request of the Holy Spirit and that the birth of Jesus needed to happen. As Jesus continued to grow up, he was always considered to be wise and held characteristics that would make him a great leader. Once Jesus was baptized he began his ministry, teaching those around him about God and what he was supposed to do on earth as the Son of God. While Jesus was on earth, he conducted many wonders and miracles that no one could ever imagine. Due to his kind heart and his loving nature, many new believers were gained each day. Jesus faced many difficult times and suffered too great lengths in the presence of humankind, yet he still understood Gods doing and continued to further educate others about God and explained how everyone who believes should live in accordance with God. In today’s time, the bible helps guide the message of ‘living in accordance with God’ through the teachings and stories within the bible. The Bible can be seen as a connection to other people’s lives, it includes temptation, fairness, forgiveness, faith, and trust. The Bible teaches us about God’s commands and how people should include God’s words in their everyday life (Deuteronomy 6, NIV).

As people continue to doubt Jesus and his abilities, Jesus never strayed away from what he believed. Two examples of someone betraying Jesus would be Judas who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Luke 22:1-6, NIV), and Simon Peter who denies Jesus (Luke 22:54-62, NIV). Yet, even though Judas and Simon Peter went against Jesus, he still had it in him to forgive them for what they have done. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV). Does this show that if Jesus does not follow what God believes then how would anyone else be able to follow God’s words? Jesus sets examples so that those who believe can follow and understand who God truly is.

Christianity

As we continue to talk about God and the Son of God, it is evident that forgiveness surrounds Christianity as a whole. Forgiveness builds the foundation for a healthy relationship and for each person to grow individually they must be able to acknowledge the concept of forgiveness and why one needs to forgive. Christianity is a community and to keep the community active, healthy, and positive one must forgive others, for God to forgive them. When we commit a sin toward our peers, we are committing a sin toward God. And because of this reasoning, we must ask God to forgive the sins that we have committed and we also have to forgive those around us. Since Christianity is a community, a place to worship, such as a church is a very important aspect of the community. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12, NIV). A community should always be unified and a church helps with this because all members are included and if one were missing the overall structure would not be able to function properly. Like the structure of a body, if one part of the body is missing the whole body would not be able to function the way that it should. To be within the church is to serve the church and God. A church provides a place to honor and pray to God for all the goodness that he has brought into our lives. It also provides a place for us to pray for the less fortunate and those who need the grace of God.

Faith in the Lord

Though churches unify believers, there must also be faith in the Lord for Christianity to continue within the church. Forgiveness, faith, and church tie well together because to have faith, we must be able to forgive those around us and follow God’s words. Yet, when faith is shown in a church it unifies each believer and their faith in the Lord. We must have faith that God will guide us toward the right path in life and that he will never abandon us. When prayers are conducted during a church service or in general, we must have faith for the prayers to be heard, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22, NIV). By having faith in the Lord, we are placing all that we believe in what he does and how he will guide us. Faith is a big aspect when it comes to worshipping the Lord because it shows that we believe in what God has to say and that we trust him with everything that we have. We put our faith in God so that he can help lead us throughout our journey on earth.

Overview

In conclusion, God created the earth so that humans can be the main rulers and with that, we guide the earth to where it is today. In the hands of God, he gave us Jesus and by the end, Jesus was sacrificed for the sins committed in the world. Yet, through God and Jesus, forgiveness was taught and shown in a way where those who believe should always be able to forgive to move on from difficult times. God will always guide our journey as long as we follow his words and live in a world where we forgive and love those around us. Forgiveness is shown in the characteristic of God and Jesus and it is also shown within the role of the bible and churches. Another aspect that ties in with forgiveness would be faith in the Lord and his son. Forgiveness is one of the main aspects that we all should live by because it will open up greater opportunities for us once we let go of the ideas and thoughts holding us back.