The whole idea of forgiveness is one that seems often misunderstood when it comes to the church. Common statements about it include, “So if someone sins on Saturday, all they have to do is come to church on Sunday and they’ll be forgiven?” or “Does that mean child molestors get to go to heaven and is treated the same as Someone who has never sinned in his or her life?”
People often assume that a Christian can commit all the sins they want and still get into Heaven. I find this as ridiculous as anyone else. Afterall, forgiveness takes more than just words. If a person asks for forgiveness from either God or another human, it means that they realize what they did was wrong, that it hurt the offender, and that they will work to do better. If a person turns around and commits the act all over, are they really sorry? And if they aren’t sorry, then they can’t be forgiven. As the cliché goes, “Actions speak louder than words.”
As for the questions that tend to come up in regards to child molestors and murderers: Well, yes, they can get into Heaven. But, they have to apologize, in other words, recognize the wrong and do better in the future. Can this happen on their death beds? Although I can’t really find the logic to back this up, I believe it can.
It seems absurd that a sinner gets the same treatment as a saint, just because they both apologize, but maybe it shouldn’t seem so crazy. Afterall, there is forgiveness to go around, so the saint isn’t getting any less. It’s just prideful to think that a person who has lived perfectly their entire life is a better person than one who has made mistakes but has worked to become a better human being.
I suppose it is appropriate to add a disclaimer: I am not a theological scholar, I just grew up in a church where forgiveness was a common theme. I am not trying to convert anyone, I just thought I’d share my beliefs about the topic. I would, as always, love to hear what you believe.
I think you hit the nail on the head with those common misperceptions about religious forgiveness. And I agree that people who think certain people deserve to be punished worse than those who are "saintly" are "prideful" (but I don't think that's quite the right word...).
People often assume that a Christian can commit all the sins they want and still get into Heaven. I find this as ridiculous as anyone else.
Can this happen on their death beds? Although I can’t really find the logic to back this up, I believe it can.
These two statements seem logically inconsistent and also seem to undermine each other. You may have set-out to clarify misconceptions but it seems to me that you mainly perpetuated them.
I was baptized and confirmed as a Christian but I live and believe as an athiest (who waivers occassionally). On my death bed I may take out an insurance policy against going to hell by feverently and sincerely reasserting my Christian faith and begging forgiveness. I'm mainly a fairly decent person who lives my life as morally as many people who claim to be Christian. I think as long as I accept Jesus Christ as my savior at the last moment I am just as good as the guy who sings loudly in Church on Sunday and is an ass the other 6 days of the week.
If, when you die, you realize the mistakes you have made and apologize for them, and you believe every word you say, then yeah, I think you have the right to go to Heaven. However, if it is just a matter of convienence, than that may be different. And yes, I think God will be able to know your motivations. And singing loudly has nothing to do with being a good person, he very well may be an ass in church as well as anywhere else.
I'm not quite sure I understand how the statements are inconsistent with each other. I know that I admitted to laking any proof for the second statement, that's just how I feel about it. As for the second one, maybe the person didn't realize that their sins were wrong until they were facing death.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
They seem inconsistent to me because in the first you imply that a person who commits all the sins they want cannot go to heaven and in the second you imply that a person can commit all the sins they want and still go to heaven just so long as they genuinely and sincerely repent and ask for foregiveness and accept Jesus Christ as their savior on their death bed.
To me it is inconsistent to first say that they can't go to heaven and then subsequently say that they can go to heaven. Did I misunderstand you?
Like you, I am no biblical scholar and I make no such pretenses. But it seems to me that various passages of the New Testament reflect similar inconsistencies. For example there is a passage about it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven which to me makes it sound like it is impossible for a rich man to go to heaven under almost any circumstances. And then there are other passages that basically make it sound pretty easy to get to heaven even for a rich man. All you have to do is repent, accept Jesus Christ and ask for foregiveness. A rich man could do that easily. There are plenty of rich people that are genuine believers.
Whenever you ask forgiveness, you have to really be sincere about it, that's pretty much my whole point to the blog. That's where the difference is.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
I guess the easiest way to say it is God forgives everyone for everything. There is no magic formula of timing or certain phrase that is required. By the same token God punishes ALL sin. There is no way to sin without penalty. Acts which carry a penalty ARE sin.
For an individual to RECEIVE forgiveness requires a spiritual act of contrition and faith in the mercy of God, or the truth as you see it. That forgiveness is there for everyone, but if you do not know or believe enough to accept it you cannot benefit from it.
Being forgiven is the same as being innocent. If you do wrong and you do not know any better you are innocent all along. If you continue to do wrong even though you you know it to be wrong you are burdened by guilt. That guilt cannot be removed by saying a phrase or two insincerely on your death bed.
None of us has lived anything like a perfect life. We all need to be forgiven or carry guilt with us. Feelings of guilt lead to many of the worst evils that men do.
"This is no time to be making new enemies."
Reputed to be the final words of Voltaire in response to a priest that had asked him to renounce Satan on his death Bed.
I actually wrote a post on forgiveness several months ago (it's on my livejournal account). I got a mix of responses to it. One of my LJ friends (a Christian) said that we could not offer forgiveness, only give it to those who asked. Thus, a drunk driver who drank and drove only once, but never repented could not be forgiven, whereas a drunk driver who did that several times, and asked forgiveness, could. Another (a girl in the process of converting to Judaism) said that we could not give forgiveness to everyone, merely because only those who are hurt by an action can give forgiveness. Thus, a murderer could never be completely forgiven because his victim is... dead.
Both are interesting concepts. To me, spiritually, the Jewish concept makes more sense; forgiveness is something that takes a burden off your shoulders, so to speak. If you do not get that forgiveness from those you hurt, then how can you be truly absolved of your sin? Won't your action haunt you until you get that forgiveness?
~C
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