A Wrong Concept Of Forgiveness!

Dr. Dan Juster is considered to be one of the premier Messianic Theologians of our day. Peacemakers ministry has even posted several chapters from his book"Due Process." I am posting excepts from the introduction and his chapter on forgiveness. Like Peter of old, I am not ashamed to remind us all of what we have been taught. Princple is superior to pragmatism and Truth must rule supreme in every relationship.
[rgh]

"With regards to the American Church...the words of the prophet certainly hold true: "My people do not understand My ways" (Ps. 95:10; Heb. 3:10). Today, most people who claim to be followers of Jesus do not understand God's standards of righteousness and justice. It is not that we are striving toward that standard and falling short. Rather, we do not even know what our Father expects of us. Our shallow, media Christianity has taught aspects of the basic gospel, but most Christians and Messianic Jews are creatures of shallowness. They have not delved into the Scriptures to understand the ways of God. Popular conceptions of God's ways are at war with the teachings of the Bible. Although the believing community is called to be a city on a hill, a light shining in darkness and the salt of the earth, we are instead a laughingstock of fallen clergy and people full of slander, with children in rebellion...."

"A wrong understanding of forgiveness has been major cause of the destruction of justice in the Body the Messiah. Forgiveness basically means to release another from further indebtedness. When a person says, "I was wrong, will you forgive me?" the example of Jesus requires us to forgive. This forgiveness may require that restitution be made by the offending party to prove real repentance (the fruits of repentance). To say "I'm sorry" can be a cheap way for a person to continue in sin and be indulged by others. The manipulator will take full advantage of that. On the other hand, if the person is truly repentant and the issue is not one of a sin pattern, the offended party may release him from restitution. In either case, the motive of the offended party should be love."

"Some will be shocked to read this. It goes against what has recently become popular Christian teaching. The old humanistic indulgence returns under the guise of "You must forgive me." Some unbelievers, like con artists, have claimed to be believers in order to literally "rip off" the saints, secure in the fact that the saints must forgive and take no action. Is that really so? The saints can disfellowship the rogue and take him to court so that society is protected."

"Forgiveness does not mean that we give up our quest for a justice motivated by love and for the good of all."

http://www.peacemakers.net/unity/DueProcess.htm