Seeking to undo the consequences of sinful actions is not the same as repentance for a changed heart. God can forgive anyone of anything but the consequences of a deeply broken relationship cannot always be mended.
When the betrayal is so deep and so long all trust is removed. This does not mean someone is unforgiving, it just means that the one who repents in word only, likely remains in the same mindset and will re-offend.
Any attempts on the part of the offender to "do better next time" is merely manipulation because of the realization of what they have lost. The hope that pretending to be sorry will get back what they lost so they can continue as they always have without conscience is not repentance but it is manipulation.
Conscience demands that an offender is so deeply sorrowful that they do not want to repeat the unkind and rude behavior again. Those who have a conscience desire to make sure the one they offended knows they are sorry and want to mend the relationship.
Unrepentant people don't care about the relationship and will make excuses for or deny what they have done, further damaging any chances of reconciliation. People like this cannot be trusted to change and grow, they remain spiritual and emotional infants fighting to be superior only proving that they cannot develop beyond what they have always been.
Proverbs 24:20-22 "…20 For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished. 21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious. 22 For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?…"
Matthew 7:6
"Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."
There is a mentality in the modern church that we remain with wicked people just in case they might like how kind we are to them and want Jesus. This is seriously misguided and not based on Scripture.
Christ never remained with those who rejected Him and He called out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees when they acted humanly pias and superior to others.
Matthew 23:27-28
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
The modern church guilts people into remaining with evil people merely so we can influence them. This mentality considers our personal actions more powerful than the Holy Spirit Who must work in people. We are the messengers to speak the truth but the Holy Spirit is the One Who works on people who have heard.
We are not responsible to keep trying over and over and over again when someone is resisting. Moving on from rebellious people is an act of faith. Remaining with them hoping we will be the ones to impact them is lacking the faith to let go and let God.
Remaining with people often is an excuse to persist in codependency out of fear that we will be alone. There is much more Spiritual and emotional growth needed if we cannot walk alone with Christ. When we cannot walk away from those who we thought used to love us when they have proven that they do not love Christ, we are dependent on them more than on Christ.
Psalm 118:8: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man"
Christ must be first in our lives even if we have to leave behind all those who do not want to walk the narrow way with us.
When someone genuinely shows interest in the things of the Lord, is humble authentically, and demonstrates a desire to learn we can be excited and encouraged to develop that relationship.
No comments:
Post a Comment