"UNFORGIVENESS & GRUDGE HOLDING"
By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.
Many times as one
goes through life a
person gets 'hurt".
Sometimes
physically, and
sometimes
emotionally.
Probably the
emotional hurts are
viewed as the worst.
When a close
acquaintance lets
one down,
sub-consciously or
purposely, it is
hard to forget.
Often, just one word
or action can end a
friendship between
neighbors,
relatives,
co-workers,
fellow-students, and
even brethren in the
Lord's Church. Of
course it is Satan
that gets a real
thrill out of seeing
people hurt one
another. He is very
much aware of the
fact that when he
succeeds at
prompting this to
happen that the work
of the Kingdom of
God will be slowed
down.
Jesus has a great
deal to say about
forgiving one
another and not
holding a grudge. In
Matthew 6:14, 15 He
said that if one
wanted forgiveness,
from God, then this
person had better
learn to forgive
those who have been
offensive to
him/her. This is a
hard and difficult
Scripture. Most of
us like to avoid
these kind of
Scriptures. However,
if a person is going
to mature in his/her
Christian faith -
then it is an
absolute must that
these kind of
Scriptures be
adhered to. The same
Bible that insists
that a sinner be
immersed for the
forgiveness of sins
and the gift of the
Holy Spirit, and
that Christians
observe the Lord's
Supper weekly also
teaches that
forgiveness is a
MUST (Acts 2:38;
20:7).
Several different
words are translated
into English from
root words in the
New Testament Greek
manuscripts, which
gives one the idea
of being unforgiving
and holding a
grudge. Some of them
are: 1) Envious 2)
Meanness 3)
Resentful 4)
Loveless 5) Grumbler
6) Murmurer 7) Not
Sorrowful
Seemingly many are
members of the
Lord's Church who
have forgotten that
it is by God's Grace
that they have been
saved and not of any
good which they have
done (Ephesians
2:8,9). Thus, many
have a pious spirit
about themselves,
which can cause one
to be very
unforgiving toward
anyone who "crosses"
them or who does not
part their hair the
same way that they
part theirs. Every
year family reunions
have some of the
family not present
due to the fact that
forgiveness has not
been offered or
accepted by someone.
It is a terrible
thing for a person
to go through life
with a spirit of
guilt due to not
apologizing for a
deed unjustly
performed or
likewise for
refusing to accept
an apology from some
well meaning
acquaintance.
Yes, a spirit of
unforgiveness and
holding a grudge
will send a person
to hell. Ephesians
4:17-32 is a good
starting place for a
person desirous of
following Jesus all
the way. One can
sing with the mouth
"...all to Jesus I
surrender...", but
until he/she gets
the words into the
heart they are void.
KYOWVA Evangelistic
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