How do people call themselves Christians if they can't even forgive a person?

[mrshooiser]

[BCRanger10]

What do you mean by "forgive"? Of course, we ought to forgive offenses against us, but that doesn't mean that we don't still feel the effects of the offense, nor that we might not still feel the anger or sadness that resulted. Having those feelings is not by itself sinful.

Not does forgiveness absolve the offender from trying to male amends and reparations for the offense committed. Justice is still very much a thing.

[DishLady]

People call themselves Christians and break ALL KINDS of rules all the time... and don't seem to care.

Forgiveness is relative. Two people have a dispute and one claims to "forgive" the other about something that is really just a twist on the situation (rather than offering an apology), which is why we have the passage in the bible about seeing the splinter in one person's eye but not the log in our own eye (Matt 7:3-5). So this is not a new problem...

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

This is why I say conservative christians aren’t real christians. The two ideologies are too conflicting to make either successful.

[Orion84]

I think lots of people call themselves Christians, just because for some of them, it's almost like a club.

Many of them do not act like Christians, at all, and in fact behave contrary to Christianity's teachings. They all band together like some sort of cult, and think they're better than everyone else, just because they call themselves "Christians."

[Agape93]

Because most modern christians haven't even read the bible in full, just the random parts their churches read to them or tell them to read. I've read it cover to cover, and it's hilarious how few understand that within are supporting statements of slavery, rapes, genocides and even god performing an abortion if a woman is deemed to be a cheating whore.

[Chazmatazz269]

Catholics believe that they are allowed to sin with impunity as long as they beg forgiveness from their lord. Ell oh ell!
The bible teaches us fundamental rules for living and thriving in a challenging world. We don’t have to forgive if it sets us up to be victimized. Especially if it means being revictimized. ‘Virtuous’ isn’t synonymous with ‘sucker’.

[BCRanger10]

"Catholics believe that they are allowed to sin with impunity as long as they beg forgiveness from their lord."

I like you Chaz, but I can assure you that this is not correct. I say this as a Catholic, but not only that, but a certified Catechist as well.

[Chazmatazz269]

I’ve spent a lot of time around Christians of all denominations. Not one Catholic has behaved in a way that sets themselves apart from that stereotype. So you can pretend that you’re doing it perfectly, or that you know someone who is, but i know you’re full of sh*t. It’s not my fault that the reality of the hypocrisy of your religion gets your panties in a bunch.

[BCRanger10]

Can you provide any examples?

[sean1234]

Do Catholics really visit a tiny little room with a priest behind a thin wall and confess or is that only in the movies? If it's real, that in itself is a sin.

[BCRanger10]

@sean1234 That is a real thing. Feel free to explain.

[sean1234]

So many verses to say it's a sin. For starters, our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name or our father who is catholic etc?

I'm honestly not sure what verse to put down 1st. So many. I'll just go with this for now...

Matthew 23:7-12

And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

[sean1234]

1 John 1:7-9

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Can't forget this one either. He is faithful and will forgive us our sin? It's not the Pope, nor priests. For them to do that is to say they are God.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

[BCRanger10]

@sean1234 Literally none of those at all say that sacramental confession is a sin. Not even remotely.

If we're not to address anyone as "father", then did Jesus contradict himself when earlier in the same Gospel (Chapter 15), he reiterates the command to honor our fathers and mothers? Or is there perhaps deeper significance to what he says in Chapter 23?

I'll also point out what James 5 says, "confess your sins to one another", a few verses earlier instructing the faithful to call for the "elders" (whom might he be referring to 🤔). Confessing one's sins to another who is their equal and has no particular significant or unique roles seems kind of an empty gesture, don't you think?

And lastly, why would Jesus tell the Apostles to forgive or retain sins after the Resurrection? Again, an empty statement if they don't know what the sins are that they are to forgive or retain.

[sean1234]

So those catholic people are not going in a little booth and saying "forgive me (as in the one in the booth) father for i have sinned?"

The Bible very clearly apparently says it is a sin. Call no man your father

Matthew 23:9

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

There is clearly only 2 kinds of father, the Heavenly father and Earthly, that got with you mom and had you. Matthew 23:9 is talking about the heavenly one.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

This is saying to not look to the Pope or priest or pray to Mary, but Jesus only.

[BCRanger10]

@sean1234 Yes, we do call our priests "father". That's the whole basis of this discussion. I've made no attempt to dodge or twist it at all. I pointed out that Jesus reiterated the command to "honor thy father and thy mother" and then asked if the same man contradicted himself in just a few chapters later when he said "call no man your father". You have not answered that. Is the Bible correct and there's a significance and meaning to what Jesus said or are you correct? I don't know about you, but I'm going with the Bible.

Sean, this is the exact same thing you did when we discussed Catholic belief on the Body and Blood of Christ some months ago, when I said that Catholics believe that Holy Communion truly is said Body and Blood and pointed to John 6 and the Last Supper to support. You then said Jesus did in fact mean it and then spent the rest of the argument somehow claiming that Catholic believe is still wrong, evil, and heretical. Am I remembering this correctly or what?

This is what happens when you take these verses in isolation and at surface level value in contemporary language and with contemporary thinking. This, among other reasons, is why you, "Latino awesome dude" (we'll call him), and "never not irresponsible" (we'll call her... assuming she's still here; she blocked me after I called her out enormous self-righteous Karen-victim complex) are three of the WORST witnesses to Jesus Christ that I've seen on G@G. The three of you create more atheists and apostates than you do believers.

So sorry, but you've got nothing.

[sean1234]

I did explain, there is a earthly father, the one who got with your mother and had YOU and our Heavenly Father. There is only TWO, not a 3rd guy in a catholic church.

The 5th Commandment is talking about both Heavenly and earthly father. How is that hard to understand?

[sean1234]

Oh and it's also obey the church, which is what the bible says, not some guy misinterpreting it.

[sean1234]

The mother is a representation of the Church, to make it clear.

[talka20]

I think in a lot of such cases it is easy said than done. And that is also very judgmental statement that they call themselves as Christians but not forgive. there's no situation given. For example one would forgive a a joke about their height but may not be able to forgive someone who hit their pet w some stone/stick. People go through a lot of injustice in life by other people which makes it very difficult for them to forgive.

[sean1234]

Easy, they never read the Bible and don't know what Christianity is about. Perhaps even have a fake preacher.

[jshm2]

Because being Christian is bogus to begin with.

Jesus, his half brothers, nor his parents were "Christians".

[strateguy632]

Because Christians means a faith in a certain idea, regardless of forgiving anyone.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. But you get that just because you get saved and become a Christian does not mean you stop being human. I try to be a good Christian, but this is an area I struggle with. I ask God to help me be less judgmental.

[Ariesman81]

Everyone falls short of God's grace. If it were easy to do, Jesus wouldn't have had to die.

[Dargil]

Every belief system has backsliders.

[Quetaismymiddlename]

Forgive them for what give an example?