Conditional Forgiveness: Don't Forgive Them Just Yet

If a person does you wrong and does not repent, you don’t have to forgive them. And you shouldn't. I am convinced that with a better understanding of the obligations due in the process of repentance and forgiveness, we will be better equipped to deal with the breaks in fellowship that plague our families, communities, our churches and ultimately our society.

Yes, I used the word obligation. Scripture hands out obligations when it comes to our sinning against each other, whether willfully or accidentally. Both parties in the wronged vs. “wrong-ee” situation have a certain set of responsibilities that they must, in order to maintain godly love in our lives, fulfill.

That is the purpose of this book: A better understanding of repentance and forgiveness will inevitably lead to the healing of unnecessary fractures that we have created, and unfortunately, we have many times done so in the name of Christ. And yes, this also has implications and applications for church splits, charges of heresy in our midst, but most importantly, those little quibbles we often love to have with one another.