16. How are we to respond to one who says, "I forgive,' yet acts out revenge?
Reconcilation is complex.
It includes smaller steps that I did not discuss in the sermon on Genesis 50 because it wasn't in the story.
After confession, restitution follows. If you confess having stolen from someone, the next step is paying back what was stolen. If you don't, then confession seems hollow and the forgiving party will want to know when the return is scheduled! If you think you should be forgiven WITHOUT RESTITUTION, then the wounded party may appear to be acting in vengeance toward you!!!!
If confession is followed by restitution, and still vengeful behaviour comes, then that requires a second confrontation, this time on the 'confessors' part. The roles are reverse.
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How can the confessor make restitution when the wounded party says, "I forgive you but I no longer want to be in relationship with you"? And then they break off all contact so they never have to see you again. If distance/avoidance is the 'restitution' requested by the wounded party, is reconciliation really possible? Of course it's completely understandable that they would want to break off the relationship. In many ways avoidance is less painful than reconciliation. And I suppose it's up to the wounded person to decide how much pain they can bear.
Yep, you're right. That is a choice open to the wounded person.
In a perfect world (The Kingdom), all broken relationships would be reconciled.
In our world, we live with disappointment over failed efforts to reconcile. We look for hope in Christ, and His promise to make all things right!!
This is where the phrase "already/not yet" helps me. We already experience the Kingdom, but not yet in the full form.
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