The Church as Forgiving Community: An Initial Model

[The Church as Forgiving Community: An Initial Model

Summary

The Journal article, under discussion, encompasses the role of the school, family and the church in creating the church in creating the forgiving communities. The purpose of these forgiving communities is to create understanding in people regarding being forgiving. Initially, the writer presented the church as a main element in cultivating a culture of forgiveness. The model prepared for the awareness targets the church and its leadership.

The writer chooses a church as a model of forgiveness because the teachings of God and Jesus clearly define that forgiveness is the divine quality. It wins the heart of people. The effect of this very divine act leaves an unforgettable mark on the offender and brings contentment to the forgiver.

Forgiveness has always been a main concern in the discourses of pastors in their regular church services, but it gained popularity when social scientists did some research work on it. In this context, works by Worthington and Enright are noticeable. Enright stated that forgiveness reduces anger and anxiety and increases self-respect, optimism and appreciation in the forgiver. According to Worthington, the forgiver understands the feelings of the offender and forgives him in that scenario. Both the social scientists talked about one common factor of forgiveness, and that is empathy (Magnuson & Enright, 2008).

The article suggests that forgiveness greatly affect mental, physical and spiritual growth. The effects of forgiveness can be far reaching if the children of a society learn to forgive others. Hence, their moral growth will aid them in their later life. The problem is how to help children learn forgiveness. For this reason, the school, family and the church must contribute their part in promoting a sense of forgiveness in children.

The church, being a religious area, has a special role to play. The forgiving communities must be founded on the religious grounds. The teachings of the New Testament also emphasizes on practicing forgiveness to sustain a relationship. The model presented for educating children in church targets the leadership in different levels of church. The scope of the model was so wide that it also covered the adults.

Granting forgiveness is not an easy practice. One must have to absorb pain in this process, and overcome anger. When one achieves this level of self composition, he must commit forgiveness to himself. A very strong conviction is required to go on the divine path of forgiveness. However, receiving forgiveness leads to personality change. It brings positivity in the offender's attitudes, and he starts repenting on his behaviors. The forgiven offenders may turn into active forgivers as they understand the effect of apology. Moreover, the offender and the victim realize that they both are playing their part to save the relationship (Magnuson & Enright, 2008).

The church as forgiving communities requires the cooperation from multiple levels of society. The article suggests that to achieve the objective of a forgiving culture in the society the church leadership can be very ...