Often it happens that a person's sin against us is not an aberration, but an expression of something that is an integral part of who they are. Even once we have forgiven them for that action, we find that all our interactions with them have the echoes of that sin within them. We realize that as long as we know this person, it is likely that they will hurt us in the same way again and again.
I love Jennie's article and feel what she's saying, but how much is forgiveness possible when there's no repentance? In the case of someone who, in their very essence, hurts us - someone who is perhaps clueless about the extent of the damage they have done and continue to do - if this person has not repented (expressed responsibility, sorrow and a desire to change) maybe forgiveness is not something that is possible. I'm wondering if we need to look for other biblical instructions for dealing with such a situation. A few ideas: turning the other cheek, loving enemies, praying for those who persecute you, forbearance, getting rid of bitter and angry thoughts, leaving vengence to God...
Such things are not all that different to forgiveness, but they are things that are achievable from one end. If the other person hasn't repented, a real reconciliation and restoration of the relationship that forgiveness implies can't happen.
What do you think?
