{Forgiveness}[16th March 1988]

[Redbook5:66][19880316:1300]{Forgiveness}[16th March 1988]

19880316.13

*'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain the charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector.'#

(Matthew 18:15-17)

→ #'Outcasts with whom the pious Jews could not communicate, see S.46 and 9.10e. Compare the excommunication of 1Co. 5:11h.'

(N[ew ]J[erusalem ]B[ible])

I believe, on balance, that the Bible requires repentance before it requires forgiveness: and this makes some sense for the Soul of the sinner. Nevertheless I have drafted a letter to each of my parents (in identical terms) telling them that if they have done anything wrong to me,** I forgive them: and this is for the Soul of this sinner, who believes himself wronged.

Ironically, it was after reading the two books by fundamentalist[,] or extreme Protestant[,] Christians against the New Age doctrines that I decided that this step was required of me if I am to be able to proceed, and even to regain the sense and presence of Christ which I believed myself to have this time last year. The irony arises from the fact that these authors' authority is the Bible literally as the word of God, in the light of the Spirit, whereas I feel that the Bible literally indicates that I should await {their}**** repentance: it is my awareness of the meaning of Jesus Christ which leads me to this action. I expect no response from my parents.

*(cf. III/IV

[[e.g.:[Redbook3:44-46][19870327:2157d]{Separation}[27^th March 1987],

[Redbook3:215][19870425:1348](ANOTHER RELAPSE)[25th April 1987]f,

[Redbook4:8-9][19870705:1545k]{Parental Concerns}[5^th July 1987],

[Redbook4:46-47][19870714:1052]{Past and Future}[14^th July 1987],

[Redbook4:123][19871014:2155]{Methodology: Matters Arising}[14th October 1987],

[Redbook4:206-211][19871210:2315b]{The Transfer of Burdens and the Forgiveness of Sins – (1) Transfer}[10th December 1987] ff,

& esp.[Redbook4:211][19871210:2315i]{The Transfer of Burdens and the Forgiveness of Sins [continued (9)] – (3) The Knowledge of God and Evil [continued (4)]}[10th December 1987],

[Redbook4:245-246][19871220:0000c]{The Weatherman}[20th December 1987], &

[Redbook4:287][19880104:1622d]{The Flat}[4th January 1988].]

)

**{cf. [[Redbook5:80][19880316:2143b]{Love and Forgiveness}[16th March 1988],] 80.}

[The ‘if’ clause was inserted to enable them to accept the forgiveness. There was no doubt in mind about the wrong. <20180204>]

****{}[inserted] <891907>

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