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Book: Forgiveness: A Surprising Way Forward
Authors: Mark Henderson and Michael Snuffer
Genre: Non-fiction; Interpersonal Relations; Religion
Release date: April 13, 2023
WHY AM I SO MISUNDERSTOOD? I am only trying to do what is right! Of course, I forgive, but I can’t seem to get past the pain. God seems distant. Does he even care about me?
Do any of these questions hit close to home? It may surprise you that the underlying cause is often hidden unforgiveness. Our closest relationships, emotional health, and perhaps even our faith seem to be crumbling around us, but most of us have no idea that forgiveness is the way forward. If we are honest, we don’t even know what forgiveness is. We may have a vague idea that it has something to do with “forgetting” or “letting go” but would be hard-pressed to come up with a working definition. Worse yet, we have no idea how to practice forgiveness in a way that brings lasting relief from the hurt we carry. Most of us are not trying to hang on to the pain, but freedom is elusive.
Freedom from your pain is within reach! Forgiveness is not a vague, esoteric concept, nor is it a lofty, out-of-reach ideal. Forgiveness: A Surprising Way Forward digs into the biblical definition of forgiveness, tells real stories of real people who have found healing, clears up some huge misconceptions surrounding forgiveness, and teaches us how to practice forgiveness. If we do not address the wounds of our past, they will shape our future. God has provided a powerful tool to help us find freedom—forgiveness is the surprising way forward!
Excerpt:
Don’t get me wrong, Jesus’ stories are shockingly brilliant. But when I am honest with myself, when I actually step out of the I-am-a-mature-Christian-so-I-should-understand-this mindset, I admit that Jesus’ stories sometimes leave me perplexed. The disciples themselves, who spent nearly every day with Jesus for three years, often seemed to walk away a bit confused. Have you noticed? (Check out Luke 18:34, John 12:16, and Mark 4:10, 13) When I read these verses, I imagine a disciple said something like, “OK, Jesus, now what exactly did you mean by that story?”
The story of the unforgiving servant is no exception. We don’t know the reason, but the man in Jesus’ story owed an absurd amount of money to the king. The interest on his debt kept piling up, and the servant couldn’t possibly even make the minimum payments. Now, the king was calling in the entire debt, and it was time to pay up. The servant’s whole life and family were being liquidated for cash. There was no filing for bankruptcy; a life of slavery awaited him.
Missed Excerpts:
About The Authors
Mark Henderson
Michael Snuffer
Don’t get me wrong, Jesus’ stories are shockingly brilliant. But when I am honest with myself, when I actually step out of the I-am-a-mature-Christian-so-I-should-understand-this mindset, I admit that Jesus’ stories sometimes leave me perplexed. The disciples themselves, who spent nearly every day with Jesus for three years, often seemed to walk away a bit confused. Have you noticed? (Check out Luke 18:34, John 12:16, and Mark 4:10, 13) When I read these verses, I imagine a disciple said something like, “OK, Jesus, now what exactly did you mean by that story?”
The story of the unforgiving servant is no exception. We don’t know the reason, but the man in Jesus’ story owed an absurd amount of money to the king. The interest on his debt kept piling up, and the servant couldn’t possibly even make the minimum payments. Now, the king was calling in the entire debt, and it was time to pay up. The servant’s whole life and family were being liquidated for cash. There was no filing for bankruptcy; a life of slavery awaited him.
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