Having an issue with a long-time work colleague. He was actually my best man.
He has always been very confident and is now doing something very important as he approaches retirement.
He talks about this thing continually. And when I tried to involve others in our discussions, it always reverts back to this thing. There was others' great suffering that needed to be shared, partly relating to the times we live in.
I wrote an email later to explain my less than compliant behaviour at our last meeting. A month later I got a reply with a weak apology, saying that being "insensitive" was part of his character (and which made him the successful manager he is - my gloss!). Now he wants to invite us back, with our forgiveness, so that, in my opinion, he can continue his monologue.
Well, the theological issue is, what value does my forgiveness have? Forgiveness is not cheap - look at what God had to do to forgive our sinfulness? The offence has to be accepted as a real offence. My friend certainly believes I have been too 'sensitive'.
I feel I should ask him to do something out of his comfort zone. Like helping me move house.
After all, we are told to produce fruit commensurate with our repentance.
If I just say "oh, that's all right", and then worse follow it up with "Oh, well, I was being too sensitive and anyway, this project of yours is rightly important to you", doesn't it cheapen the whole biblical theme of offence - repentance - forgiveness - fruit?
He has always been very confident and is now doing something very important as he approaches retirement.
He talks about this thing continually. And when I tried to involve others in our discussions, it always reverts back to this thing. There was others' great suffering that needed to be shared, partly relating to the times we live in.
I wrote an email later to explain my less than compliant behaviour at our last meeting. A month later I got a reply with a weak apology, saying that being "insensitive" was part of his character (and which made him the successful manager he is - my gloss!). Now he wants to invite us back, with our forgiveness, so that, in my opinion, he can continue his monologue.
Well, the theological issue is, what value does my forgiveness have? Forgiveness is not cheap - look at what God had to do to forgive our sinfulness? The offence has to be accepted as a real offence. My friend certainly believes I have been too 'sensitive'.
I feel I should ask him to do something out of his comfort zone. Like helping me move house.
After all, we are told to produce fruit commensurate with our repentance.
If I just say "oh, that's all right", and then worse follow it up with "Oh, well, I was being too sensitive and anyway, this project of yours is rightly important to you", doesn't it cheapen the whole biblical theme of offence - repentance - forgiveness - fruit?