Is Forgiveness Selfish?

It is common for Christians to promote the idea that we should forgive others to heal ourselves. This sounds logical and offers an incentive to forgive. If I can see the benefit of doing something hard, like forgiving those whom I do not think deserve forgiveness, I will be more likely to give it a try. We are always asking, “What’s in it for me?” The problem with this kind of teaching in Christianity is its antithetical stance against the Gospel. A born-again child of God who has died to self and been raised to new life should no longer ask the question, “What’s in it for me?” Evidence of someone dead to self and alive in Christ is a transition from being entirely focused on oneself to being wholly focused on God and others. Self has been crucified in Christ. Self has been lost in Christ. With this orientation toward putting others first, we are now able to approach forgiveness with the mind of Christ. We forgive, first and foremost, out of obedience to God. God commands us to forgive others from the heart. Given the sacrificial nature of Christ, who gave the commandment, we can assume that the purpose is to promote the Gospel, which is a ministry of reconciliation. God reconciled us to Himself through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Spotless Lamb now asks us to be reconciled to one another through the sacrifice of our bruised pride, ego, and self. Forgiveness is a sacrificial act of self-denial, rooted in love for God first and for others second. It is an invitation to self-denial, not self-esteem and self-love. Let us put on the mind of Christ and always remember that the Gospel is a ministry of reconciliation. When we demonstrate self-denial through obedience to God, we become the salt and light of the world, and our very lives serve as a powerful tool for evangelism to those who are trapped in bitter darkness.

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