Liberians have been called upon to forgive one another if they must experience a new year in their lives. “Many relationships and fellowships are affected by the lack of forgiveness in the country”, according to the Bishop of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church International, Rev. Dr. Kortu K. Brown.
He was speaking during 5-day preparatory and spiritual activities for the reception of the New Year, 2023 at New Water in the Desert Assembly in Brewerville, Montserrado County. The activities ran from Wednesday, December 28, 2022 thru Sunday, January 1, 2023 when church members gathered for the annual event of the church
Bishop Brown who is also pastor of New Water in the Desert Assembly, spoke about the toll the lack of forgiveness is having on the country including families, churches, communities, etc. “The Liberian spirit is depraved because of the lack of forgiveness. People mostly pretend to one another. Every sector of Liberian life is challenged by bitterness, deceit and the lack of compassion for one another”, he said.
The immediate past president of the Liberia Council of Churches bemoaned the poor state of reconciliation in the country contending that reconciliation is only possible if there is forgiveness adding even all the political parties and coalitions are challenged by the lack of reconciliation because of the absence of forgiveness. They only pretend to one another. Liberia is being ruined by the lack of forgiveness”, he asserted.
“If Liberians must experience the benefits of a new year, then they must decide that they will walk pass the indifference holding the country back and find common grounds otherwise the same challenges overwhelming us in 2022 and before, will continue to hunt us as a people and a nation”, he averred, adding “every Liberian leader says he loves the country and is committed to its forward movement. However, how can we do it if we don’t want to engage one another; if we don’t want to forgive one another; if we don’t want to reconcile”
Definition of forgiveness
The preacher defined forgiveness in two-fold; firstly, as an act of God’s grace whereby He forgives and forget forever and do not hold people of faith accountable for sins they confess according to 1 John 1:9 which includes righting the believer’s relationship to God through His gracious act of forgiveness. He told his audience that “to a lesser degree, forgiveness can also be the gracious human act of not holding wrong acts against a person. This is the human dimension when acts and attitudes of people who have wronged us are tempered with forgiveness. Everyone needs forgiveness”, he said
Offenses
Using the Bible book of St. Luke Chapter 17 verses 1 through 4, Bishop Brown averred that many Liberians were putting hindrances in the way of their fellow compatriots which amounts to offences that cause indignation and disgust. “But God takes note of them”, he said. He therefore suggested that we as a people utilize 3 types of forgiveness put forth by experts, if we must move the country
Exoneration
Bishop Brown warned that a lot of people are refusing to absolve others of blame even when they know that the people may not be wronged and/or didn’t intentionally wrong them. “We don’t drop the case even when we know the facts. Many Liberians refused to admit the facts even when they know the truth. Some offenses are unintentional and/or an accident. We must be truthful and say to others when we are sure the other person didn’t intend to hurt us although they hurt us”.
Unintentional wrongs can be action committed by a child or someone incapable of understanding the implications of their offense or action. “This is part of why our prisons are packed with inmates because we are failing to exonerate unintentional hurtful actions against us” adding sometimes “the hurting person is truly sorry and takes full responsibility for his / her action, yet we are unable to exonerate them sometimes because of other motives”, he cried.
Bishop Brown cautioned that anyone “failing to let go of past will hurt themselves more than the people who hurt them”. He spoke of people who wronged you but don’t take full responsibility and the others who refuse to accept that they have wronged you. “They don’t acknowledge any wrongdoing, never apologized and/or rendered incomplete or insincere apology and do little or nothing to improve relationships. That’s why Liberian political parties are not cohesive.
The Pentecostal cleric said that “right now, people with old grudges that have nothing to do with politics will stand in the upcoming Presidential and Legislative election and begin to behave as those their differences are political. But they are not. Some are personal but they will use them to undermine a national cause”.
“I call on Liberians as much as possible to release the pain and resentment from our associations and collaborations and forgive one another for the good of the country”. Stop dwelling on the offense, release grudges, avoid revenge, forgive and keep watching”, he concluded, “if we want to build a better community or society”.
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