Bearing grudges, harboring Bitterness?

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Are you one of those Christians carrying around a spirit of unforgiveness? It could be monumental, the anger and bitterness you’re toting around. Most likely, directed towards some church member who may have acted with malice toward you, or may have said something unkind or just plain stupid. This sort of thing happens with us humans you know. Maybe you’re angry at some group that makes your life miserable, maybe even a former church that left a deep wound on your spirit?

When we committed our lives to Christ and His Kingdom, we were promised “freedom” because in Christ, we gain freedom from the burdens of our old self and how we perceive and interact with this selfish unkind world. Commitment to Christ, does not leave us much wiggle room when it comes to harboring bitterness towards others.

Make no mistake about it.... If you can’t forgive, you’re not free of your old self and this world’s influences. No way can you claim to be “in Christ” . You are not only disobeying God’s Word, you are mostly wasting your time being a Christian! You’re certainly not happy and never will be as long as you are mired in the quicksand of bitterness, resentment and anger. You need to seek help.

If you persist in an unforgiving spirit, the consequences are far-reaching. Many destructive divisions are created in the body of Christ. The church becomes like a country engaged in civil war; no wonder the world is not impressed by our testimony. Christians suffer from heartache, anger and bitterness within their families, which are supposed to be models of harmony and unity. The name of Christ is thus reproached because of quarrelsome attitudes, divisions and hypocrisy among those who profess to be His disciples.

Being imperfect human beings, most of us are quick to anger, quick to blame, slow to forgive, and even slower to forget. Yet as Christians, we are commanded to forgive others, just as we, too have been forgiven.

Why should it be so difficult for a Christian to ask for forgiveness from his heart? Or for his fellow-Christian to tell him, “I forgive you”? Christians should be experts in forgiveness! We rejoice that God forgave us freely, according to the riches of His goodness and grace. In spite of this tremendous reality, Christians often allow the sun to set on their anger and are slow to forgive one another. They ignore the Word and honor of their Lord, and allow themselves to be engulfed in bitterness towards their fellow Christians. Every sin thus becomes another brick to strengthen the "dividing wall" between us.

If there exists even one person against whom you hold bitter feelings, it’s time to forgive. Let it go. Ask God in prayer to help you let the hurt and anger go. If you are angry with yourself for some past mistake or shortcoming, it’s time to forgive yourself and move on.

Ephesians 4:31 says very clearly.... "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." No Christian has any justifiable excuse to be bitter against anyone, because bitterness has no forgiveness in it. The Christian is to forgive anyone and everyone, just as Christ Jesus has forgiven them.

Knowing what the Bible says and doing, are two very different realities. Christians will moan and complain: “I simply can’t forgive him; I feel hurt so much!”

But you can forgive! You cannot ignore the fact that our Lord commands you to forgive. No exceptions! In fact you simply cannot ask God to forgive you if you yourself don’t forgive your brother, your neighbor. The Lord Jesus taught us to pray in this manner: “Our Father who art in heaven... forgive us our trespasses as we also forgive those who trespass against us.” If you are stubborn enough as to withhold forgiveness you will be inviting God’s displeasure upon yourself. You will effectively be inviting God to deal with you in the same way you are dealing with others. Harshly. You will be depriving yourself of God’s forgiveness and the freedom that we should enjoy from such emotional stresses. When our Lord taught us how to pray, He added an important comment on the prescribed prayer: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14,15).

Hatred, bitterness, and regret are not part of God’s plan for your life. If such works of the flesh are part of you, then you cannot be part of His Kingdom. Sounds harsh, but it is a Biblical fact! It's time to ask Jesus to help you "renovate your heart" rooting out the bitterness that is spoiling your journey with Him.

As brothers in Christ, be at peace with everybody, and the blessing of Christ will rest upon you. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” There is no time like "now" to renovate your heart.