To Forgive or Not to Condemn or Not

[Juan and Yenan]

To Forgive or Not, to Condemn or Not

By Apostle Dr. Yenan Silen-Perez

1 John 2:1-2
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 1:8-9
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Why is so difficult for humans to forgive? If God almighty has leave us in His word the power of forgiveness, why is so difficult for us to forgive? Yes, I know you may say because of sin.

The word of God revealed us that if any human sin that person has an advocate. Jesus is pleading for your sins, mistakes, guilt. Jesus is interceding before God for you! Jesus has paid with His sacrifice for your freedom. He has paid for the sins of the world. The word of God reveals to us, when we sin, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us from all our sins. But not only that, God is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Personally, God wants you to receive His forgiveness. God wants you to believe and trust that He can transform your life.

But why then, if God is able to forgive us, many Christian chose to hate and condemn others. Why? When the word of God reveals that we all have sinned.
Romans 3:23-24
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

We all have sinned, all come short of the glory of God. All, judges, police officers, reverends, teachers, parents, teens, children. All have sinned! Then, why if God want us to be restored, renewed and transformed in our understanding about love, forgiveness and service; the USA law and prison system are in the name of God condemning and sending our husbands, sons, wives, daughters to be locked in an authoritarian and punitive system?
Why the Christian community is indifferent towards a system that does not promotes restoration, healing and life? Why the Christian community support with their silence slavery, abuses and corruption? The people have the power to make changes if they care enough to believe that we are to love as Christ loved us.

What do these statistics reveal to you?
At yearend 2006 there were 3,042 black male sentenced prisoners per 100,000 black males in the United States, compared to 1,261 Hispanic male sentenced prisoners per 100,000 Hispanic males and 487 white male sentenced prisoners per 100,000 white males. (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/prisons.htm)
Do you believe that black male and Hispanics are more corrupted and sinful than white male? Or could be that the USA law system is filled with people that are corrupted, prejudice and racist? Could be that black and Hispanic males are manifesting that they are extremely oppressed?

Violence generates more violence; a punitive system creates anger, hopelessness and death.
Romans 4:15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
But God, let us remember who we represent, GOD. Let us remember that the fulfillment of the Law is LOVE.

Romans 13:9-11
For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. (Accent and underline mine)
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.