Forgiving vs. excusing

[Crabtownboy]

"I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality…asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says 'Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology...' But excusing says 'I see that you couldn't help it or didn't mean it; you weren't really to blame.' ...And if we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses. They may be very bad excuses; we are all too easily satisfied about ourselves."

C.S. Lewis
"On Forgiveness," The Weight of Glory

 

[just-want-peace]

"I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality…asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says 'Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology...' But excusing says 'I see that you couldn't help it or didn't mean it; you weren't really to blame.' ...And if we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses. They may be very bad excuses; we are all too easily satisfied about ourselves."

C.S. Lewis
"On Forgiveness," The Weight of Glory

From my view, the bolded expresses the modern liberal approach to most human failures rather than marking/allowing one to be responsible for their own actions.:BangHead:

 

[Scarlett O.]

I love C.S. Lewis and I love this particular quote.

I printed it off this morning and gave it to my pastor and told him it would make an excellent sermon reference for revival of Christians who are probably doing this very thing - (and I only say that because reading it this morning convicted me.)

 

[JonC]

"I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality…asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says 'Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology...' But excusing says 'I see that you couldn't help it or didn't mean it; you weren't really to blame.' ...And if we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses. They may be very bad excuses; we are all too easily satisfied about ourselves."

C.S. Lewis
"On Forgiveness," The Weight of Glory

Good quote. I think too often we want to "excuse" our behavior behavior when there is no excuse...but God forgives in Christ.