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The Issue of Forgiveness of Marriage Counseling in the Biblical Perspectives

  • Journal of Counseling and Gospel
  • Abbr : Jocag
  • 2008, 10(), pp.146-167
  • DOI : 10.17841/jocag.2008.10..146
  • Publisher : Korean Evangelical Counseling Society
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology > Pastoral Counseling
  • Received : March 30, 2008
  • Accepted : May 10, 2008

Kim Jun 1

1Ph.D., Boston university

ABSTRACT

This essay offers a biblical perspective on the forgiveness issue raised in the context of marriage counseling. Forgiveness is often seen as a key factor to resolve conflicts in interpersonal relationships including marital relationship. However, current studies on forgiveness in Christian counseling literature tend to be psychological and lack sound biblical perspective. After assessing an approach to forgiveness, Everett Worthington, Jr.’s five step forgiveness model, this essay offers an biblical approach to forgiveness issue in marriage by using a case. The approach consists of three sessions, twice with individual spouses and once with a couple. The first session is for understanding the hurts with some cautions in dealing with the issue in marriage counseling. The second provides several distinctive points that differ from current literature from Jesus’parable on Forgiveness in Matthew 18: 23-35: Forgiveness is not a choice, but God’s command that requires his people’s obedience; Refusing forgiveness may lead victims to become victimizers; Forgiveness is not an one-time event but life-time process, which needs help from the Holy Spirit; Forgiveness can be best understood in the light of the work of Christ and believer’s union with Christ. Finally, the essay points out that forgiveness is God’s gift to his people. By offering this gift to others, Christians are experiencing the power of living God in their lives.

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