An Iowa College in the Liberal Arts Tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
Is self-forgiveness a biblical concept?
Everything is debatable. Our understanding of the Bible has yielded this observation: Nowhere in the Bible is “self-forgiveness” offered as a solution for wrongdoing. Our model for self-forgiveness is based upon Psalm 51 which depicts the spiritual and emotional trajectory that King David, “a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14),” experienced following his affair with Bathsheba and subsequent involvement in the death of Uriah. For Christians, non-Christians, and non-religious alike things like self-acceptance, self-improvement, and commitment to the greater good are components of self-forgiveness.
Forgiving oneself is, for Christians, probably something that comes after you feel forgiven by God. After all, if you believe that God hates you because of what you have done (or should have done, but didn’t), chances are it will be difficult to find the personal peace you are seeking. TIP: For Christians, God provides all you need to be forgiven—confession, repentance, and complete forgiveness. Sometimes we struggle to understand the endless horizons of God’s forgiveness and feel guilt or shame persist. When we finally really and truly feel God’s forgiveness we probably call that “self-forgiveness.”
Other FAQs
- What is unique about FoRGo?Simply put, our credentials and professional experience. We speak truth into an often complex and...
- Is it possible to teach people to forgive, become more resilient, and to grow?Yes. Science shows this quite convincingly. Most folks just need a little bit of guidance...
- Is FoRGo a Christian program?Yes and No. As Christians, we believe that the essence of the Christian faith is...
- What is the hardest part about forgiveness?Figuring out that you need to do it to become more resilient and to continue...
- What is the biggest barrier to forgiveness?Believing that you shouldn’t have to do it. It’s the other person’s fault, right? This...
- Does forgiveness mean letting the offender “off the hook?”No! Forgiveness is something that you do for yourself (or God) to feel better. Justice...
- What are the main health benefits of forgiveness?Improved spiritual well-being. You feel like yourself again. Improved mental and physical health are benefits...
- How does forgiveness help foster wellness?A life well-lived is a life where you forgive. In short, social support is one...
- Am I a bad person if I choose NOT to forgive?No. Just hurting....
- Is self-forgiveness a biblical concept?Everything is debatable. Our understanding of the Bible has yielded this observation: Nowhere in the...
- Why is the discussion about self-forgiveness framed as “moral self-forgiveness?”Wrongdoing usually has ripple-effects. Others are often hurt by our mistakes. Forgiving ourselves is good,...
- What are 5 quick things you can do to increase forgiveness of self or others right now?1) Pray for your enemy. Praying for one’s enemies is not the same as forgiveness, but...
- What is growth?We think of growth as the process of developing, sometimes painfully, emotional and moral maturity....
- What is the definition of resilience?The ability to bounce back from difficult things that happen. TIP: Tennis balls bounce when...
- Is it wrong to feel angry when someone hurts you?No, in fact we encourage people to embrace the positive aspects of anger, like seeking...
- Is there a difference between anger and hatred?YES! A very important difference! For example, you can be angry at a child and...
- What is UNforgiveness?Put simply, hate! Hate underlies most unforgiveness and it appears in the form of extreme...
- What is forgiveness?Forgiveness is the replacement of negative with positive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors toward yourself (self-forgiveness)...
- What is the goal of FoRGo?To create exceptional students, in body, mind and spirit. Exceptional COLLEGE STUDENTS, (and others) are committed...