I am looking forward to being part of Peacemaker’s National Conference in the Fall. Anticipating the focus of the conference, Ken Sande reflects about the relationship between bitterness and forgiveness.
I was asked recently whether bitterness and unforgiveness were, in essence, the same thing.
It’s a good question, and here’s where I come down: Although they are closely connected, I don’t think they are the same thing.
Unforgiveness is a choice to withhold forgiveness. This choice is often driven by or overflows as bitterness, but unforgiveness can aggravate or trigger other sinful and negative emotions and actions as well, such as anger, hatred, revenge, slander, etc.
In most biblical texts, bitterness is typically associated with grief, disappointment, hate and anger. It often conveys the spite that harbors resentment and keeps a score of wrongs.
What a great way to pose the question. (Maybe you’ve done this elsewhere, but I’m forgetting).
How does it feel to officially be a ‘peacemaker’??? May many peacemaking efforts result from your ministry at the conference.