Forgiveness?

Question

Well, I won't bore you with details, I just have a question, in general, about people with addictions. Whether it be meth addicts, gamblers, alcoholics, whatever....Why is it that people who earn a reputation for their addiction are least likely to be forgiven and given another chance? I hear stories all the time of people forgiving a serial killer for a murder, or a man who cheats on his wife and is given a second chance. If these types of people can be forgiven, why not an addict? At least the addict doesn't always directly harm someone, unlike the murderer or rapist. Why do the addicts seem to be the most outcast bunch? Why can't they be forgiven?

The "details" I'm referring to are about this girl I know, who is an addict, and who made me think of this question.

I appreciate the answers, but the question is about why addicts are not forgiven, whereas someone who rapes is going to be forgiven first.

Answer 1

I can not find a thing in God's law regarding addict.I think it is very sad.do not know where You are from but here in the U.S. we have free clinics for meth,I think We have a lot of compassion for
those suffering addiction.

Answer 2

Addicts are difficult to deal with in the sense that their actions affect others. Addictions e.g., alcohol and drugs change personalities and not for the better. They lie and steal to get the money needed to feed their habit; often from the very people who love them. All you have to do is watch a program such as Dr. Phil's to see the pain of the addicts' family members after trying everything under the sun to help them. And in spite of all that the addict has done to them they show compassion. There are families who love the addict in spite of it & I believe that families such as these are also people who would forgive when the addict recovers. It is probably only then that the user would ask for their forgiveness. After all, it is only when we atone and ask for God's forgiveness that we are forgiven.
The straying spouse's who are forgiven are probably the one's who are sorry for their actions, don't want to lose their family & ask for forgiveness. It is not uncommon for the abused spouse to want to work things out.
However, I think that it is very uncommon for a victim's relative to forgive the killer. I'm sure they have struggled w/their decision; I bet they are people who do their darnest to follow the bible.

Answer 3

I bet the serial killer and the cheater were forgiven by some (not all) people only when they stopped.

That's the difference and the reason. Your friend isn't stopping.

Tell her when she stops what she's doing she too, may be forgiven. And she will NOT be forgiven by all she's affected.

That's the price she pays, she should not expect more.

Answer 4

Because many people claim to be addicts as a scapegoat for their wrongdoings. Addicts and Fakers will both use the excuse of being an addict as the blame rather then themselves.

Answer 5

well I really dont think its our place to judge these people.
I think it would be harder for the people close to the person to forget about what happened though. its kind of an emotional thing.
mabey the victim was hurt emotionally by this person and is finding it hard to forget how that person acted while they were high. it may be a case of i can forgive but im really finding it hard to forgett. the people who love you most are the people that hurt the most.

Answer 6

I dont know. Probably because of the effect of addiction spread out among the society more severe than those caused by other criminals.

Answer 7

I agree. I've just read a question dismissing Darwin as an addict, as though that had any bearing with how right or wrong he was!

Answer 8

I can forgive anyone! God tells us to forgive someone repeatedly! However, if they get my forgiveness and then go back out into what they were doing they are no longer welcome around me or my family. It doesn't mean I don't love them, care about them, or that I won't forgive them. It just means I'm not willing to let their bad lifestyle and choices harm or influence me or my family. No matter if it's murder or drugs!

Answer 9

1 John 1:9 says "IF" we confess our sins He is just and faithfull to forgive us our sins "AND CLEANSE US FROM "ALL" UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" the problem is that IF we choice not to confess it gets to the point that we do not want to, and IF we choice NOT to confess THEN it becomes unpardoned, the unpardoned sin Jesus talks about offending The Holy Ghost, the sin against Him is the one you never confess, if you do that often enough it makes it that you don't want to confess THEN your in dangerous ground, but As long as your confess AND FORSAKE your life of sin THEN God will forgive, you see you are saved by Faith, it says in John 14:15 "IF" you love me keep my commandments" you are saved BECAUSE its A gift, YOU DO NOT earn it, you do not keep His commandments IN ORDER to be saved BUT BECAUSE you are, but forgiveness goes deeper than that, what about YOUR forgiveness, in Matthew 6:12 Jesus said to [The Father] forgive us "AS" We forgive others, okay Jesus died for your sins so He is saying He God forgives you AS you forgive others, He uses the same measure YOU use to forgive others the sins they comment against you, and at the end of that example of a prayer Jesus talks about trespasses which are sins done on purpose, planned sins, There is A free bible course at www.itiswritten.com hay why not visit A Seventh Day Adventist Church on Sabbath [Saturday, sunday is NEVER called the Sabbath or holy in all the Bible] EMAIL not messanger me also [e-mail] God bless.

Answer 10

Maybe because their problem is a regular let down, and they can't bring themselves to forgive that person until they stop what they're doing to cause need for forgiveness.