if a brother in Christ offends or harms you, again and again, when do you get the law involved?

Question

do we really forgive 70 times 7, or when do we stop the blank checks and forgiveness and move into the penal phase, or go outside of fellowship and get the legal system involved?

Answer 1

Depends on how bad, I guess. If someone is physically harming you, then I suggest you get the legal system involved immediately.

What kind of harm? You should still forgive them, though....as many times as it takes.

Answer 2

Forgive 70 X 7 times for the same sin. Forgive as Christ forgave you. Never leave fellowship. Have you spoken to the person politely and said to stop?

If you are being physically harmed, you need to report it to the authorities.

Answer 3

I just taught a bible study on this last week. Yes, we forgive them 70x7, we are commanded to forgive.

However, forgive does not mean pardon, forgive does not mean we are doormats. Forgive does not mean excuse. We are not robots who have no free will or a mind, and this person has wronged you for whatever reason. So, forgive the act as many times as it takes but do not allow it to happen again if you have any control over it.

Just as you see those women who go visit killers who murdered their family/kids. They may forgive them and start a sort of relationship with them, but that does not mean they should not pay or reap what they have sown. Vengeance is mine says the Lord, so we are still to forgive, but remove yourself from the place to have this continually happen to you and forgive the sin.

But as I said, forgive does not mean the same as pardon.

Answer 4

If they offend you then you forgive them as much as is needed, just like God forgives us. If they harm you physically, then the very first time you're harmed, it's time to get the legal system involved.

Answer 5

If it is indeed a crime against the recognised legal system, then i would say never (get the law involved). If it is a sin against morals or the 10 commandments, then 70 times 7 (forever).

Answer 6

Well, are they offending me by passing gas, or embezzlement, or physical harm...that's kind of a complex question, not black and white. Also, you can forgive someone, but that doesn't mean they don't have to face consequences for their actions, so if they break the law there are consequences beyond the relationship.

Answer 7

If the issue is criminal, and involves the safety of others or of the state, we are obligated to report our problems to the authorities. If this is a purely private matter (civil law) we as Christians are not to take recourse to civil courts but instead should ask the elders to handle this. Pastors do this sort of arbitration informally, and most formalized denominations have a process in place to handle this. Mine does (I am a United Methodist.)

If the safety of yourself, others, or your community is in doubt, please make the authorities aware. We should not use our faith to strengthen evil and wrongdoing in our neighborhoods.

Grace and peace!

Answer 8

If its a brother in Christ, then forgiveness is a must. Let God sort out the details on Judgment Day.

Answer 9

Saul of Tarsus (aka "St. Paul") suggests that Christians should never pursue legal action against each other, and that all matters should be handled by the church.

Answer 10

If a brother or sister in Christ is continually sinning, and being unrepentive, and we are unable to help them turn from the sin, I would speak to a pastor or elder, and see if they can help.

God bless.