Say Sorry Day, 5th September 2010
A collective of individuals and organisations (including The Micah Mandate) are coming together to declare Sept 5, 2010, as Say Sorry Day. Everyone – in Malaysia and beyond – is encouraged on this day to seek forgiveness from and grant it to each other.
That this is the holy month of Ramadhan makes Say Sorry Day even more significant, as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, held to celebrate the end of the fasting month, is deeply associated with the spirit of apologising and forgiveness.
However, this spirit is not just embraced by our Muslim brothers and sisters; it is also universally acknowledged and encouraged by all major spiritual traditions.
The inspiration for Say Sorry Day is a young Malaysian, Yong Vui Kong, who was only 18 when he was arrested for drug trafficking in Singapore. He is currently appealing for clemency, but he may still be hanged and not get a chance to redeem his wrongs.
Many Malaysians and Singaporeans have campaigned for him to be granted a second chance because they believe in forgiveness. Vui Kong has apologised and hopes to be given the chance to share his life lessons with others and help Singapore fight the drug barons.
Vui Kong’s life is hanging on the Singaporean Government’s ability to forgive.
Note that the last word of the above is FORGIVE and therefore in five Peter’s Pithy Pointers, we shall be dealing with the important subject of FORGIVENESS.
1. The Meaning and Gift of Forgiveness
2. The Wounds Preceding Forgiveness
3. The Costly Wounds of God’s Forgiveness
4. The Need for Those Inflicting Wounds to be Forgiven
5. The Need for the Wounded to Forgive
1) The Meaning and Gift of Forgiveness
A The Meaning of Forgiveness
Greek word APHEIMI = TO SEND OR LET OFF OR AWAY.
As we shall see later in this study – ONLY GOD CAN SEND AWAY THE GUILT OF OUR SIN. However, forgiveness may send away or heal broken relationships and also send away the deep feeling of guilt in our own lives.
Note that forgiveness does not let us off the earthly punishment, discipline or warning that we must receive as a result of our disobedience and wrongdoing.
Greek word CHARIZOMAI = TO BE GRACIOUS TO.
(See Section B below)
B The Gift of Forgiveness
FORGIVE – The Latin word for pardon is derived from DONUM = A GIFT
Thus, forgiveness by God and the fellow members of our human family should never be taken lightly.
FORGIVENESS IS A PRECIOUS GIFT TO BE BOTH RECEIVED AND GIVEN.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
