I was misquoted on Saturday night by someone in front of 200+ people. Not a situation in which you jump up and yell, “that’s NOT what I said!” I can’t remember exactly what he said but I do know that he changed it enough that he changed the meaning of what I said because the MAJOR POINT of what I said was lost. Words do mean something and to leave out just one or two words can drastically change a sentence, a statement. My words were taken out of context, changed and used for another purpose.
What I said was, “I have found that you know you have truly forgiven someone when it becomes more important to you to see the person come to be a new person in Christ. To be more concerned about their eternal salvation, than to see them punished for a crime. (“vengeance is mine saith the Lord”). To be more concerned about the coming eternal punishment already set against them, than the prosecution they face in this current life.”
Because in the end only one thing matters. Have they accepted the gift of salvation in Christ or do they reject him?
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
My point… the gospel was lost in the changing of the words. The gospel was censored out of what I said when I was misquoted.
**(edit: It made me think of Courtney, the Rachel Ray show edited out her testimony and every mention of the gospel and Jesus Christ.)
I would much rather see someone come to Christ and find forgiveness and new life, than to see that person rot in jail, die, and go spend their eternal life in hell.
(I harbor no ill feelings against this person at all, in any way, shape, or form. We all make mistakes and misspeak all. the. time. Yes, I understand the point of civil law, and the judicial system here on earth, that is not what this post is about.)
