So I read this on Sunday.
Quickly, I jumped to the conclusion this makes us Christian types look bad…Â
….. and that I most certainly would not give up my faith like that if anyone I loved was killed.
I would realise that God is in total control and I would forgive the suicide bomber as Jesus forgives me… just like I would have not committed adultery if put in David’s position; I would not have run away from my calling like Jonah and I most certainly would have completely trusted Jesus. I would have walked on water, understood all his teachings and parables first time, I would not have panicked during the storm or denied that I knew him three times…… errrrrm.
I ask myself, why is it that when I see other people being so openly truthful, honest and admitting weakness in their faith, that I get so high and mighty?
My ‘religious mind’ jumps to the conclusions that they must not be reading their bible or praying enough… or even more outrageous …. that it is probably because they don’t know what it ‘really’ means to love God anway…. ouch 
On the other hand you have this story.
Is it the second article that contains the ’better’ Christian? Some might say…Â
But let me ask a better question…
Who would God be more disappointed with? The lady who was honest, the other lady who was honest, or my heart, that I decide to judge other people with such blatant hypocrisy?
Mercy and Grace for me please……
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12:58 am
Something i’ve been wondering is about forgiveness as a state of heart and not an action. If you forgive someone of actions or words which have hurt you, is it more of a blessing to forgive them and TELL them they’re forgiven….or is it better to forgive in your own heart and wait on Gods peace and grace to fill your own heart. Surely that is the true sense of forgiveness, it being an action which removes that barrier of bitterness and hurt in your own heart. Forgiveness is about setting your own heart right with God, isn’t that more important?
Just as a side point, the second article you refer to Felix, the woman talked about Jesus forgiving those who were crucifying him. As far as i am aware, his prayer was “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. This suggests to me that in that moment of agony, he found it so difficult to forgive for himself, he interceded on their behalf…..or am i off line on this one?