Pastor Rick Warren on “Forgiveness and Trust”
Posted By RichC on August 15, 2008
Rick Warren, famous for his book “The Purpose Driven Life” and as pastor at Saddleback Church, was interviewed on Friday about political figures like Sen. John Edwards who recent affair was exposed. His comments on Forgiveness and Trust were excellent (below). Warren will also be moderating a “Civic Forum” with guests Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama Saturday August 16th from 5-7pm PST (8-10PM EST).
Rick Warren: “There’s a difference is between forgiveness and trust. And I don’t think people understood this even as far back as, say, the Clinton scandals and things like that. The Bible teaches us that forgiveness must be instant and that we are to forgive people instantly when they sin because of three reasons: first, we’ve been forgiven by God; second, resentment makes you miserable; and third you’re going to need more forgiveness in the future.
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who’ve trespassed against us.†So forgiveness has to be immediate but trust has to be rebuilt. Forgiveness is by grace. Trust is by works. And so if a woman’s husband is beating her and he comes back to the door and says, “Will, you forgive me?†She has to forgive him. “Yes, I forgive you.†“Will you let me back into the house?†“No, that’s another matter.â€
You have to earn that trust. All leadership is built on trust. It’s built on credibility. If you don’t have credibility, if you don’t have authenticity, if you don’t have trust, you’re not a leader even if you have the title. And the moment you lose the trust of the American public you’re no longer the leader. You may still have the title but you’re not it. It takes years to build trust and you can lose it instantly — and it takes even longer to rebuild.
John Edwards and others like him have lost the trust of America because they lied, and fundamentally beneath every affair it’s dishonesty, its deceit, its deception. They’re lying to God. They’re lying to themselves. They’re lying to their wives and they’re lying to the public. How do you trust someone who’s constantly lying? You can’t. That’s why it is a myth to say their personal life doesn’t matter. It does matter — all of leadership is built on credibility. “
Comments