It is little understood by Christians what a difference there is between themselves and Judaism; especially on the matter of whom God forgives and why.
A Christian expects to sin against many people in the course of their life, but; proudly boasts that they aren't "perfect just forgiven." This is wrong by Judaism's ethical, moral and theologic standards.
Let me explain why.
In Judaism; only the person you sin against can forgive you!
If you steal from Bob; only Bob (the injured party) can forgive you. Or, not.
You cannot cut Bob out of the picture and go over his head, so to speak, and get your invisible buddy in the sky, God, to forgive ON BEHALF of Bob.
No, according to Judaism, the wronged party holds the key to your forgiveness and your obligation is to him.
The law of the Talon was a law of Justice because of the balance between the injury and the restoring of the injured party to equity. Fairness was key.
There was a system of fines, service and payback that would compensate a victim fairly.
In Christianity no such theology exists!
You can steal, fornicate, lie, cheat and commit mayhem and then turn to God and be forgiven by displaying a penitent heart. Even so late as on your deathbed in many cases. Yet, the people who you took from, injured, belittled, wronged and destroyed have no say in this transaction! The suffer the wrongs and God makes it even-steven on the scale of justice!
In Judaism murder is the unforgiveable sin. Why? Because the injured party NO LONGER EXISTS in order to forgive you!
This is the mis-step in Christian theology as it exists today and has long been taught. The victim is a mere nothing and the welfare of the wrongdoer is more important to God!
Christian Justice is not well thought out by any stretch of the imagination.
For example, kindness which is NOT DESERVED (grace) is given, so it is taught, by God. The undeserving recipient gets the boon of grace without earning it, meriting it in any way or making restitution to the victims of his sins.
On what basis can this be called Justice? Why, none at all! It is a kind of inert magic trick. Do your wrongs, then; utter the magic words and all is forgiven!
Isn't it apparent that the justice of Judaism is more ethical than that of Christianity because of the balance of fairness as regards victims?
Not one person in 100 can tell you what the sin against the Holy Spirit is or even WHY it exists.
But, the unforgiveable sin in Judaism makes perfect sense.
Am I advocating Judaism by this post? No, not personally.
I'm asking you to consider that Christianity is supposedly an improvement on Judaism; a more perfect realization of God's dealings with mankind, and yet--makes no sense whatsoever in terms of equity, balance, fairness or goodness.
Comments?