The New Freedom of Forgiveness [Paperback]

David Augsburger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2000

Seventy times seven.......How many times shall I forgive? Our Lord answers us clearly that our forgiveness of those who hurt us shall have no end. This is one of the most difficult things any person has to face.David Augsburger understands this. He knows the outrageous cost - and incomparable value - of forgiving. He also knows this is a believer's only option. Any other course of action will not only be destructive, it will violate the will of God.In The New Freedom of Forgiveness, Dr. Augsburger expands upon his classic writing to provide a more comprehensive, expanded, and stronger message. Combining personal testimonies with Scripture, Dr. Augsburger provides readers with practical guidance on applying forgiveness in our everyday lives. With an excellent new study guide, readers will be challenged on an even deeper level. We are commanded to forgive everything. Not just the little stuff, the minor irritations and thoughtless behavior of others. But everything. When we forgive, we are set free from bondage. The New Freedom of Forgiveness is an essential resource not only for understanding what God requires, but also learning how to apply it every day. Read this life-changing book and discover the freedom of forgiveness.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Augsburger is currently a professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an author of several books and articles in pastoral counseling, marriage, conflict and human relations and served for over a decade ad a radio spokesperson for the Mennonite Churches. David Augsburger is active in teaching, consulting and leading workshops internationally, and in doing supervision and therapy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; 3rd edition (March 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802432921
• ISBN-13: 978-0802432926
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, but difficult to follow, April 8, 2011

By 

Dr. Terry W. Dorsett "Author of Developing Le... (Barre, Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Freedom of Forgiveness (Paperback)

David Augsburger is an ordained minister in the Mennonite Church and also a professor of pastoral care and counseling at Fuller Theological Seminary. In those two roles he is quite credible as an author of a book on forgiveness.

I was disappointed in this book. That is not to say that I did not find much helpful information in it. But to me the book seemed to wander aimlessly toward forgiveness. While focusing on the "journey" may indeed be part of the process toward forgiveness, I thought that the book should have been more direct. I also thought it repeated itself a lot. Wading through such repetition made reading the book less appealing that it might have been.

I thought the book made a lot of vague points that were hard to grasp in a "real world" experience. When I reached the end of the book I concluded it was more about reconciliation than forgiveness. Though reconciliation is clearly a goal of forgiveness, it is not the only outcome, or even the most frequent outcome.

Augsburger does seem to grasp this concept at certain points. For example, he said "So few sins can be paid for, and so seldom does the victim posses the power or the advantage to demand payment" (page 18). Realizing that you cannot demand reconciliation or restitution but must forgive without them is a key concept to grab hold of. The concepts of reconciliation and forgiveness are related but are not emotional equivalents. While it is clear that Augsburger understands at some level that reconciliation is distinct from forgiveness, he spends a great part of the book trying to help the victim find that very reconciliation that he had already said might be impossible. It seems as if he talks himself out of a foundational idea that he began the book with.

Augsburger had several great quotes that would be helpful to share with those struggling with forgiveness. Two of them are found on page 18, "Revenge is not its own reward; it is its own punishment" and "Resentment takes the soul hostage." Both of those statements clearly and concisely present truth about certain aspects of the forgiveness process that I found very helpful.

Augsburger clearly understands that forgiveness is a process. This understanding is displayed in numerous sections of the book. He says that forgiveness often "happens in small but increasing increments, step by step, until the journey of restoring love, recognizing repentance, reclaiming relationship, and reopening the future has been completed" (page 41). He goes on to state that "Forgiveness is not an act--it is a process" (page 48). He further develops the idea of forgiveness as a process when he says "Process is as important as content in resolving inner as well as interpersonal conflicts" (page 81).

I also liked his statement that "Forgiveness is not a gift one claims, internalizes, and then possesses for life. It must be rediscovered in each situation of pain" (page 48). I appreciated Augsburger's continued discussion of this concept throughout the book.

But it is conclusions such as "real forgiveness comes with the recovery of a relationship, even when the rupture is repeated again and again" (page 42) that I struggle with. I just don't agree because this defines forgiveness as the recovery of the relationship. I think that too often this is just impossible. If we make it part of the definition of forgiveness, then we will prevent many from ever completing the journey toward forgiveness. Too many people I have dealt with over the years have been hurt so deeply by someone that a relationship is not only unlikely, but simply unsafe. I am thinking primarily of those who have been abused in some way by someone they trusted. For me to tell them that they can only learn to forgive if they reestablish a relationship with that person is to do a great disservice to them in my opinion.

For people who have been so deeply hurt by others, it is not reconciliation that they need to work on, but anger issues. Augsburger did have one chapter on this subject. The chapter was helpful. He said "disciplined anger focuses its demands on what is just and on what is good" (page 63). The world needs to see some good examples of disciplined anger instead of uncontrolled rage. He also said "Use anger. Do not let it use you" (page 64). Furthermore, he said "Getting mad may be necessary sometimes, but remaining mad never is!" (page 68). It reminds me of what the Bible says in Ephesians 4:26 "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath."

Overall I thought this was a helpful book with many good concepts. However, because of its endless repetitions and conceptual wanderings, it is unlikely that I would recommend this book to others.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A critical read..., January 19, 2008

By 

StarLysandra Cole "*starshine*" (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The New Freedom of Forgiveness (Paperback)

because there is so much poor teaching and misunderstanding about forgiveness. Gently, but powerfully, you are left with a clear recognition that on the basis of the forgiveness given you, you have only the option of disobedience and rebellion left if you choose to hang onto whatever you have convinced yourself justifies not forgiving... and the fact it is hard and painful is not overlooked. A life changing, freedom granting text!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The New Freedon of Forgiveness, April 29, 2008

By 

T. Robertson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The New Freedom of Forgiveness (Paperback)

An honest and thoughtful book. It is a book about relationships and the difficulty of differences and injury that crop up within these relationships. A biblical foundation of forgiveness and paths toward restoration. A great read to come back to time and again.