The topic of forgiving God is something some Christians are divided on. Some argue that you can forgive God whilst others argue that the concept of forgiving God is contrary to the Bible.
Why some people argue that God does not need to be forgiven
People on this side of the argument believe that you can’t forgive God because forgiving someone means they have done something wrong. As we all know, God is without sin so they argue that God can do no wrong.
They often draw inferences from the book of Job and the conversation that took place between Job and God. In this book, Job accuses God of being unjust towards him and angrily demands an explanation for his misfortune. God’s response humbles Job as God tells him that he is just a human with a limited view and understanding of everything that goes on in the world. God reminds Job that he is not asleep or inactive but he sees all that goes on and he responds to all with his wisdom which he invites Job to trust in. Job responds to God’s revelation with repentance and humility.
After this encounter, instead of God apologising like Job expects, it is Job who instead ends up retracting his words. This reinforces the argument that God can do no wrong and therefore, does not need to be forgiven and anyone who thinks they need to forgive God is acting arrogantly just as God accused Job of doing.
Why some people argue that you can forgive God
According to the Cambridge dictionary, to forgive means to stop blaming or being angry with someone for something that person has done. God’s decisions to do or not do something which may hurt us can cause many to become angry with him, resent him, and hold a grudge against him. Holding a grudge against God can bleed into several areas of our lives which at some point becomes painfully obvious. Looking to let go of this grudge, anger and resentment, many describe this process as forgiving God.
It’s not about forgiving God because he has in fact done something wrong but it’s more about letting go of the pain, hurt and disappointment associated with God.
