Forgiveness is a sign of maturity, not weakness — Evangelist

Evangelist Raymond Derkey Mensah has said many people have misconstrued forgiveness as a sign of weakness.

He noted that to forgive someone for the evil done you is a sign of maturity.

"Often times, most people think that forgiving someone who has done evil is a sign of weakness. It is good to forgive irrespective of all the evil someone has done you. Don't be bogged down by unforgiveness. Forgiveness is not evidence of weakness, it's a sign of maturity," Derkey Mensah stated.

According to him, it takes maturity to forgive those who hurt you both physically and emotionally.

The man of God indicated that unforgiveness ties a person to the past, debase the present and hinders him/her from future opportunities.

"Unforgiveness is a prison, it cages destinies and put victims inside the depression box," he intimated.

Explaining what forgives should be about, he used President Nelson Mandela's story as a classic example. He noted that the state prosecutor who pressed charges against Mandela which landed him in prison was invited over for lunch by Mandela when he was released from prison.

Evangelist Raymond Derkey Mensah made these remarks in a sermon titled "Forgiveness" which had gone viral on social media.

Referencing the Bible to buttress his teaching, the evangelist quoted from Mathew 16:4 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

Practicalising his sermon, he narrated that "You might have been accused of something you didn't do, just let it go. You trusted them, you loved them, you shared with them all you had, but, they negatively advertised you, let it go. You gave your all for the sake of some people but, they disdain you, let it go. Life is like that and continuous as it goes."

He added, "It is said that to err is human but, to forgive is divine". We all need to try not to allow what others do affect us so much that it hinders our godly ability to be able to forgive. Forgives is a virtue of God."

According to him, "When you decide not to forgive, you damage your joy and bitterness sets in".