How Do You Score on the Forgiveness Quiz?

This week, I spoke to a group of teen girls on the topic of forgiveness. Since forgiveness is so important in the physical, mental, and spiritual life of a person, I decided to give them a 10-question quiz in order to see how well they understood what it means to forgive.

In life, we can’t control circumstances and the way people treat us, but we can control how we respond to situations and others.

See how well you score on the forgiveness quiz. Mark true or false to the questions. The answer key is below. Scriptures are included.

Questions:

T or F  1. Forgiveness is an option based on our feelings. 

T or F  2. Forgiveness is a good idea when someone deserves it.

T or F  3. Forgiveness is rewarded by God.

T or F  4. Forgiveness requires other people to confess or make up.

T or F  5. Forgiveness is tough to do in the natural.

T or F  6. Forgiveness is reconciliation.

T or F  7. Forgiveness is not saying that what the person did to you was OK.

T or F  8. Forgiveness is minimizing the hurt or wrong that was done to you.

T or F  9. Forgiveness is pardoning the offense.

T or F  10. Forgiveness is to be continuously offered.

Answers:

1. False. Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God. Mark 11:25

2. False. None of us deserves forgiveness yet God gives it to us. Luke 6:37

3. True. When we choose to honor God and live by kingdom principles, we are rewarded. Proverbs 25:21-22

4. False. It does not matter what the other person does. Forgiveness is an individual act that we choose to do regardless of the other person’s actions. Colossians 3:13

5. True. Forgiveness is not a natural response. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit in you to treat someone kindly who has treated you unfairly. Romans 7:18-19

6. False. It takes one person to forgive and two to reconcile. God’s heart is that we be reconciled to one another, but this isn’t always possible if the other person won’t try.  Psalm 133:1

7. True. Forgiveness is not saying that what the person did to you was OK. What the person did was not OK, that is why you need to forgive. Luke 23:34

8. False. What the person did to you may be horrible, undeserved, and ungodly. Forgiving that person does not take away from the wrongness of the action. But if you hold on to anger associated with the hurt, you won’t heal. Ephesians 4:26

9. False. Only God pardons or brings vengeance. He is the ultimate judge so release the person to Him. Romans 12:17-19

10. True. It doesn’t matter how many times a person hurts or offends you, each time, forgive. Luke 17:3-4

Dr. Linda Mintle is the author of Breaking Free from Anger and Unforgiveness, a small book that leads to big results. Check out her website, www.drlindahelps.com.