Vindication

dizzyde · #1 05-14-2010, 06:47 PM

I had an experience this week that got me to thinking about this topic; has anyone else ever been vindicated in a very large way, a looooooong time after the original situation.

I know that it is not scriptural, or even very Christian... but in my humble opinion, while being somewhat pleasing, it wasn't nearly as gratifying as it would have been, way back when...

Also, it was somewhat private, so that also took a lot of pleasure out of it! I got a second party message from someone who was deeply involved in one of the most traumatic events in my life, one where I had nothing but egg on my face, and was perceived to be the total bad guy. All these years later, there is now apparently a complete consensus that I was right all along...

OK, I have totally exposed my complete carnality, but it really bugs me!

berkeley · #2 05-14-2010, 06:50 PM

I will repay, says the Lord...

Vengeance, etc. belongs to God. If we "get even" ourselves, not only have we sinned, but we are left unsatisfied. It doesn't take care of the situation.

dizzyde · #3 05-14-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berkley

I will repay, says the Lord...

Vengeance, etc. belongs to God. If we "get even" ourselves, not only have we sinned, but we are left unsatisfied. It doesn't take care of the situation.

Well, I have never gotten even, and I have really never tried to be vindicated in the situation, I just left it behind me. I'm just saying that it eventually happened without any involvement from me, and it wasn't very fulfilling.

Just being honest...

*AQuietPlace* · #4 05-14-2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Well, I have never gotten even, and I have really never tried to be vindicated in the situation, I just left it behind me. I'm just saying that it eventually happened without any involvement from me, and it wasn't very fulfilling.

Just being honest...

Yes, it'd be nice if our vindications were as public and widespread as our perceived failings.

missourimary · #5 05-14-2010, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Yes, it'd be nice if our vindications were as public and widespread as our perceived failings.

Amen!

often by the time others will actually admit that you were right, the issue has stopped being an issue to anyone else. And though it is somewhat affirming to hear them say you were right, it doesn't make up for all the pain and grief you went through when the situation took place.

The problem with waiting for someone to eat crow is that they often wait and slowly starve the bird before cooking it... while we would have prefered to shove it down their throats still kicking!

(At least, that was the case for me.)

Praxeas · #6 05-14-2010, 07:55 PM

Vindication is not vengeance

pelathais · #7 05-15-2010, 07:29 AM

I have had similar vindications. The most prominent thing that I see however, is that the same lunkheads who were pointing the finger at you all along are just too thick to understand the vindication when it arrives. For them, it's just another "trial" to endure.

The ability to connect the dots and see the bigger picture is not something that I've seen in Pentecostal/Apostolic churches a lot. I'm not trying to get a dig against "us" in here; it's just that this is the group that I have been most closely associated with in matters of personal worth and vindication, if vindication ever comes.

I had one philandering evangelist set the stage for me to be fired and run out of the church. When he was through using the church 13 weeks later and ran off with his secretary (so cliché), even the pastor who was privy to the adultery all along wasn't interested in seeing me vindicated. He was primarily worried that I would "spill the beans" and kept the ban against me in force. No real vindication there, though that represent what was perhaps the greatest trial of my life. Even though that church doesn't even exist any more, the official ban was never publicly lifted. I was allowed to come back for a while, but the lies and hypocrisy proved too much for me. They bitterly and falsely accused me in front witnesses, but then they thought that I'd be happy just "sneaking back in."

I'm glad for you Dee. Vindication is sweet. But ultimately, we all really have to lean very heavily upon Jesus Christ being the justifier and the vindicator of us all.

SteppingStone · #8 05-15-2010, 11:42 AM

This conversation makes me think of a song I heard yesterday, it kinda goes like this:

(Almost in a fulfilled yet pleading voice of desperation)

(Oh and what they sing is a lil diff from the actual lyrics)

"Open your eyes.. Open your eyes.. Open your eyes..
And see that life is beautiful..
Open your eyes!! Open your eyes!! Open your eyes!!"

Actual Lyrics:

"Open Your Eyes"

All this feels strange and untrue
And I won't waste a minute without you
My bones ache, my skin feels cold
And I'm getting so tired and so old

The anger swells in my guts
And I won't feel these slices and cuts
I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine

Tell me that you'll open your eyes [x4]

Get up, get out, get away from these liars
'Cause they don't get your soul or your fire
Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine
And we'll walk from this dark room for the last time

Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere
I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine

Tell me that you'll open your eyes [x8]

All this feels strange and untrue
And I won't waste a minute without you

So I got to thinking about it and quickly it dawned on me that only God can open their eyes. So my conclusion on the matter was to add tears to my prayers.

Anyways yeah I had some people apologize to me that were wrong and it made me feel a little better but it was a half hearted apology and I don't believe they've seen the whole picture yet. God is still working on them I suppose.

I've also had this dream where somebody finally realized what they were doing and were extremely apologetic, to the point that they started to get down on themselves and I just kept trying to reassure that person that it was ok, that I had forgiven them a long long time ago, and that they just didn't know how bad they were hurting at the time. Many people that hurt others do it without knowing and often times it's because they themselves are hurting but, are either in denial, or they think it's "Behind" them. But it still manifests regardless. It's hard to be patient with people that are attacking you but when you realize they oppose themselves and it's not about you, it gets easier. Time is the best healer imo...