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Concerning forgiveness and the "root of bitterness": I heard this often while in TWI. Many warnings against living in the past. Just get over it. Why am I so bitter? Invariably they would pull the "root of bitterness" card on me and quote Hebrews 12:15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled; Certainly I don't want to be like the children of Israel in the wilderness, bitter and whining. Many of them were defiled because of this. I don't want to be defiled do I? Don't be so bitter. Sounds legit doesn't it? Well, after hearing this so often I finally thought I'd try to find out what this root of bitterness is. Hebrews 12:15 is a direct reference to a verse in the OT, namely Deuteronomy 29:18.It seemed to me that the whole 29th chapter of Deuteronomy is a warning against idolatry. I'm not going get into a lot of it here, take a look yourself and see what you think. But this from Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Hebrews 12:15; "root of bitterness--not merely a "bitter root," which might possibly bring forth sweet fruits; this, a root whose essence is "bitterness," never could. Paul here refers to Deuteronomy 29:18, "Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood" (compare Acts 8:23). Root of bitterness comprehends every person (compare Hebrews 12:16) and every principle of doctrine or practice so radically corrupt as to spread corruption all around. The only safety is in rooting out such a root of bitterness." So in the end I took TWI's advice, I looked diligently lest a root of bitterness springing up troubled me: I rooted TWI and their radically corrupt principles of doctrine and practice right out of my life!