Forgiveness

Is it possible for victims of evil?

Published on June 15, 2007 By oleteach In Blogging

A few days ago, a nephew of mine sent me this email:
“ My son, Jamie, sent me a DVD titled "United 93.” It’s a dramatized
documentary, movie, about the high jacked plane that crashed in PA on
Sept. 11, 2001. It should be required viewing in all schools, grades 8 and up. If you haven't
seen it you should - regardless of politics.
I was devastated by the attacks of 9-11 and still am. The movie was hard
to watch without crying. When I die, I don't want to go to heaven, I want to go to "paradise".
Not to have sex with virgins, but, so I can kill again each of those Islamic, high jacking, depraved Muslim bastards with my bare hands.”

I know the feelings he was expressing because I’ve had some similar ones at various times in my life. Some things are just very, very hard to forgive. Yet, if we want to survive with any peace of mind we must do it.

Is there any person who doesn’t have to admit that on at least a few occasions in life they have done evil or committed a trespass? Have you ever done evil? I have. And for that evil, I have had to endure guilt. Unless a person has completely hardened their hearts, guilt will follow an evil deed. Conscience is built into us but we can cover it up. I feel guilt because I know that I have hurt other people in some way; I have brought down harm to love or truth. As such, it is opposed to my ideas of God who is love and truth for me.

Can human beings overcome guilt? Jesus taught by his life that guilt can only be overcome by forgiveness, not revenge. God is a God of forgiveness. Why? It is just because he loves us. Forgiveness can only reach our hearts when we are willing to forgive others, no matter how evil their trespasses appear to us.

If you have ever read the Bible, forgiveness is at the very heart of it. Story after story, parable after parable, examples after example can be found to support this fact. Jesus came to teach us that lesson. He came to tear down all barriers and prejudices.

Guilt causes destruction that must be repaired. It doesn’t mean just trying to forget. We have to work through it; we need to be healed. It calls for a price from the person who forgives.

First, a person must admit to the evil he himself has committed, taking full responsibility: this renews himself. Then that person must look to those who have done evil. There is a limit of our powers to heal and to overcome the evil that others place on us. Evil has so many structures. It shows up everyday in so many ways. But, in my opinion, love has only one shape, Jesus Christ. We have to look to him to learn how to forgive others and ourselves. Unless we do, we will tear up our own hearts with our unforgiveness. We become less human ourselves and sink deep down to new levels of evil.

That is the beauty and wisdom behind the fifth petition of the Lord's Prayer.
"

Comments

greywar

on Jun 15, 2007

If you have ever read the Bible, forgiveness is at the very heart of it.

A nice sentiment and a good article but really it is the latter half of the Bible (NT) that is concerned with forgiveness where the first half (OT) is primarily concerned with vengeance.

jennifer1

on Jun 15, 2007

This is my take on on hatred and forgiveness not many would agree with it. But from my own experience this is what I have learnt. (My father was ambushed by AK47 toting thugs, they shot him and then stabbed him in the heart for good measure, the perpetrators have never been brought to justice).

Hatred begets hatred, forgiveness is a must, forgetting is taboo, because to forget makes you lackadaisical in preventing it from happening again. From my point of view - I am very weary of spaces or places suited to possible ambush, even here today in the UK)

Filling yourself up with hatred and dwelling on what you would like to do to them in their paradise blackens your soul to no good end. Put your energy into a more positive activity, and remain vigilant to prevent such horrors from happening again.

Shovelheat

on Jun 15, 2007

Forgiveness (to me) is for getting you off the hook, not so much them. And it doesn't mean "cutting them loose" from the consequences of their behavior either -it's about your letting go and moving on.

oleteach

on Jun 15, 2007

Yes, greywar, if one is a literalist who looks upon the Bible as inerrant in every word, I agree, that the Old Testament make out God to be an ogre who delights in punishing evildoers and who only loves one people, his chosen people. According to old theistic thinking all disasters are ascribed to a god out to punish evil doers and he wants to wipe out all enemies of "his people."

Does anybody still believe these kinds of theories? Yes, I have heard so-called Christian people say, "God punished the people of New Orleans with its recent disasters because of the sins committed at Mardi Gras every year."

Utter nonsense! These theistic images of God make no sense at all. God's only will is that we all might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) This means we must give up all prejudices, hatreds, and barriers based on gender, race & sexual orientation.

oleteach

on Jun 15, 2007

Jennifer1 I agree with you wholeheartedly. We need to take responsibility and as you say, "Put your energy into a more positive activity, and remain vigilant to prevent such horrors from happening again."

oleteach

on Jun 15, 2007

Right on, Shovel heat! I gave you an insightful on your comment.

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