The evil murder of children and others in Newtown, Connecticut will inevitably raise questions about how the Christian view of forgiveness relates to such evil. One of the reasons that I wrote, Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds, was because so much confusion surrounds the Christian response. And because it causes great damage when Christians issue unwarranted and inappropriate forgiveness.
Dennis Prager (who is not a Christian) once expressed frustration in a Wall Street Journal article regarding Christians who espouse cheap forgiveness in the wake of such violence:
The bodies of the three teen-age girls shot dead last December by a fellow student at Heath High School in West Paducah, Ky., were not yet cold before some of their schoolmates hung a sign announcing, “We forgive you, Mike!” They were referring to Michael Carneal, 14, the killer.
This immediate and automatic forgiveness is not surprising. Over the past generation, many Christians have adopted the idea that they should forgive everyone who commits evil against anyone, no matter how great and cruel and whether or not the evildoer repents.
The number of examples is almost as large as the number of heinous crimes. Last August, for instance, the preacher at a Martha’s Vineyard church service attended by the vacationing President Clinton announced that the duty of all Christians was to forgive Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber who murdered 168 Americans. “Can each of you look at a picture of Timothy McVeigh and forgive him?” the Rev. John Miller asked. “I have, and I invite you to do the same.”
Though I am a Jew, I believe that a vibrant Christianity is essential if America’s moral decline is to be reversed. And despite theological differences, Christianity and Judaism have served as the bedrock of American civilization. And I am appalled and frightened by this feel-good doctrine of automatic forgiveness.
The kinds of responses that Prager objects do nothing to point people to the justice of God and the Cross.
Unfortunately, in recent years there have been far too many opportunities to reflect on such senseless murders. I have written about this subject on a number of occasions. My views are summarized in Unpacking Forgiveness but the following links are available online:
Forgiveness and Virginia Tech is an article about I would say to a parent who lost a child at Virginia Tech.
A Soft View of Hell Makes Hard People explains why a neglect of biblical teaching on the doctrine of eternal punishment makes for hard and bitter people.
Al Mohler: A Dark Night in Denver: Groping for Answers is by the president of Southern Seminary and was written after the Aurora, CO murders.
5 Problems with Unconditional Forgiveness explains why a belief in automatic forgiveness has a negative theological trajectory.
Unpacking the Casey Anthony Case was written after the trial of Casey Anthony.
The Forgiveness Quiz tests your knowledge of what the Bible teaches about forgiveness and outlines the discussion in Unpacking Forgiveness.
An article about the murder of Kelsey Grammer’s sister was written regarding the parole hearings for someone convicted of the murder of the television star’s sister.
Exercises to stop thinking about how you have been wounded reflects on Psalm 73.
I agree that in the midst of such appalling evil we must allow those affected time to grieve. The amount of hurt, pain, and anger cannot be understood until you have walked in someone’s shoes that has experienced that. Fortunately as Christians, we do have a great high priestthat has experiences all of life’s temptations and hurts(Hebrews 4:15.) Despite all he endured, he was quick to forgive and pray for those who sinned against him.
We shouuld show compassion to those in mourning, especially those outside the faith. But for those who are saved, the whole idea in our ministering to them, and counseling through this, is working toward a place where they see Jesus in the midst of this, and look to him for peace in the storm. Only in that p[lace will they find comforting in forgiving their enemies, and seeing there forgiveness toward others in light of the great forgiveness he has shown toward us who are sinners.
People are right in feeling uncomfortable with the kind of forgiveness in the instances you refer to. I know that I do. The reason I do is that this is a misapplication of forgiveness and it’s unjust. It’s only the party who is wronged that can potentially forgive a perpetrator. I can’t forgive someone for stealing my neighbor’s car. Only God and my neighbor can do that. When Christians talk of forgiving when it is not their place to, they are rightly seen as out of place or out of touch.
Brian, thanks for commenting. I agree.