Yesterday, #Forgiveness was trending, and in a day when #3wordstodescribe and #Thursdaythoughts rule the hashtag sphere, it was interesting to see and read people’s thoughts on another notable and recent display of forgiveness in the culture.
I say “another,” because this isn’t the first time our society has seen this kind of forgiveness on display. Rachael Denhollander, one of several victims of sexual assault committed by Larry Nassar, stood up in a courtroom and said this,
I pray you experience the soul crushing weight of guilt so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me — though I extend that to you as well.
Nadine Collier, daughter of one of the victims murdered in a Charleston AME church in South Carolina by white supremacist, Dylan Roof, said this
“You took something very precious from me. I will never talk to her again. I will never, ever hold her again. But I forgive you. And have mercy on your soul.”
Yesterday, the brother of Botham Jean, a 26-year-old man murdered by a police officer in his apartment in 2018, stood in front of the officer who murdered his brother and said this
"If you truly are sorry -- I know I can speak for myself -- I, I forgive you," he told Guyger.
"And I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you," he said.
In one sense, it’s difficult for me to wrap my mind around the way that each of these people who’ve been wounded so deeply can extend forgiveness so freely, and this seems to be the reaction of many people who responded to Jean’s forgiveness displayed yesterday. But as a follower of Jesus, I know that this forgiveness extended isn’t careless, cold, light, or flippant. This forgiveness extended isn’t dismissive or in denial. It’s a gift and it’s supernatural. What each of these grieving individuals has in common is a Savior who extends forgiveness to all kinds of criminals and who will also one day execute justice on every wrong committed.
All of this made me think of a sermon I preached on forgiveness last year at Veritas Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina.