I was struck this morning by the front pages of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal (not literally, but in a figurative sense). On both papers were photos of family members of the South Carolina church killings, with prominent declarations of forgiveness on their part. A quick look online reveals the same story:
This is an interesting follow-through to my Beast post from yesterday. I am absolutely humbled and awestruck at the ability of these people – true Christians, if I may say so – to so quickly and publicly express their ability to transcend these awful murders. It is inspirational in the deepest sense of the word.
Far better to have this than pandering politicians calling for the death penalty (which is exactly what happened). Or the opportunistic Gloria Allred firing up her lawsuit machine. Or Al Sharpton screeching about national conversations about race.
Instead you have the people most directly and deeply affected turning a run-of-the-mill bond hearing into an expression of grace. I am genuinely moved, and each of these people are spiritual giants in a world awash in prosperity theology, in which the role of Jesus is for him to be manipulated and coerced into getting you that really awesome new sports car you’ve had her eye on.
What these people have done is a remarkable example of a mindset that few of us – – and I include myself without hesitation – – would have a hard time matching.
