Forgive the Unforgivable?

Today, and for the next few days, a jury in Phoenix, AZ is hearing testimony regarding whether to recommend the death penalty for Jodi Arias. Among the witnesses are family members of Travis Alexander, who suffered and died as a result of Arias’ horrific acts. It is deeply painful to simply listen to the testimony; just think about how painful it must be for Travis’ family and friends; just think about what they’ve been forced to live through, even after the murder itself.

Put yourself in their shoes; how would you feel? It’s almost too difficult to imagine. What emotions would bubble up inside you? Anger, loss, desire for revenge? Perhaps all of these and more. And who would blame you? It’s the most brutal of all crimes and most of us would have no sympathy for Jodi, the brutal, cold, calculating killer. And, don’t even think about forgiveness, ever. An eye for an eye, pure and simple. If ever there was a justification for the death penalty, this is surely such a case.

The Gospel of Matthew features a very difficult passage, in the 18th chapter: Peter said to Jesus, “ Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times? ” Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times. Some translations have the latter number as “seventy times seven (=490); whether 77 or 490, Jesus is saying “unlimited, infinitely, without end.”

Each one of us knows, from personal experience, how difficult it can be to forgive, just in the normal course of our lives. Does anyone really live that way?

Yet, that’s what faithful discipleship is all about. It’s about leading our lives in the ways of the Kingdom, giving ourselves over to ideas we don’t fully understand, such as unconditional love and forgiveness. To follow these ways mean we have to give up so much of what we believe and practice; that’s what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the “cost of discipleship.” Jesus knew that forgiveness benefits both the actor and the victim.

Forgiveness is transforming. If you haven’t seen the movie The Matthew Shepard Story, do so. The 2002 award-winning movie was based on the true story of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man in Wyoming who was senselessly murdered by two men. Upon the conviction of the two murderers, Matthew’s parents were prepared to ask the court for the death penalty. But, they began to examine their son’s life and its meaning and ultimately pleaded for mercy from the court. Their lives were changed forever for the better. The portrayals of Matthew’s parents are very, very powerful.

There are purposes at work which far exceed our own egos, our own understandings. There is an overarching cosmological principle so impossible for us to achieve that we despair even thinking about it. Even when we know that it will lighten burdens for ourselves and others. Pastor and teacher Lewis Smedes put it this way: "When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself." We ourselves suffer most from our lack of forgiveness, so forgiveness frees us to devote our whole selves to the lives we are called to lead. We also, by the way, lead others by example.

So, would you forgive Jodi Arias?

Rev. John Ransom is Pastor of Living Faith Community Church in Dunedin (www.livingfaithdunedin.org), host of the Emerging Spirit talk show series, and founder of Christians Passionate for Justice (coming soon).