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Introduction:Forgiveness
Derek Poole
Let
the church be church
Brian Moore
From
the Director - Statement in response to IRA and IICD Announcements
David Porter
Decommissioning
- How do I feel?
David Clements
Embodying
Forgiveness
Patrick Mitchel
Forgiveness
in the New Testament
Bill Addley
Better
than Bitterness
David
Clements
Necessary
Miracles - Thoughts on Forgiveness and Politics
Duncan Morrow
Faith
and Practice - Moyna Bill
Ruth Hutchinson
Embodying
Forgiveness Project
Stephen Graham
Tutu
Book Review
Stephen Graham
Jones
Book Review
Alice Swann
EMBODYING FORGIVENESS
… A Theological Analysis
L. Gregory Jones (Eerdmans 1995)
This is not a book to lift from the shelf for holiday reading. It is not even a book for counsellors or professionals wanting a framework to help others address the issue of forgiveness. It is, as the subtitle states, a theological analysis of the central issue of Christianity, that is, forgiveness. Gregory Jones seeks to give concrete form to this idea, as the main title suggests. Time and time again he emphasises that forgiveness needs to be situated within the Christian doctrine of the triune God. The author, a theologian with strong Wesleyan tradition, is an authority on the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He has spent years studying forgiveness and seeking to inform, instruct and challenge the modern world’s concept of forgiveness.
As a non-theologian I found it a difficult book to read, not necessarily because of the author’s style, but because many of the concepts are difficult. It is a big book (300 pages) sectioned in a logical manner, which means one section, or even a chapter, by and large, stands alone. It would have been helpful to have a summary at the end of each chapter and a definition of forgiveness, which encompasses psychological, moral and theological aspects.
The first part considers the contrasting views of, what Gregory Jones says are, the tendencies of modernity, that is, of trivialising forgiveness or, secondly, viewing forgiveness as impossible or ineffective in extreme violence or abuse. As a clinician who deals with this issue in a therapeutic setting, it was challenging and upsetting to read:
‘It seems as though Christian forgiveness is too costly for many people; consequently, they seek a cheap, therapeutic forgiveness in its place.’ (page 36)
It is only on closer reading that it becomes clear that the author has an appreciation of the difficult psychological and moral issues. There is an acknowledgement that forgiveness may take a long time but the stages in the process of forgiveness are dealt with implicitly rather than explicitly.
The second part deals with the crucial issue of the Trinitarian identity of God, inviting a response to Christ’s costly forgiveness.
The third part develops this further with the implications for the church and the world. Such issues as loving enemies, the disparate power of offenders, accountability, punishment and unforgivable people are considered.
There is an incongruous yet fascinating analysis of Toni Morrison’s book Beloved, and the Clint Eastwood film ‘Unforgiven’, making me want to reread the book and watch the film, hopefully with fuller understanding.
It is in the last chapter that the author deals in depth with what to me is the most important feature of forgiveness - that of the victim reaching the stage when his/her life is no longer dominated by the past. He then introduces a new concept: that to continue to be dominated by the past is to worship Christ ‘uncrucified’. To worship the crucified and risen Christ is to know that the past can be borne in hope. Gregory Jones acknowledges it may well take a lifetime to do so well. At that point I began to feel I had some understanding of embodying forgiveness.
I would suggest a title for the sequel: ‘Embodying Forgiveness – A Practical Guide’.
Alice Swann is an Independent Medical Specialist in the area of Child
Abuse and Neglect with a particular interest in the investigation and
treatment of child sexual abuse.
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