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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
FORGIVENESS
Forgive
us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Matt. 6:12
In this issue of Lion & Lamb we are concerned to continue the conversation about the nature of forgiveness in our inter-personal relationships but also to consider how the themes of forgiveness, justice, repentance and retribution are to be understood in the wider social context of Northern Ireland.
As an introduction to the theme we have invited Bill Addley to give us a basic overview of Forgiveness in the New Testament. This, as Bill suggests, is only the beginning of a theology and practice of forgiveness but it is an important reminder that a Christian understanding of forgiveness, the authority to forgive and the grace to offer forgiveness is inseparable from an honest and integrated reading of the biblical text.
David Clements also invokes the scriptures in a pastorally compassionate piece that succinctly names the attributes of a ‘forgiving spirit’ in a way that makes them possible. In Better than Bitterness David offers a realistic starting point for those who are beginning the painful process of letting go of the bitterness that haunts the heart as a result of injury and injustice.
In Embodying Forgiveness Stephen Graham, a Research Assistant with ECONI, outlines a major project from the Centre for Contemporary Christianity which seeks to address the many complex issues surrounding forgiveness. These include repentance, justice, truth etc. This introductory article also highlights the current series of papers being produced by the Centre, which we hope will result in a comprehensive study of the nature and practice of Christian forgiveness and its application to Northern Ireland.
We have also included an important article on the Christian ethic of forgiveness and its relationship to the world of politics. In Necessary Miracles: Thoughts on Forgiveness and Politics, Duncan Morrow brings an astute mind and humane sensitivity to the capacity of the political world to accommodate genuine forgiveness. He makes accessible the dilemmas that we face in a world of complex moral decisions and reminds us that …‘without forgiveness all human life is impossible’. Duncan concludes with the profound insight that the possibility of forgiveness is dependent on the stories we tell.
A journey in forgiveness
is a courageous one with no guarantees that the world will be put right.
As Philip Yancey suggests: … ‘Forgiveness breaks the cycle.
It does not settle all questions of blame and justice and fairness; to
the contrary, it often evades those questions. But it does allow relationships
to start over’. I hope these articles are of help in the places
where the call to forgiveness is challenging you.
Derek Poole - Editor
ECONI WELCOMES the submission of unsolicited articles, but does not guarantee publication, and manuscripts cannot be returned. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECONI. Permission to reprint any original article in Lion & Lamb should be sought from the Editor.
Editor
Derek Poole
Asst Editor Ruth Hutchinson
Design Colin Maguire
Cover Spring Graphics
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