Forgiveness is Required of Us, by Constance T. Hull

One of my students told me a story about a project he did for his ethics class last year. He brought out a crucifix, placed it in front of the class, and talked about our call to forgive. He shared how Jesus forgives us of everything we do when we turn to Him, so we are required to forgive those who hurt us. The response from the students was passionate and intense wrath. They couldn’t imagine forgiving the people who had hurt them. They didn’t believe they had an obligation to forgive, believing instead that they had a right to demand punishment. The lesson of the cross and the call to forgiveness was totally lost on his interlocutors.

This is the state of our culture. One of the most prominent and obvious symbols of our age that demonstrates these students’ sentiments is the closed strong-arm fist. Symbols matter because they tell us about deeper realities. In many ways this symbol is the antithesis of Christ Crucified. He opened His palms willingly out of love for us. He accepted the nails and was pierced for our transgressions. He reveals to us on the Cross that it is powerlessness in the face of evil and wickedness that so often conquers in the Kingdom of God. …

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