Don’t Misunderstand Forgiveness!
What most people think forgiveness means does not apply to your profession to uphold the law which God has ordained you to uphold, nor should it!
The saying “Forgive and Forget,” when misunderstood and misapplied, especially to a law enforcement context, is a gross misapplication of the Biblical meaning of forgiveness and could get an officer killed.
Such a misapplication suggests the elimination of any retribution for crime, the emptying of all jails, prisons, and penitentiaries; and it would put the sheepdogs out of a job and the wolves back into the sheep fold! (See “Sheep, Wolves, and the Sheepdog“) There would be no consequences, and evil would ultimately triumph. But that is not what God’s Word teaches about forgiveness!
The Bible says that you (and civil government in a broader sense) are “a minister of God, a revenger” sent by the Lord Himself to bring bad guys to justice!
· Romans 13:4 “For he [the law officer] is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword [the power of life and death] in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
So What Are You Saying Here, Chaplain?
Biblical forgiveness is a personal issue of the heart which should have absolutely no impact upon the performance of your duties as a law enforcement officer; nor should it ever diminish your level of officer safety practices and techniques, especially when making contact with those repeat customers with whom you may have some history. The same applies even if you have personally forgiven them! Unforgiveness, on the other hand, will have a negative impact upon your career!
Remember that special individual who spit in your face when you went to take him down on that warrant? Remember the lady who accused you falsely of unprofessional conduct on that traffic stop when your video cam wasn’t working? You even took some days off for it, remember? Remember the guy who injured you in when he resisted arrest? Remember the drunk driver that hit your squad and took your career away from you? Remember… you fill-in the blanks!
You would be a fool to “forgive and forget” what those individuals did to you, because given another chance they’ll probably do it again! But your willful decision not to Biblically forgive the recalcitrants will chain you to the emotional bondage and anger into which you have allowed them to put you in the first place!
Officers who never learn how to personally forgive these types of people are never able to let go of the bitterness and hatred they feel towards them. That is an awful trap to be in, and it will bring you down! The feelings of bitterness and hatred often build up and can severely impair an officer’s judgment in the field, causing him to cross the line and take advantage of an opportunity to administer a little street justice… Unforgiveness has led many officers to an early retirement with no benefits (if you smell what I’m cookin’…)
What This Means to You Personally:
Has a friend or loved-one ever let you down or ever sinned against you? Of course! Here is where your personal forgiveness comes into play. Forgiveness simply means that you choose to act as if that friend or loved one had never offended you in the first place in the sense that you don’t dwell on what they did to you. You do not repeatedly tell others about it and make it a consuming issue in your life. So many marriages have become shipwrecks because one or both of the couple have refused to forgive.
Forgiveness doesn’t come naturally to us. But it is commanded by God. A person should certainly choose to personally forgive the one who has offended him, but that in no way should deter him from pressing charges against the offender! Forgiveness in no way releases the offender from his responsibilities before the law, the courts, the civil process, to the victim, or to God Himself! True Biblical forgiveness releases the victim from the anger, pain, and emotion connected with the offender and the event itself.
The Bottom Line:
Remember first and foremost that Biblical forgiveness has nothing to do with how you do your job or approach people on the job! Stay on the alert and be cautious! But failure to personally forgive in either a professional or private relationship not only keeps you in emotional and spiritual bondage to the offender, it will cause a root of bitterness to take hold of your life, and it will defile you and many others with you!
· Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
Is there anyone whom you need to forgive today? Maybe your unforgiveness is a hindrance to you being forgiven by God.
· Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Sound familiar? What about this one?
· Matthew 6:14-15 “[14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
What About God’s Forgiveness of My Own Sin?
Someone told me that they believe God is a forgiving God. Indeed, He is, but we must be careful not to fashion Him in our own image and make Him something He is not! His forgiveness does not come automatically to anybody, nor will He impose it upon those who refuse to repent and receive it His way.
A True Account:
In 1830 a man named George Wilson was convicted and sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead for a murder he did during the commission of a mail train robbery. While on death row, he was pardoned by President Andrew Jackson. But when the pardon was delivered to Wilson in prison, he promptly rejected it. The State scheduled the date for his execution until some lawyers heard about it and argued that a pardoned man cannot be executed.
After a lengthy legal challenge, the case was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States. Here was the final ruling:
“A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends upon its acceptance by the parties implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under the sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon. But if it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must hang.” – Chief Justice John Marshall
And so it is with God’s forgivness of our sin. His Pardon is extended to us through the blood of Jesus Christ and must be vigorously, intentionally, and actively received!
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:3
As the Supreme Court Chief Justice said, it is hardly to be supposed that one under the sentence of death and eternity in Hell would refuse to accept such a Pardon, but God will not force it upon anyone against their will. We are born into condemnation and we stay on that path until we repent of our sin and turn to Christ for the Pardon. (See “On Being Born Again“)
Remember what the Bible says?
· John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Have you ever changed your mind, believed, and received His Pardon by faith?
· Romans 10:9-10 “[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
When a lost sinner acknowledges his sin to himself and to God and makes that willful choice to change his mind and agree with God’s remedy for his eternal sin and condemnation, the Bible calls this repentance. (See “On Repentance“) Repentance must be accompanied by a true heart belief that Jesus died to save lost sinners, and that He rose again from the dead in victory over sin and the grave.
Such a repentant and believing individual will then be compelled to confess it with his mouth in prayer to God. In this “sinner’s prayer” he will place his full and complete trust in Jesus Christ alone as his Lord and Saviour, and he will claim the Pardon by faith!
A truly changed heart will produce a changed life! (See “On Evidence – Part I” and “On Evidence – Part II“)
If this is something you want to talk about in more detail, just give me a call or send me an email. Be safe out there!
-Tim.
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