Forgiving Dead Man Walking

The greatest story of forgiveness I have ever heard came from Corrie Ten Boom.

For those few of you who don't know her story, I think it should be required reading for every Christian.

The Ten Booms were Dutch Christians when the Nazi's invaded. They believed that God meant for them to care about their neighbors, and they helped hide Jews in their father's clock shop.

Someone turned them in. In the concentration camp her sister did everything she could to teach the other prisoners about the love of Christ, and when Corrie would explode in anger, Becky would tell her to forgive and love as Christ would have. They sufferened horribly in the camp. Starving, lacking medicine, sleeping in flea infested bedding, being beaten, forced to do tasks the strongest men can't do, forced to run naked while being hosed down..... Becky died in the camps.

Years later Corrie was giving a speech, and when it was over a man approached her, asking her to forgive him. The man was one of the more violent and brutal guards at the concentration camp. Corrie said that this was a hatred she had held on to after the camps, but that seeing the pain of the man's guilt, she asked God to help her forgive him, and she DID forgive him. She describes it as one of the most freeing experiences of her life.

 

Two inspiring stories.Thankyou.

 

Just re-read "The Hiding Place" about a month ago. What a testamony!!!!!

 

I have to correct myself - the greatest story of forgiveness I ever heard is Christ's forgiveness of all of us. Corrie's in the second best.

 

Another great book on forgiveness is called, "Dorie: the Girl Nobody Loves" by Dorie van Stone.

That too, should be required reading for every Christian.

 

These are amazing stories of forgiveness. I actually read Corrie Ten Boom's story in the sixth grade, for a book report. It is a story I have never forgotten. Whenever, I feel someone has wronged me, and I want to hang on to it, I remember Corrie Ten Boom's story. If she could forgive for something more horrible than I can imagine, I can forgive for the little things.

I think I'll read Debbie Morris's story. It also sounds very inspirational.

 

I totally agree with the OP that as a christian if anyone offends us in ANY way, we must forgive them with the power of the Holy Spirit, only true forgiveness and true unconditional love comes from God and not us, but through us.

But that does not mean that person should NOT PAY for his or her crime, or else how will they learn not to do it again ? And how else do you protect society ?

Forgiving someone is way different than condoning their sin. We all have to pay the penalty for our sins here on Earth. Even after Christ forgave us our sins we still have to live with consequences for SINNING !

 

I do not see anywhere in Gods word he has asked Christains to execute the death penalty ? he has asked the Government to do so, not individual people. Corrie Ten Boom and her family did the right thing and so should we. But according to the bible the Government is responsibly for keeping our society and innocent people SAFE !

 

What if you were a Christian who worked for the goverment. If you were asked to volunteer to help in exicuting an inmate would you participate?

Would you participate on any level? Such as providing security at the gate, escorting people thru the facility, straping inmate down? Or would you stay home that night.

just curious.

 

Good point Deejay always thinking

Sound like the question the pharisees asked Jesus who do we pay taxes to God or Ceaser ?

If I was asked to volunteer ( Key Word ) I would say NO !

But then again I do not think I could work in an enviorment like that anyway.

 

It is always a volunteer assignment for extra duties related to the execution. However if you work that night in your assigned post you are expected to work your normal duties. But then there are always sick days.

I take it you would say no, even to secondary functions relating to the executions like gaurding the front gate. Even though you may perform this same function on a normal day.

I ask because I go back and forth in my mind on this issue. And it has come up for me in the past, it will come up again. I can find several reasons for both sides of the argument.

Somebody has to, every once in a great while it can be rewarding.

 

Deejay do you work at a prison ?

I can see what you are saying I have actually thought about that part if i had to be involved in any way. thanks for bringing up a good point. Like I said I do not think I would EVER work in an enviorment like that. I think it would be hard for a woman without getting harden much less a Chistian.

I will still say i believe those who are harden sick individuals who are repeat killers with no conscience should be executed and i am sure if my belief is strong enough I would obey my boss and my conscience if I had to. attorneys do this all the time and they sleep just fine i'm sure, even the christian ones.

[ October 21, 2005, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: Roguelet ]

 

Yup, for almost 10 years now. This is where I post from, no internet at home.

There are good men and women who work at prisions. It all depends on what kind of personality a person has to be able to work here for any amount of time.

You have to enjoy contention and argument. You have to know how to handle stress and most important you have to be able to leave it all at work when you leave.

I beleve a goverment has the right to exicute prisoners. But I will keep my volunteer assignments to secondary duties like perimiter guard, and escort teams. Straping the guy in the chair may be to close for me. Some of the death row inmates seem to be the nicer more polite inmates in the prison. A couple will kill you with out a second thought if they get the chance.