Anyone who has forgiven a deep hurt or been forgiven of hurting someone deeply knows forgiveness is anything but just [adverbial use as in only or merely]. Similarly, anyone who has forgiven a deep hurt or been forgiven of hurting someone deeply knows forgiveness is thoroughly just [adjectival use as in rightful and principled].
In addition to being an author of many published titles, Worthington is a college professor and marital therapist in Richmond, Va. Personally, he is acquainted with deep suffering. He writes from each of these roles — academic, healer, and sufferer. In A Just Forgiveness, he instructs and counsels; he describes and prescribes. Throughout the book Worthington’s assertions are well supported by personal and professional anecdotes, Biblical references, theological reasoning, historical and literary examples, and clinical studies.
In part one of the two-part book, “Understanding Just Forgiveness,” the author lays out his theory of a just forgiveness. In part two of the book, “Living Out Just Forgiveness,” Worthington puts forward the ways in which just forgiveness is practiced in families, congregations, communities and society, and the world.
The heart of Worthington’s understanding of a just forgiveness involves the role of Christ-like humility in pursuit of both justice and forgiveness. Worthington explains that persons and societies possess a justice motive and a mercy motive. Too often the one motive overshadows the other. Humility reconciles the motives and allows for the pursuit of both justice and forgiveness. Worthington’s theory is informed theologically by a doctrine of God as just and merciful.
The book provides a useful vocabulary and theoretical framework with which to talk about an issue that anyone living in community experiences regularly, namely conflict and its attendant injuries. For example, though the church is established and maintained by God with the result that ultimately we will be well, the fact remains that the church is made up of sinful people with the result that we have some work to do in pursuit of healing for our divisions. According to Worthington, divisions can be and sometimes are doctrinal in nature. But more often than not they are the result of a failure to love. Worthington discusses love as both curative and preventive.
One of the book’s strengths is its “how to” sections. Worthington lists steps to follow in pursuit of a just forgiveness. Drawing on his theory from part one of the book, he tailors the steps for families, congregations, communities in society, and the world.
Living in community is no small feat. It requires effort. Worthington recognizes that just forgiveness is ultimately the result of God’s grace. It is possible only when, to use his words, “we yield ourselves to God and [are] guided by God’s Spirit.”
DAN McCOIG is the associate pastor of First Church, Winchester, Va.
