Pastor forgives teens accused of cross burning

CNN.Com / U.S. ^ | Sunday, March 28, 2004 Posted: 9:11 PM EST (0211 GMT) | Associated Press

[Bobby777]

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A pastor who awoke to find a cross ablaze in his family's front yard said Sunday he hopes to speak with the teenagers accused of setting the fire to tell them they are forgiven.

Pastor Jason Martin, who is black, said he would like to talk to the boys to offer guidance, if they are willing to listen.

[Bobby777]

Hopefully the gracious spirit of Pastor Jason Martin will show the teens how wrong they were and that they would never do such a thing again ... good for Pastor Jason Martin ...

[Bobby777]

Rev. Jason Martin, center, walks with supporters at a rally to promote unity, Saturday.

[risk]

He seems to have real character and strength.

[geopyg]

On the Seattle news all of the footage was of primarily white teenagers (which makes sense looking at the demographics). I would imagine that the parade would be rightfully led by blacks - but this close-up photo makes it look like it could be primarily blacks in the parade.

The burning of the cross was race related, but the parade was definitely emphasizing the hate.

[Bobby777]

Jesus says to bless those who curse you ... a real tough thing to do ... this man has taken the high road ... I applaud his conviction ... these two foolish teens could learn a thing or two from this man's Faith in Christ ...

[GeronL]

are the teens white?

[Bobby777]

don't know for sure ... the article says the town is 90% white, so I'd say there is a 90% chance ... 8)

[risk]

The burning of the cross was race related, but the parade was definitely emphasizing the hate.

How so? I'm thinking if someone put a burning Star of David on my lawn because I'm supportive of Israel that I would do more than go on parade with signs expressing my frustration.

Maybe you would turn the other cheek in such a way that no one would ever know it happened?

[GeronL]

I guess thats correct. Been a lot of hoax hate-crimes lately though.

[familyop]

"Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him" (Luke 17:3-4, KJV).

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I counted five blacks and seven whites. Hmmm... it appears that the community is coming together and supporting the pastor, and that is always a good thing.

[GeronL]

Not that this was a hoax of course.

---

Jeff Head has inspired me to write stories again. First Roughdraft of my first days' writing. The story is called The Ghost & the Shadow

[risk]

You and I probably saw courage and conviction that forgiveness would solve the problem at hand, rather than anger. I suppose others are free to read what they will into it. Thanks for doing a count. It's very interesting.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Those people who stand beside the pastor today, gain much more than he does. Yes, he is strengthened by their support... and yet, he is teaching them a lesson about forgiveness from God. They won't forget this. And I applaud them.

[Bobby777]

boy this is a tough one ... but I understand it ... because this is how God has forgiven us in Christ ...

Matthew 18 KJV
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.(490 times)

[geopyg]

I guess what I meant by "emphasizing the hate" was that the towns people (and on the news it seemed like a lot of white teenagers - peers of the kids that did it) were saying that there wasn't room for this kind of hate ("cross-burning") in their town.

This as opposed to last-years(?) Seattle protest where the "parade" went out onto the freeway and stopped traffic so the primarily black protesters could rail against white police officers - and making the whole issue a "race" issue.

I just didn't want folks to think the parade was all blacks, and that it was a "whites against blacks" issue.

And I'm not sure what I would do if I had a symbol burned in my yard. I would hope I would have the reaction of the pastor. At first wanting to throw sticks and stones (or some oo buckshot), but then giving forgiveness. How about shooting them with salt and then giving forgiving them ;). "I'm a preacher - not a Saint".

On the news the pastor said he would hope the boys (two turned themselves in as of yesterday) would let him spend some time with them after they've served their punishment and maybe he can help them somehow. Forgiveness doesn't mean they don't have to serve their just punishment.

[familyop]

"...that I would do more than go on parade with signs expressing my frustration."

The story of Saul is an interesting one. Another was that of Peter's skill with his sword, which kind of skill takes much training. We should love our enemies and pray for their salvation, but I don't think we're always required to let them go unopposed. Our soldiers could not reconcile popular peacenik mysticism and only small parts of popular scriptures with their duty.

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18, King James).

[familyop]

But as in Luke 17:3-4, rebuking by the offended is advised, and repentence by the offender is required before forgiveness. Here are the verses you posted along with a few important preceding verses. Our Father is just.

Matthew 18:15-22, KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

[rdb3]

A boneheaded prank, perhaps?

Show 'em my motto!

[Bobby777]

I have to disagree ... in the Lord's Prayer, to be used as a model of course, and not just vainly repeated as it often is, we are to forgive those who trespass against us ... without forgiveness, we have nothing ... for we could never correct our offenses before God apart from the Vicarious Sacrifice of Christ ... indeed, the Apostle John reminds us that we all sin each day ... sins of comission and sins of omission ...

it's not always easy, but it's better to forgive someone than waiting for them to come around ... one may be in for a long, long wait ... that's why Jesus said 70 x 7 ...