Posted on 04/15/2019 5:52:50 AM PDT by Kaslin
Last week, the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, created a firestorm of controversy when he said to a group of evangelical leaders that the Holocaust could be forgiven but not forgotten. But in response to an uproar from the Jewish community in Israel, he claimed “that his remarks had been misinterpreted.”
As he explained, “Forgiveness is something personal, my speech was never meant to be used in a historical context, especially one where millions of innocent people were murdered in a cruel genocide.”
Is there a difference, then, between forgiving and forgetting? And is there a difference of opinion between Judaism and Christianity when it comes to these important (and difficult) subjects?
This past Thursday, in a meeting with evangelical pastors, Bolsonaro said (with reference to the Holocaust), “We can forgive, but we cannot forget. Those who forget their past are sentenced not to have a future.”
So, it would seem that he felt it important to emphasize the importance of keeping the horrific memory of the Holocaust alive while at the same time allowing for the possibility of forgiveness.
In response, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tweeted (but without specifically referencing Bolsonaro), “We will never extend our hand to those who deny the truth or attempt to erase it. Not individuals or organizations, not heads of parties and not heads of states. We will never forgive and never forget. No one will order the Jewish people's forgiveness and no interest will buy it.”
And Yad Vashem, from the Holocaust memorial museum in Israel, said in a statement that, “We disagree with the Brazilian president's statement that the Holocaust can be forgiven. It is not in anyone's position to determine who and if Holocaust crimes can be forgiven.”
What should we make of these statements?
Do they reflect Jewish thought regarding the possibility of repentance? And do they mirror Christian thought?
I can certainly understand the swift response from Israel, as if the gentile, Christian president of Brazil can decide to pronounce forgiveness for the Nazis and their partners in crime.
To say this is to trivialize, to speak for the victims and their families, to minimize the enormity of the guilt.
“Yes, it was very bad, but we can forgive and move on. Let’s just be sure it doesn’t happen again.”
But is that was Bolsonaro was saying? And, if there is true repentance, is there still no possibility of forgiveness?
First, I understand that the Brazilian president’s point was this: “We do not hold this against Germany for all time. We are willing to forgive when we see contrition and repentance. But we must never forget this horrific evil, lest something like it happen again in our day.”
Second, I don’t believe Bolsonaro was claiming to speak for God in terms of the fate of Hitler and his henchmen. He was not saying, “We pronounce those evil men forgiven.” Certainly not.
Third, Israel has forgiven Germany as a nation for its crimes, establishing excellent relations with their former tormentors.
As noted on the Israel Project website (dated January 25, 2012), “The German-Israeli relationship has been shaped by the memory of the Holocaust and the strong desire on the part of the German people to help ensure that the suffering endured by the Jewish people between 1933 and 1945 will never recur.
“Germany and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1965. Since then, these ties have been characterized by overall friendship between the two nations but also by frequent crises that bring to light the delicate nature of the relations and their emotional fragility.”
Isn’t this what Bolsonaro was saying?
Fourth, the Bible records that God accepted the repentance of two of the most wicked leaders in the history of Israel and Judah, Ahab and Manasseh, delaying the judgment they were due (see 1 Kings 21:27-29; 2 Chronicles 33:10-17). They were responsible for many deaths, yet God postponed their punishment.
In God’s own words, as recorded by the prophet Ezekiel, “Is it my desire that a wicked person shall die?—says the Lord GOD. It is rather that he shall turn back from his ways and live” (Ezekiel 18:23).
This would mean that, if a Nazi murderer who had escaped justice for many years came forward, confessed his crimes, and demonstrated true repentance, he should be forgiven. (If God, who is infinitely holy and perfectly righteous can forgive, shouldn’t we follow His example?) He would still need to pay for his crimes, including lifelong imprisonment or even death, but he would die a forgiven man.
And this, of course, leads to the message of the gospel, namely, that through Jesus, God can forgive and redeem the worst of sinners. This would include Saul of Tarsus (better known as Paul the apostle), who once killed Jews who believed in Jesus, only to receive grace and mercy from God (see 1 Timothy 1:12-16).
That’s how Corrie Ten-Boom could forgive the prison guard the cruel prison guard who tormented her and her sister when they were imprisoned during the Holocaust for protecting Jews. (If you’ve never read the account, take a moment and read it now. It’s worth it! Corrie’s sister died while imprisoned.)
o be sure, the Holocaust itself cannot be forgiven, nor do any of us have the power to pronounce forgiveness on a past generation. In that sense, I concur with the statements from Israel. But we can recognize true repentance when we see it, we can forgive as the Lord forgave us (for followers of Jesus, this is especially relevant), and we can leave vengeance and final judgment to God.
Certainly, I understand why the reaction from Israel was so swift and strong, especially in light of the never-ending attempts to deny the Holocaust (or, at the least, to minimize it).
But there is truth to Bolsonaro’s words, and as a friend of Israel, he should not be misunderstood.
Even your judgement of my statement creates a shackle on your soul.
Remember Jesus’ words...” I have not come to judge, but to save.”
How can I ask forgiveness if I can’t forgive others.
“Remember Jesus’ words...” I have not come to judge, but to save.”
Lots of folks like to cherry pick the words of Jesus. I can see you’re one of them.
Have a nice day.
L
I think the difference is ‘wholesale forgiveness’ vs individual forgiveness
One of my personal heroines is a Dutch Christian named Corrie ten Boom....
....she and her middle aged sister lived in the heart of Haarlem, Holland during the war
They were devote and loving Christians
They were also compassionate and when Jewish people.....who trusted and loved them....began turning up at their door seeking help and hiding.....the tenBooms obliged
Corrie’s Christian brother, a Pastor, and his sons even helped with ‘underground rescue’
They were found out......Corrie and her sister Betsy were sent to Ravenbruck
Her father died in prison......her brother came out of prison seriously ill and dies soon from tuberculosis of the spine
Her sister died in Ravensbruck
Corrie was released eventually after many months of harsh conditions...
Soon after the war’s end.......one of the brutal guards heard her speak at a Christian service.......She talked about forgiveness, and only through God can we forgive
This guard came up to her and put out his hand to shake....and asked her forgivene
...as she tells it, she could no more take his hand in forgiveness than anything....
...so she prayed for God’s help......put out her hand and forgave him
Did she forget what happened to her family and her?.....Of course not!
Could she trust God to move her forward in life and heal her heart.....YES!
I’ve been to the Holocaust Museum in DC and have read enough books on it to know it was horrific and words cannot describe the satanic horror of this.
So I’m not dismissing the real feelings of rage in some people.
I’m just telling you Corrie’s story.
That was a lame line of dialogue from Spielberg's movie about the Munich Olympics massacre. Sorry, but those killers needed to be hunted and down and killed.
Where does it stop?
I doubt I will forgive the MSM in my lifetime.
Which is convenient because I doubt they will ever ask for it.
ISRAEL LIVES!
Are you inferring that Iran is only a threat to Israel and not the USA and the rest of the world?
“Who is there left to forgive?”
EXACTLY!
Hanging on to “hate” only hurts you.
Do we “hate” all Germans today? We shouldn’t, even if you are a Jew.
Do we “hate” all “white” Americans today? We shouldn’t, even if you are Black.
I never owned a slave or persecuted a Jew. Neither did my father, nor his father, nor his father, nor his father.
We ALL should NEVER FORGET!
But the people who perpetrated these atrocities are all DEAD!
I forgot to add that even if they did, THEY ARE ALL DEAD!
Nearly nobody. Trying to blame those who were not even alive in 1945 is beyond repugnant; anybody who does so should be shunned out of civilized society.
Fake uproar.
The fact that Germany is a country (and was two countries) shows it was forgiven.
It is from the Code of Hammurabi. Hammurabi was King of Babylon, 1792-1750 BC. The code survives today in the Akkadian language.
The quote is actually in the Bible several times, both OT & NT. Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21 thus it dates to 6th century BC
Matthew 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’........
The two Old Testament scriptures refer to it as a law to live by. The New Testament scripture says to not follow the old law, but forgive. I guess you are not Christian and still follow the old law.
Lurker said, “Lots of folks like to cherry pick the words of Jesus. I can see you’re one of them.” No, I understand them in the greater context of His teachings.
It was actually a Ghandi quote long before the movie.
“Sorry, but those killers needed to be hunted and down and killed.”
Death is the easy way out. I am for punishment to help a person learn from their errors. I’m pro-life at both ends of the spectrum as life is precious, all life.
It is far better to keep the person in prison where they might suffer enough with the turmoil in their soul that they too may find Christ by the time of their last breath. (I like the vineyard worker parable as it teaches us that it is never too late to accept Christ and the reward is the same for all)
That movie was a blatant rip-off of "Sword of Gideon".
I have already physically died and have experienced the wonderful bliss available to me. I have no fear of death. Actually, I look forward to the wonderful experience again.
It’s far more difficult to be here than it is to be dead.
Nope. But I know I could not forgive the Holocaust no matter if that is what Jesus would do or wants me to do. I don't think most people/Christians would either, regardless of what they may say.
It was actually a Ghandi quote long before the movie.
It is still (IMO) a lame line that seems to enjoy its sense of fake profundity. It would be great if everybody forgave each other all the time, and would be even better if people didn't kill each other and need forgiveness. However, in this fallen world, there are evil people who will not be stopped by forgiveness. Was it forgiveness when they hung the Nazi war criminals after the Nuremburg trials? Should they not have hung them?
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