“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

-Jesus Christ

It is something that perplexes those that do not understand it. They do not understand the reason behind it. In our fleshly world, it makes absolutely no sense.

Forgiveness.

“I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”

-Erika Kirk

In her passionate and heart breaking speech at the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service, Erika Kirk shocked the world when she confessed that she forgave the monster that made her into a widow. The one that left her children without a father. The same one that had shed light on the Evil that walks among us. Celebrating bloodshed for those that they do not agree with, and crying out for more.

She said that it is what Charlie would have done.

She said Jesus would have done likewise.

This concept is foreign to The World. Many were brought to tears when she said it. “How can you forgive someone that has murdered your innocent husband? How can you forgive the people that spit on his grave and spit into your face as they mock and laugh at you and your grief?”. The Left, being the “Party of Death and Violence”, I am certain is even more confused. Should she not desire five minutes alone with the killer? Should she not want to visit him, bound by chains, with a dagger in her hand? Should she not wish death upon him? Maybe a violent assault by the hands of another inmate? Should she not curse his name until she has no voice left to scream? It is her right is it not?

No.

Why?

We should be thankful that we, The Body of Christ, are forbidden from holding grudges and seeking vengeance. Because to hold a grudge binds our heart to the pain. To the memory of the wrong. It allows us to obsess over and over again of the “What? Why? Who?”. We lose sleep and dine with illness. Our inner core unravels, thread by thread, as each pervasive thought crosses our mind. Until it ultimately alters who we are. Or outright does us in. Maybe it leads us away from ourselves as we slowly become lost to the memory of who we once were as we coordinate with Vengeance. We may think that an eye for an eye will heal us. But in our humane state, would we sleep better at night after staring into the eyes of another as he begged and pleaded for Life? Would we ever get the sound of him gasping for his last breath out of our head? I think not. Only a monster would find satisfaction in taking the life of another. No matter the reason. In time we would finally ask the question “What have I done?” as we scrub the stains from our hands. A stain that will never cease to be. Unless we remove ourselves from the equation of Life. God says “Do not…”, because He knows our fragile state. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows the moment of the original formation of our DNA, and He knows the last word that we will speak. He knows, as His children, that a tooth for a tooth would break us. He knows that there is no solace in returning the favor of creating the void in the hearts of those left behind.

Guilt would bury us on the inside. Praying for a merciful judge in a black robe as we are charged. That same Guilt would cross the boundaries between the spiritual and the physical realm. And what is not to say that the cycle of pain would end with us? What if someone sought us out to avenge another’s death? To watch us beg for Forgiveness, Mercy, and the right to Life?

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”’

-Paul, to The Church in Rome

God knew what He was saying when He said to not avenge. He always knows what He says. Even if we, in our finite minds, cannot make it make sense.

What if Erika Kirk chose to not forgive? What if she chose Vengeance? Her hatred for Tyler would grow into a disease that would devour her soul. He is in custody. There is nothing more that she can do if she so desires to do so. So all she can do is toil in wishful despair. Praying that someone else can fulfill her revenge. Wallowing for something that she has no control over. Until Vengeance controls her and makes her into a bitter human. But what if she was given the opportunity to settle the score? Would she feel better? Or would such an act stain her heart for life? Leaving her scarred. What if her children caught wind of what their mother had done? Would they learn to believe that Vengeance is justified? That Revenge is the only solution to right a wrong? Would they ever look at Erika the same? Or would they never understand?

Also, as a daughter of God, how would she present Him to the world if she had no Mercy and Forgiveness towards Tyler? Would he come to Christ someday, knowing that the widow that should pursue his end showed him the same Grace that we have been shown? His Salvation would be celebrated in the halls of Heaven. Even by Charlie Kirk. Imagine that! Charlie one day standing eye to eye with Tyler, calling him “brother”.

Forgiveness releases her from the chains that would bind her heart to Anger, Bitterness, and Despair. She can now move forward in Life, remembering and honoring Charlie, striving to keep his name and cause alive. Unbound by the dark clouds and storms that would slow her steps. 

It is her place to forgive Tyler. It is God’s place to see that he faces Justice.

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.“

-Jesus, from The Gospel of Luke