A genocide is defined as the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group. I grew up in Rwanda, a country in the heart of Africa, on the eastern side of the continent. The nation’s 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a story known to all men and the atrocities, animosity and barbaric murderings committed in the latter are an act that one can never forget. During the 25th Commemoration of the Genocide againt the Tutsi which happens every April 7th for a 100 days, H.E Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda brought the nation to tears with a very powerful speech:
“… Rwanda became a family, once again. The arms of our people, intertwined, constitute the pillars of our nation. We hold each other up. Our bodies and minds bear amputations and scars, but none of us is alone. Together, we have woven the tattered threads of our unity into a new tapestry. Sisters became mothers. Neighbors became uncles. Strangers became friends. Our culture naturally creates new bonds of solidarity, which both console and renew. Rwanda is a family. That is why we still exist, despite all we have gone through.
There is no way to fully comprehend the loneliness and anger of survivors. And yet, over and over again, we have asked them to make the sacrifices necessary to give our nation new life. Emotions had to be put in a box. Someone once asked me why we keep burdening survivors with the responsibility for our healing. It was a painful question, but I realized the answer was obvious. Survivors are the only ones with something left to give: their forgiveness.
Our people have carried an immense weight with little or no complaint. This has made us better and more united than ever before. At a memorial event some years ago, a girl brought us to tears with a poem. She said, “There is a saying that God spends the day elsewhere, but returns to sleep in Rwanda. “Where was God on those dark nights of genocide?”, she asked. Looking at Rwanda today, it is clear that God has come back home to stay.”
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. niv
The story of the prodigal son is a very popular scripture to most of you that have been in the faith for a while. If you read the histories of ancient medieval cultures, this parable told by Jesus Christ was considered an anathema to the head of the family, because what the younger son did by asking for his share of the estate when his father was still alive was not different from telling the father that he wished him dead for these properties were only distributed when the latter passes on. The father’s attitude towards the son’s rebellion however was the least expected from anyone listening to the story, he did not complain once, he did not refuse his son’s request and he did not close his doors to the repentant son who returned home after he had squandered everything entrusted to him. Instead he welcomed him, called for a celebration for his son’s return and restored the young man without ever putting him through the lawful procedure of paying back what he owed by toiling along the father’s hired men.
In his phenomenal depiction of the restoration of the heart of faith, Timothy Keller in his best selling book ‘The Prodigal God’ demonstrates how most of the members of the church have the same intention but with a different means to the same end. Some perform their way through in order to gain favor from God while others boldly disobey and believe their way to be right because they are progressive thinkers and move at the pace of the world which they live in. Both are wrong. An important point Jesus alluded to as he told the parable, was that someone had to pay for the misfortune the rebellious younger son brought to the family. If the father then had two sons, he divided the properties he owned between the two, and he likewise withheld the share of the son who stayed home but gave the rebellious son his share to take. Once the rebellious son returns home, without any money or form of wealth – Jesus implies that the cost of the celebrations and restoration of the younger son was paid with that which was available and had stayed in the custody of the father and likewise the son who stayed. If then the father divided the spoil among the two sons, it simply means that the remaining fortune was entirely the older son’s, therefore the restoration cost the brother who stayed.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. niv
The first son Adam committed sin against The Father and consequently doomed all humanity. In condemning the sin which had been brought about by one son, The Father gave of himself through Jesus Christ that no one would have to labor through this life to earn his forgiveness because it was way too costly and impossible for us to redeem ourselves. What we could never afford, was made a sheer gift so that we can all inherit into the purpose of The Father for all sons. On the cross, the son of God in agony utters the most unexplainable and unthinkable words one would speak in the face of his murderers: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” On this cross hung a man that never sinned, insulted anyone, killed anyone, but instead healed, prayed, opened blind eyes and lived the most humble life that we may never have to be repulsed by the Father when we return home repentant – instead be welcomed, celebrated, kissed and given the best robe. We on the other hand, insist to withhold the offenses done unto us by our brother or sister and completely refuse to forgive, or hold what modern day people call ‘grudges’. This only enslaves the one who refuses to forgive by embittering them and birthing all kinds of evil plots in their hearts and the one to be forgiven by living in guilt and shame striving to live a normal life with a bruised heart. Given what had been done to this sinless man on the hill at Calvary, who amongst us would dare withhold forgiveness when the one who had all the rights to never forgive chose forgiveness ? In the 4th chapter of the letters of Paul to the Ephesian church, he charges us by God to forgive even as Christ has forgiven us, because no one could earn this forgiveness apart from it being a sheer gift.
To reiterate what H.E Paul Kagame explained in his speech, the only people that were left with something to give are the survivors of this tragedy and likewise, it is the unthinkable and unexplainable gift: forgiveness. In his closing remarks, Timothy Keller narrows down the equation as follows: “Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn’t mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness.” Rwandans could have decided to go the other way, but how could we have had a place to call home if it was so? Who would have worked with who to rebuild the nation? Who would have learned all the skills to represent one group and the other so that the forgiver and the forgiven remain in separate corners? What would have been the end of such a choice? Alas I can’t think of another way, one that is not costly to the only one that has something left to give – the gift of forgiveness.
Am I saying there is any man apart from Christ who has attained this perfection? Absolutely not. As believers, the renewed mind in Christ we gain when we accept him into our hearts compels us to pattern ourselves after the perfect son of God who gave up all his glory and kingship to come show us how it is done. Forgiveness can never be earned, it can simply be given. As we freely have received, shall we also freely give?
If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, and you feel that this is the perfect time, pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died for my sins and you were raised for my glory. Today, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I am born again. Amen.”
