A Future with Forgiveness

<p>In 1994, when South Africa made the transition from government by apartheid (imposed racial segregation) to a democracy, it faced the difficult question of how to address the crimes committed under apartheid. The country&rsquo;s leaders couldn&#8217;t ignore the past, but merely imposing harsh punishments on the guilty risked deepening the country&#8217;s wounds. As Desmond Tutu, the first black Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, explained in his book&nbsp;<em> No Future Without Forgiveness,</em> &#8220;We could very well have had justice, retributive justice, and had a South Africa lying in ashes.&#8221;</p> <p>Through establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, the new democracy chose the difficult path of pursuing truth, justice, and mercy. Those guilty of crimes were offered a path to restoration&mdash;if they were willing to confess their crimes and seek to make restitution. Only by courageously facing the truth could the country begin to find healing.</p> <p>In a way, South Africa&#8217;s dilemma mirrors the struggle we all face. We&#8217;re called to pursue both justice and mercy (Micah 6:8), but mercy is often misunderstood to be a lack of accountability, while pursuing justice can become distorted into pursuing revenge.</p> <p>Our only path forward is a love that not only hates what&#8217;s evil (Romans 12:9) but also longs for the transformation and good of our &#8220;neighbor&#8221; (13:10). Through the power of Christ&#8217;s Spirit, we can learn what it means to have a future of overcoming evil with good (12:21).</p>