What is the way forward for peace, security, development and freedom in a society rocked by violence, holocaust, genocide and slavery? Forgiveness and reconciliation sound difficult. But this book shows the influential, far-reaching, world-changing implications for a people who are enabled to forgive as they have been forgiven. Gregory and Celestin are both practitioners and scholars in peace building and reconciliation. They write about how churches and communities can cultivate the habits which make forgiveness possible. They argue, ‘to forgive, we need communal practices and disciples – a way of life that makes for peace’ (p. 11). The amazing stories in this book offer hope, courage and guidance for all victims and perpetrators of violence, most odious of atrocities.
‘The message of forgiveness is needed today more than ever before’ (p. 83). However, the possibility of forgiveness is challenged by not being given a chance to be practised, learned and noticed. Forgiving as we have been forgiven presents individual and fundamental community practices of making peace through forgiveness.
First, Celestin Musekura on ‘The Heart of the Gospel’ explores the centre and emphasis of the Christian faith rooted in the Bible, based on the gracious forgiving God. He presents models of forgiveness. Second is ‘The Dance of Forgiveness’ by Craig Jones, where he interacts with the story of Celestin explaining further ‘cheap forgiveness and costly despair’ (p. 38). Fortunately, he suggested six steps of embodying forgiveness. Third is ‘Putting on Christ’ by Celestin. ‘Healing the Wounds of the Past’ by Jones underscores the significance of healing the wounds of the past lingered with memories. Finally, Celestin on ‘Communities of Forgiveness’ argues for and with community stories of forgiveness from Christian faith communities who suffered the genocide in Rwanda.
The beauty of biblical forgiveness is presented and envisaged in the lives of individuals and communities who experienced genocide and deep wounds in their lives. Forgiveness is rightly a gift which is to be received with gratitude and shared, taught, lived out and granted. ‘We need something more than therapeutic self-help’ (p. 9). This is because ‘if we reduce forgiveness to a pop therapy, we ignore its invitation into the life that really is life’ (p. 41). The uniqueness of Christian forgiveness is derived from its motivation in divine forgiveness. The Christian community should acknowledge that we are a forgiven people called to forgive one another. More so, we have also been entrusted with the message of God's forgiveness for the whole world. That practice of forgiveness is modelled by and within the communities of such believers. For instance, following the Rwanda genocide, Celestin Musekura lost his family members. But he then heard God telling him to forgive the killers. The healing power of forgiveness in his own life inspired him to work for forgiveness and reconciliation across Africa, through the African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries (ALARM). It is noticeable that forgiveness is vital, difficult, but not impossible!
Musekura argues that we need to put on Christ. Christ enhances our means, motivation, end and facilitation of our own forgiveness. Without acknowledging, accepting and appreciating that forgiveness, it is not all that easy to forgive oneself, others and even enhance the much-needed community transformation. He continues to argue, using biblical principles and forgiveness stories from himself and others within Eastern Africa, that people can go through forgiveness with the help of others. This will ultimately lead to community forgiveness and transformation in that trust is restored and people restore their relationships among themselves. Individual practice of forgiveness enhances wider community forgiveness. Moving testimonies of forgiveness imply the need for it, the applicability and possibility of it in seemingly difficult situations.
This is a must-have book for peace-building researchers and practitioners, organisations, churches, libraries, families and individuals envisaging community transformation. The authors rightly apply a comparative analysis of forgiveness from a practitioner and scholarly perspective.
