Mollie Hemingway of the Federalist takes both President Trump and former First Lady Michelle Obama to task for recent pronouncements that they could “never forgive” a political opponent for a particular offense.
To say someone is irredeemable is to offer no hope. It is to say he is forever banished and unforgiven. This language is, sadly, all around us. And it infects our lives.
The Republican Senate Leadership Fund ran an attack ad against Tennessee Senate candidate Phil Bredesen that highlighted his poor handling of investigations into sexual assault when he was governor. The ad, based on a quote saying the same, was titled “Unforgivable.”
Former Republican representative David Jolly said that it was “unforgivable” for Melania Trump to wear a jacket that said, “I don’t care. Do you?” …
… For some who are in it, The NeverTrump movement is itself the undistilled expression of an inability to forgive anything done by the president and those who elected him. But this inability to forgive plagues each and every one of us — Team Red, Team NeverRed, Team Blue, and Team Otherwise. …
… None of this is healthy. Forgiveness is a wonderful gift for all, and is central to the teachings of Christ. …
… When we forgive one another — including for their grievous sins against us — it shows us that we truly believe God has forgiven us.
