By Ben Quine
**This article is part of a series helping us navigate this issue of racism in our world from a Biblical perspective. To read all of Ben’s articles on this subject - click on his name above by the date published and it will sort all of this articles in one place.

Join Ben Quine, the author, and Bunni Pounds, and Dorothy Brooks on Monday nights starting 2/21 as they go through his book: Answers for Difficult Days: Racism. Check out all of the information and to sign up here. We will ship out the book for free. Jump in at any time. Also check out our other upcoming classes with Ben Quine- on Biblical Justice, Economics and Worldview in 2022.

“I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you. I love you just like anyone else and I’m not going to hope you rot and die; I personally want the best for you. I wasn’t going to say this in front of my family, I don’t even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you because I know that’s exactly what Botham would want for you. Give your life to Christ. I think giving your life to Christ is the best thing Botham would want for you.” 

Those incredible words were spoken by Brandt Jean to ex-Dallas police officer Amber Guyger in 2019, after she was convicted of murdering his brother, Botham Jean. 

In the aftermath of the death of Botham Jean, many people were rioting. Most were heartbroken or angry. Most wanted justice. But Brandt Jean spoke words of such supernatural power that they were shocking to those in the courtroom. His words are still shocking today.

On June 17, 2015, white supremacist Dylann Roof entered Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina and started shooting innocent people who were there for Bible study, murdering nine. His evil actions were spurred on by his racist views. Despite the unspeakable pain they had experienced, Anthony Thompson and Nadine Collier delivered a message of love and forgiveness to Roof in the courtroom:

“I forgive you, my family forgives you. We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Repent. Confess. Give your life to the one who matters the most, Christ, so he can change your ways no matter what happens to you and you’ll be OK. Do that, and you’ll be better off than you are right now.” (Anthony Thompson, the husband of Myra Thompson, a Pastor murdered by Roof)

“I forgive you. You took something really precious away from me. I will never talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you and have mercy on your soul. It hurts me, it hurts a lot of people but God forgive you and I forgive you.” (Nadine Collier, daughter of victim Ethel Lance)

Corrie Ten Boom experienced immense pain at the hands of the Nazis. Listen as she recalls the encounter with her former guard from the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbrück, where she and her family were imprisoned, and where her sister Betsie died:

Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbrück concentration camp where we were sent. Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: “A fine message, fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!” And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. It was the first time since my release that I had been face to face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze. “You mentioned Ravensbrück in your talk,” he was saying. “I was a guard in there. But since that time,” he went on, “I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein” – again the hand came out – “will you forgive me?”

And I stood there – I whose sins had every day to be forgiven – and could not. Betsie had died in that place; could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. For I had to do it – I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. “If you do not forgive men their trespasses,” Jesus says, “neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15) I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.

And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion, I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? “Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him… Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.” And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself. “Jesus, help me!” I prayed silently. “I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.” And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. “I forgive you, brother!” I cried. “With all my heart!”

For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then. And having thus learned to forgive in this hardest of situations, I never again had difficulty in forgiving: I wish I could say it! I wish I could say that merciful and charitable thoughts just naturally flowed from me from then on. But they didn’t. If there’s one thing I’ve learned at 80 years of age, it’s that I can’t store up good feelings and behavior – but only draw them fresh from God each day.

No matter where your pain comes from, even if it stems from the murder of your family, being carried off into slavery, warfare, or racial oppression, Jesus can forgive through you. Remember that it is a supernatural occurrence — this kind of forgiveness is impossible for sinful people, and requires something external and divine. When the Holy Spirit, “living water,” creates this kind of love in us, the results are miraculous. And only when we have this living water can our hearts be fully healed. Praise God that Jesus Christ, “the gift of God” has come into the world, and that the “living water” has come to bring healing to the very deep hurts in our hearts!

We can say along with Corrie Ten Boom, “I can’t, but Jesus in me can!” Ask Jesus to give you his forgiveness for others and, in faith and obedience, forgive. And continue to draw on God’s power every day. Jesus will miraculously give you the love you need, and he will heal your heart. This supernatural, shocking forgiveness brings great glory to God.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Join us Monday evenings starting February 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm central for a look at what God’s Word says about Racism, and His plan for reconciliation, as we work through the Answers for Difficult Days Bible study series by Ben Quine. Jump in anytime the class runs for 8 weeks.

Click here to register today for the upcoming class with Ben Quine, Bunni Pounds, and Dorothy Brooks and get the book for free.

Check out our Christians Engaged Store to purchase all 4 of the books - Answers for Difficult Days. (4-Book Bundle $40 , shipping not included).

ABOUT BEN

Connect with him at Cornerstone Curriculum

Ben Quine, the second son of David and Shirley Quine, was blessed to grow up with a Charlotte Mason/Dr. Schaeffer/Biblical Worldview education -- a tremendous gift! Through the years, Ben has served as a Cornerstone consultant, assistant, and co-author. He has written several Bible studies for the Answers for Difficult Days series, which equips churches to address the issues our culture is wrestling with today, from the foundation of Scripture. Ben is also the editor of The Worldview Library, editions of classical literature with student helps that afford the reader a deeper understanding of the concepts presented in each work.

Trained as a classical pianist and instructor, Ben is committed to inspiring his students with the love of great music and equipping them with the tools to perform at the highest level. This training has resulted in his students' successful performances from local festivals and competitions to Carnegie Hall.

Ben loves Shakespeare, Dickens, photography, listening to recordings of "the great pianists", running, biking, and spending time with his wife Julie and their three sons.