Forgiveness and Justice: A Christian Approach by Dr. Bryan
Maier
Forgiveness at its core involves two people committed to
naming and dealing with wrongdoing in a holistic way. Yet, often we too easily think that a mere ‘I’m
sorry’ will suffice for the one who has been hurt by sin and evil. Dr. Bryan Maier comes to grips with the full
weight of forgiveness and justice in his new book entitled Forgiveness and
Justice: Christian Approach. Wanting to
engage to engage the best of secular counselors and psychologists but desiring
to chart a course that stands firm on the Scriptures, this book is a great work
at the intersection of counseling, psychology, and biblical theology.
In cataloging the levels in which sin causes the most
damage, Bryan gets to the basic message of how sin acts upon its victims. Victims can fall prey to a dangerous
situation in which they believe that “there is no such thing as justice after
all or a judge who can enforce the law,” thereby increasing the chances in the
victim’s mind that this same type of action can take place once again
(49). Other interpretations that falsely
place blame on the victim’s shoulders only encourage the perpetrator to be let
off the hook and the victim to feel a strong sense of shame for which she has
no true basis. And yet, there is a fine
line here between a longing for justice and exacting revenge. Bryan writes, “Revenge, often touted as “a
dish best served cold” still leaves a sour taste in our mouths (52).
Bryan brings to bear upon the counseling process the
imprecatory psalms in the Scriptures.
With wisdom and skill, Bryan writes, “A second benefit from reading the
imprecatory psalms is the reassurance that not only does God see everything
that happened but that He will do
something about it.” Not only does this release the victim from the feeling
that they have to exert vengeance or make the wrong right, but it gives us the
opportunity to have faith in God that he will do what he has promised to in the
end. God’s holy character and his will
is that the entire created order will be remade and restored and that every sin
will be wiped away, a hope and a promise that is as sure as the sun.
This is an excellent book for counselors, pastors, any
Christian who works with those who desire for forgiveness and justice.
Thanks to Kregel Ministry for the copy of this book in
exchange for an honest review.
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