One of the big news items this weekend has been about the latest shakeup in President Trump’s administration. Rumors have been swirling about Pam Bondi’s fate since she and the president visited the Supreme Court to hear the court’s argument on birthright citizenship.
However, there have been complaints and pushback by MAGA against Pam Bondi for a while. Most recently, for her handling of the Epstein files. President Trump has been open about and hell-bent on his desire to punish his political enemies since before he took office.
Yet, his supporters didn’t care if the president’s ways and goals contradicted the teachings of the faith they claim to follow:
- Unloving
- Hateful
- Prideful
- Vengeful
So we shouldn’t be surprised by the president firing Pam Bondi just before the Easter holiday, or should we? The president demands loyalty to his selfish and worldly causes at all costs (Exodus 20:3)
When Pam Bondi failed to prosecute the president’s enemies, it was only a matter of time before he turned on her. It was embarrassing for the president to watch his enemies, like Letitia James and James Comey, not receive punishment for opposing the president.
The failed investigation into Jerome Powell didn’t help either. The final straw may have been the mishandling of the Epstein files and case. The president and his supporters have twisted revenge into their perspective of justice (Deuteronomy 32: 35, Proverbs 24:29, Isaiah 61:8, Romans 12:19). That is why God’s people are constantly told to forgive, even their enemies.
What Is Forgive
Forgiving others doesn’t come easily or naturally to many of us, because our prideful and evil hearts crave revenge (Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 12:34). A lot of people confuse forgiving with forgetting; they are two different actions altogether, though.
Forgiveness is defined as “To cease to feel resentment against another: pardon.” We don’t have to forget to forgive; forgiving helps us not take offense at the wrongs done to us. If we forget, there’s nothing to forgive in the first place.
It helps us remember, but not to have a grudge or desire revenge. We cannot forgive and seek revenge, because when we do, we haven’t fully forgiven the offense.
That is why the Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness (Danielle 9:9, Acts 2:38). Our evil and selfish hearts seek revenge, God’s Spirit and love teach us to forgive (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
God showed us His love by sending His only son to die for the sins of the world, not just a political party or one nation like our Jewish forefathers wanted (Romans 5:8; 8:32, Galatians 4:4-5, Ephesians 5:2, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 2:2; 3:16).
The apostles remembered their Jewish education about what it means to forgive and why we must learn to forgive others.
Sālaḥ
The Old Testament tells us how the creation and sinned against God by choosing earthly greatness over God’s goodness (Genesis 3:1-7). Humanity broke the relationship with God, and God gave them another chance by forgiving and redeeming his creation (Genesis 3:15; 6:5-8).
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for forgive is sālaḥ, and it can also mean “Pardon or spare,” depending upon the context it is used in. When we forgive someone, we spare them the punishment that is due to them.
Even after God called His people out of this dark and fallen world, they kept disobeying Him and needed to be forgiven (Exodus 32:1-6, Judges 2:11-12, 1 Samuel 8:7-9, Jeremiah 7:23-26).
Because God has forgiven Israel so much, Judaism emphasizes forgiving others (Genesis 50:17, Leviticus 19:18, Proverbs 17:19):
- Confess
- Repent
- Seek restitution
- Apologize
- Let go
When the Messiah came, He didn’t preach revenge, but forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15, 18:21-22). Jesus knew He didn’t come to punish and condemn sin, but to forgive and to save (Matthew 9:13, Luke 5:32, John 3:16-17).
Our Lord rebuked the religious leaders for judging the woman caught in the act of adultery and forgave her Himself, although she was clearly guilty (John 8:3-11). He emphasized forgiveness over punishment and revenge (Matthew 5:7; 38-39, Mark 11:25).
Our Rabbi even taught His followers to forgive their enemies (Matthew 5:44). Our Lord wasn’t the mighty military leader and conqueror that God’s people wanted, and they rejected Him, yet He forgave them for it.
Easter
As I write this, people are celebrating Easter around the world. While some celebrate silly holiday traditions with candy and rabbits, Protestants and Catholics are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, who conquered the grave and death (Matthew 28:6, Acts 2:24, Romans 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 1 Peter 1:3).
Jesus is the final sacrifice needed to forgive the sins of humanity (Hebrews 9:12-14; 10:10-14). Forgiveness and grace are the themes of Easter Sunday. Unfortunately, President Trump and MAGA Christians don’t understand the Christian principles. The president said it himself last year at the funeral of Charlie Kirk, “I disagree with Kirk, I hate my enemies, and I don’t want the best for them.” The president listens to his heart and ignores the basic teachings of Jesus:
- Love thy neighbor
- Love your enemies
- Forgive others
To make matters worse, in the early hours of our holy Easter morning, the president went on to another power-hungry and childish tirade against Iran, our enemy in this latest pointless war. The president’s file language and demonic threats shocked some conservatives for some reason.
Just like with the President’s political enemies, the president doesn’t want to forgive; he is hell-bent on revenge. Ironically, in his childish rant, the president praised Allah, the Muslim god, not Jesus or the Judeo-Christian God. Even Muslims are taught to sālaḥ!
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