Forgiveness: A Mishandled Theme in Stories

I once read a Christian thriller, and while there were some good messages and elements to it, I didn’t enjoy it very much. There were a few reasons for this, one being that I felt there were plot holes and another being dialogue that felt like the characters were giving lectures on religion and other topics rather than having meaningful discussions that revealed character. But one of the most annoying things for me in this book was how it mishandled one theme: forgiveness.

Out of all the themes I’ve seen in stories, one of the most misunderstood and mishandled is forgiveness. In most books and movies, forgiveness is treated as a get-out-of-jail-free card for wicked people who have committed horrible crimes. Literally. In the thriller, men who murdered men, women, and children, are never arrested or killed for their crimes. Why? Because they got “saved” instantly and are forgiven by the other characters and a man representing Jesus. In another series by the same author, a person who kidnapped and then verbally and physically abused a child is never taken to jail for her crimes. Why? Because the child forgives them, and God loves them.

But that’s not how forgiveness works.

As children of God, we must forgive. God forgave us; therefore, we must forgive others, otherwise, He will not forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15). Unforgiveness only causes more pain for the one holding onto it, and it can prevent us from producing the gifts of the Spirit. That is one part of forgiveness that some stories get right. God also shows grace to those who repent. But forgiveness does not mean a murderer gets to be a free man. They do not get to evade justice. God said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” (Romans 12:19). He exacts vengeance on people who commit evil.

We can look at David for example. He murdered Uriah so he could marry his wife, Bathsheba. When Nathan confronted him and David admitted he had sinned, did God forgive him? Yes. Did God let him avoid the consequences? No. David’s son died (2 Samuel 12:18). Not only that, but God also said adversity would rise in his house and his neighbor would lie with his wives in public (2 Sam 12:11-12). Later, God’s word was fulfilled. David had to run away from his son, Absalom, who wanted to kill him (2 Samuel 15:13-14). Furthermore, Absalom laid with David’s concubines (2 Samuel 16:22). Even David, a man after God’s own heart, was not spared from the consequences of his actions. God was gracious to David in that He allowed him to live and never left him, but He did not let his sin go unpunished.

Another example of God exacting vengeance is in Acts. When Ananias and Sapphira lied saying they gave all the money they earned to the church, God struck them dead (Acts 5:1-10). The apostles most likely forgave them and did not hold a grudge afterward. But whether they would forgive them or not, Ananias and Sapphira did not escape God’s wrath.

When a person forgives the offender, they release them of their debt to them, like how the king forgave a servant’s debt in the parable of the unforgiving servant. It allows God to forgive the person showing mercy. It allows the person to relieve themselves of the bitterness and anger they have against the offender so that they can move on and enjoy God and His glory and goodness. Forgiveness does not mean the offender will not deal with some of the consequences of sin.

A child may disobey his parents, and the parents will forgive them, but chances are the child will still be sent to the corner or have some privileges temporarily taken away. That is how it should be for characters in stories. Authors should let their characters forgive people who wronged them, but they should also show those wrongdoers facing God’s vengeance. It does not always have to be a villain whose sin gets them in trouble either. It could be the hero too if they do something immoral like David did.

I am not saying every character who does something wrong has to die or go to prison, but some characters, specifically those who break the law, should. Especially murderers and child abusers. Characters who do something against God that is not punishable legally can still face negative consequences. For example, a gossiper may end up being gossiped about and her reputation is ruined. Or people figure out she is a gossiper and decide not to trust her, which ends up destroying her relationships.

This brings me to another point; forgiveness is not the same as trust. I may forgive a thief for stealing my wallet, but it does not mean I am going to allow him to handle my bank account. A character can be loving by showing grace and mercy through forgiveness, but they can also be wise by administering justice and demonstrating caution, such as calling the authorities on a criminal or distancing themselves from and cutting off ties with a toxic individual. Or if a person who was hurt is willing to restore a relationship with a person who committed evil against them, the person can demonstrate wisdom by setting healthy boundaries and by making certain conditions for the relationship to continue. For example, a spouse who was hurt by the other spouse may make it a condition for the other spouse to get counseling if they wish for a marriage to continue.

I think that if writers want forgiveness as a theme in their stories, they should keep these things in mind:

1. Forgiveness ≠ villains avoiding justice. Forgiveness is a way for a character to release that offender into God’s hands, knowing that He will exact vengeance Himself and that He can make bad things work together for their good. It is a way for a character to release their bitterness so they can experience the fullness of God and have a great relationship with Him.

2. Just because a person is forgiven does not mean there will not be consequences for their actions. If a villain or hero has a revelation that what they did was evil (like David), do not allow them to simply say, “Oops, sorry,” and go unpunished for their crimes. If a person is truly repentant for their sin, they will be willing to face the consequences of their actions and willing to make amends. Have them submit themselves to the law and to God. Have them realize that while God may show them mercy and grace, they must face the music, whether it’s facing prison time or facing the end of a relationship.

3. God is love, but He is also a righteous God. He will show mercy and grace to those who repent, so that they will be saved from the wages of sin, which is death. But He will allow them to face some negative consequences for sin so they and others can learn from their mistakes.

If you want to write a story with a redemption arc and you need some more advice, you can read this article by Josiah DeGraaf from Story Embers. Story Embers is a Christian writers organization that offers not only short stories and poetry to enjoy, but also articles that give writing advice. You may find helpful information for your writing by checking out their website.

What do you think about the theme of forgiveness in storytelling? Do you have any tips or advice for writers about displaying this theme? How would you teach the forgiveness message in storytelling? Give your thoughts in the comments.