A black man was killed in his apartment by a lady who mistakenly went to his apartment thinking it was hers. Upon seeing an “intruder” she shouted for him to get down. He did not and she shot him. Oh by the way, the lady who shot him was an off duty, but still uniformed Dallas police officer.
Numerous “rabble rousers” (is that too strong a word? Is it racist?) Rabble rousers claim that the conviction of this woman for murder and her subsequent forgiveness by the victim’s brother sends a bad message. Connecting this situation with the protests of police officers shooting black men, seems to be a stretch. This discussion will ignore the particulars of the case. It is over and done with. Nothing can change the facts.
The shooter has been convicted and sentenced to prison. The “justice or injustice” of the sentence is not our topic. Something that happened after the sentencing is our focus today. The brother of the innocent victim stated, in court, that he forgave the person who shot his brother and even requested permission to give her a hug. At this point we want to deliberately ignore race, politics, and cultural norms.
Here is a person who, besides the victim himself, is probably the second most wounded member of the family and the society. His mother was hurt the most.
But for the victim’s brother to forgive the shooter is a mark of more than magnanimity and graciousness. It is an example of a love that is greater than we can generate in ourselves. Brandt Jean demonstrated the level of love that Jesus commanded His followers to exhibit. Here is the crux of the story. (https://www.newsweek.com/botham-jean-brother-bryant-offers-forgiveness-hug-amber-guyger-dallas-1462868)
In an emotional statement, 18-year-old Brandt Jean told former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for Botham's (Jean) death, that if she was "truly sorry...I forgive you. And, I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you too."
Brandt said that while he could not speak on behalf of his family, he wanted to offer Guyger his personal forgiveness, saying: "I love you just like anyone else and I'm not gonna say I hope you rot and die, just like my brother did, but I personally want the best for you."
"I wasn't gonna ever say this in front of my family or anyone, but I don't even want you to go to jail," Brandt said. "I want the best for you because I know that's exactly what Botham would want you to do and the best would be, give your life to Christ...Again, I love you as a person and I don't wish anything bad on you," he stressed.
His final statement summarized how he could do that. He had received forgiveness for his sins and was passing that along to people with whom he intersected, either for good or bad. And, expectedly, the backlash was instant and vituperous.
Rev. Cornell William Brooks (@CornellWBrooks) October 3, 2019: In an interview with Newsweek, Brooks expanded on his statements, asserting that Guyger's 10-year-sentence already "seems to send the wrong signal."
"The signal it sends is not that black lives matter, but that black lives either don't matter or matter less."
"You have black people who have received 10 years for selling marijuana. She gets 10 years for killing a person," he said. "The message that this sentence sends is that, literally, your life is worth nothing on the street and less than nothing in your own home."
And in an ultimate backhanded compliment, he continued.
Those celebrating Brandt's gesture towards his brother's killer, Brooks said, should understand that his act of forgiveness "says everything about his character and nothing about hers."
"She wasn't given forgiveness based on what she deserved, but, rather, what Brandt Jean thought she needed, according to his faith," he said. "So, in other words, forgiveness here is not something that she purchased by virtue of her character, but rather something she was given by virtue of the character of Botham Jean's brother."
Amen, brother. That is the best thing he said in the entire interview. Too bad he didn’t quit while he was ahead.
"The danger, however, here, is that the forgiveness of black folks is used as a permission slip for police brutality, a permission slip for racial profiling and a permission slip for racial disparities," Brooks said.
Am I overreacting in reading into this that “black folks” shouldn’t do such a noble and loving thing in order to avoid the appearance of sanctioning “police brutality, ...racial profiling, ...and racial disparities?” It seems like Brandt should have not done this in order to perpetuate the narrative that Brooks is condemning. By “letting her off the hook,” he betrayed his family, his race, and the culture’s obsession with the three pronged indictment of society.
Brooks is in error in his understanding of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not excuse, condone, or sanction anything that was done. When we forgive someone who has wronged us, it is not for my his sake. It is for me. I am set free from the hurt, anger, and even hatred for the one who perpetrated the wrong. He, or in this instance, she is still liable for the penalty which the jury imposed on her.
A second comment was made by his mother:
"What Brandt did was to cleanse his heart towards Amber … I do not want it to be misconstrued as complete forgiveness of everybody."
(https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/03/amber-guyger-hug-forgiveness-courtroom-and-its-many-meanings/3851088002/)
She almost understood it. What Brandt did reflects his commitment to his Savior, Christ, and his commitment to follow and honor Him. If he can forgive someone who took what was probably his closest friend on earth, he demonstrated that lesser offenses would also be forgiven. Notice again, not exonerated, excused, nor eliminated. But in his mind and life, they are not as important as what he has in Christ. Since Jesus forgave him and gave him eternal life, it is only understandable that he would offer that same largess to others. I want to be in his crowd.
(Incidentally, the jury that convicted and sentenced him was made up of women and people of color. https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/dallas-shooting-amber-guyger-botham-jean-1.37055573)
By offering her forgiveness, he set himself free. Pray for this man as he navigates the rest of his life. I cannot wait to see how many will experience the impact of his life and action.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
Matthew 6:14-15 explains for us.
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
After the sentencing hearing and judgment, two people left the courtroom left the court room free: Ex-officer Guyger and Brandt Jean. She was not free from prison, but she was released from the prison of guilt and remorse. And he was released from the prison of resentment and bitterness.
