xc2215xErika Kirk says she 'forgives' Charlie's killer before Trump declares 'hate' for foes
sp3ctr4lWhen an evangelical christian ‘forgives’ you for something, what that actually is is them forgiving themselves for literally anything they do to you after that.
That is them saying that you are totally lost, do not count as a real human being with agency, and thus anything further they do to you is justified, because in their minds, you are not capable of making sensible decisions.
It is a threat.
I’m not saying she hasn’t actually forgiven him, but I will say I doubt genuine forgiveness for the killing of one’s spouse is happening under a month in, given forgiveness requires actually processing the harm done, and that actions are far easier than words. Will she call for him to be shown mercy rather than death? Will she work to heal divides? Will she condemn calls for retaliation?
It’s so easy to say that you forgive someone then allow others to retaliate in full force. But the forgiveness Christians are supposed to have is modeled by a dying christ pleading for mercy for his killers.
It’s performative. It makes her look magnanimous, which feeds her vanity. It’s like praying in public to signal how holy you are.
As you alluded, forgiveness is reflected in your works. Asking for mercy, urging calm, etc. But she’s not doing any of those things. Why?
Bear with me for a moment on something. I’m not religious myself, but one of the biggest problems with the evangelical Christian faith is the belief that a person is saved through faith alone (sola fide), rather than both faith and works like the Bible itself makes clear.
John 14:14-17:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
While I’m sure Luther believed the doctrine of sola fide genuinely, it was certainly advantageous if you were trying to win converts if you didn’t have to do anything. It’s a hollow, easy philosophy invented by Paul. It’s certainly not the first time Paul would advocate for a doctrine based on its ability to win converts more easily; cf. Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles regarding circumcision.
I think this is the root of a lot of problems with evangelical Christianity and the people who espouse it.
I have difficulty seeing purity in someone who pays themselves $12 million per year (as Kirk allegedly did) to run a company whose mission is to indoctrinate students early on with propaganda rooted in hate and misogyny. When they live in a mansion. When they join themselves at the hip with a cruel authoritarian bully.
Sorry, their works thus far are evidence enough for me.