Forgiveness Again

AKMA is continuing his thoughts on forgiveness, beautiful in their clarity and in the warmth of the heart pumping the oxygen to his remarkable brain.

I hesitate to react in “print” for a couple of reasons (i.e., I am not going to let those reasons stop me). First, my reaction has to do with the way AKMA’s piece sounds the differences between Judaism and Christianity, yet as a non-observant Jew I lack the standing to reply for My People. Second, I love what AKMA is writing and don’t want to sound quarrelsome. I want to point out differences, not argue that one way is better than the other; there are lots of ways to G-d and I would be truly delighted to live in a community that lived up to AKMA’s vision of forgiveness.

Nevertheless, I’m fascinated by the way AKMA’s explanation doesn’t quite capture my sense of forgiveness. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s somewhere in this passage:

David’s right to note a divergence here between “Jewish” and “Christian” sensibilities, but it goes deeper than that too. Many Christians feel a strong attraction to an ethic that emphasizes putting beliefs into action, walking the walk, whereas another large body of Christians recoil in horror from what they regard as works-righteousness, the notion that you can earn God’s favor by doing the right stuff.

AKMA is reacting to my asking where restitution fits into the scheme. Both alternatives he raises make an assumption that I don’t share. The reason to make restitution – which, as AKMA rightly points out does not mean handing someone a wad of cash – isn’t necessarily to put beliefs into actions or to earn God’s favor. In my understanding, it’s neither belief- nor G-d-focused. You make restitution because doing something wrong fractures the world and you need to try to make it whole. You’re not salving your conscience and you’re not currying favor. You are repairing the damage you did as best you can. The holiest Jews aren’t those with the purest beliefs and purest relationship to G-d. They aren’t saints. They are the righteous ones who do well to humans and G-d. The reason to be righteous in the world is not to put beliefs into action or to make G-d like you but because, well, that’s what’s right and it’s what we have been commanded to do.

Back to the caveats: this isn’t an argument. A world filled with holy Christians, holy Jews, holy Muslims, holy Buddhists, holy Hindus and holy the Rest would be a damn fine place to live, a whole lot better than where we are now. After all, who wouldn’t rejoice at having AKMA and Margaret move in next door?

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