Brandt Jean took the stand to share his victim-impact statement with officer Amber Guyger, who had shot and killed his brother Botham Jean. Botham was twenty- six years old and lived in the same apartment complex as Officer Guyger. He was in his own apartment eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream when Officer Guyger entered and shot him. She testified that she mistakenly entered his apartment thinking it was hers and believed he was a burglar. The prosecution said the trajectory of the bullet showed that he was either getting up from his couch or cowering when the shot was fired.
His brother’s statement during the trial was unprecedented. After telling his brother’s killer that he forgave her, he invited her to give her life to Christ. He said, I forgive you…I personally want the best for you. I wasn’t even going to say this before my family, but I don’t even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you, because I know that’s exactly what Botham would want you to do — to give your life to Christ.
This was shocking enough. But then he asked the judge if he could give her a hug. The judge acquiesced and the hug was heard around the world.
This Christmas season, as you consider evidence that makes Christian faith both rational and believable, don’t overlook this claim that it gives the power to forgive others.
Isn’t this an interesting claim? And aren’t these astonishing examples of the human capacity for mercy and forgiveness? If Christianity is just wishful thinking based on blind faith, then how would you explain the power to forgive these peoples have found?
On the 6th Day of Christmas, your true love gave to you a belief system that can give you the power to forgive others.
This article is an excerpt from Rich McCaskill’s book: Questioning Christmas: 12 Conversations for Skeptics, Soul-Searchers, and Thinking People Everywhere.
