The Many Facets of Forgiveness

 

Yesterday I preached on forgiveness with the Trenton United congregation and afterward a member said that my message was helpful, for which I was grateful. I commented that I could speak on the subject for ten Sundays in a row (that won't happen!) to examine the many facets of of forgiveness.

Later in the day I saw that former pastor and scholar Richard Hays had died. I've read articles by Hays and appreciated his thoughtfulness but I hadn't realized that for years he was anti-LGBTQ2S and his work on this subject was often quoted by conservatives. His mind changed though because of his scholarly research but also because of interactions with LGBTQ2S students in the seminary where he taught and in different congregations. In 2024 his final book was published in which he explains his change of heart. According to RNS:

For much of his career, he was perhaps best known for his 1996 book, “The Moral Vision of the New Testament,” in which he argued that same-sex relationships were “one among many tragic signs that we are a broken people, alienated from God’s loving purpose.” His well-respected scholarly work was cited by Christian leaders who viewed same-sex relationships as sinful and who opposed LGBTQ affirmation in churches.

This past year, Hays publicly changed his mind — in what he described as an act of repentance for the way his work had been used to harm LGBTQ people and to divide Christians — in a new book, “The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story,” co-authored with his son, Christopher Hays, an Old Testament scholar. 

Many of us grew up as low-grade homophobes, if that's not an oxymoron. We may not have been particularly mean-spirited but we were often mildly mocking and dismissive without realizing that LGBTQ2S persons were in our families and congregations, afraid to come out, yearning to be accepted. We made what were shallow "love the sinner, hate the sin" pronouncements that were disingenuous. I was one of those persons and I regret it. My experience with friends and colleagues beginning in my seminary days in the late 1970s brought about my change of heart and mind and I trust that this change of perspective is consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for their patience and guidance. 

Back to forgiveness. A pastor in the US, Zach W. Lambert, tweeted about his experience with Hays a few months ago:

Richard Hays (one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars) passed away yesterday. His final book, The Widening of God’s Mercy, came out just a few months ago. In this book, he details how his mind changed on LGBTQ+ inclusion and affirmation after building relationships with queer Christians and studying the Bible alongside affirming scholars. He also apologizes for his previously non-affirming stance. I was with him in October at an LGBTQ+ Christian conference where he reiterated his repentance and asked for forgiveness to a room filled with hundreds of queer people. Through tears, a young man shouted “thank you, Dr. Hays! We forgive you!!” It was a powerful moment that I’ll never forget. In his late 70s and with failing health, Dr. Hays could have easily chosen never to address his changing belief publicly or correct his earlier work. I’m so grateful he chose this brave path instead. I believe Richard is with Jesus now and hearing those beautiful words from his Savior, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Hays had his personal epiphany and on this Day of Epiphany we can ask God to widen our mercy in Christ's name.