Should Michael Vick be forgiven?
... and if not, who deserves God's mercy & grace?
Yesterday, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, entered his guilty plea, admitting that he bankrolled and engaged in illegal dog-fighting. After his court appearance, he then made a very somber apology for his actions, the first time he has spoken publicly since the charges were brought against him. Many people are skeptical about his apology, saying that it is nothing more than a strategic ploy on his part to win sympathy and try and sway the judge who will be sentencing him on the 10th of December. What is very interesting, however, is the level of vitriol and sheer hatred that is being leveled at the once-beloved quarterback. Now let me make it clear, in no way am I saying that what Michael Vick did was right. I am an animal lover and I see dog fighting as unnecessary cruelty to animals. Besides, whatever your feelings about dog fighting, it is against the law in this country. But let's put this in perspective: There have been professional athletes who have battered people, others who have raped women, and others who have been responsible for the deaths of human beings (directly, or by association), and yet they did not receive this much animosity for their deeds. Some were even allowed to continue with their sports careers after their cases were resolved in court. But when it comes to Vick, if I did not know any better, I would have thought that he was just a few rungs shy of being the devil himself, especially after hearing some of the things that have been said about him recently. Vick has obviously been a very polarizing figure since he was drafted years ago, and it is even more obvious now during this tragic period of his life.
Vick's guilty plea and apology were the subject of many of the news-shows on prime time cable TV last night, and some of his critics said that his apology was not sincere enough, and added that there is no evidence that Vick is really contrite and sorry for what he did; he is really sorry for being caught, at least so it appears in the eyes of his detractors. One reporter even said how everyone in his studio started laughing when Vick said that he had found Jesus and given his life over to God. Why does it seem – the reporter commented – that people always seem to find God after they’ve been caught doing something they knew they had no business doing in the first place?
I understand the reporter’s sentiment. It is easy to be critical of someone’s sudden conversion made as soon as they realize that the walls are caving in. But then, I thought about it for a moment, as followers of Jesus, shouldn’t we forgive him anyway? Isn’t forgiveness supposed to be our trademark as Christians (considering that we insist that we are a Christian nation)? After all, we have been forgiven of so much and are products of God’s mercy and grace, so what gives us the right to not forgive someone else? Do we justify being bitter because we think that to forgive is to let the person off the hook or somehow absolve them from taking responsibility for their actions? The truth is, however, that forgiveness is not excusing or justifying the deeds of the perpetrator, but forgiveness is an act of the will in which we decide to wish the person well in spite of their deeds, and seek to withhold the thirst for cruel vengeance against them. Yes, it is true that forgiveness makes no natural sense, because it is a spiritual act, but if we claim to know Jesus and are always reluctant to forgive, then we don’t know really know the Jesus of the Bible. After all, the moment we think that we have "arrived" when it comes to our moral deeds, we become consumed by our own moral acts and self-righteousness deeds . And while our "moral acts" may impress other people, they really do not impress God. This is evident by the story that Jesus told in Luke chapter 18: verses 9-14.
Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Does Michael Vick deserve to be forgiven? That is not the question we should be asking, because when it comes to the subject of forgiveness (especially from God) none of us deserves it, this is why God’s love and grace are truly amazing. When I look at my life and think about how much God loves me and has blessed me in spite of my many shortcomings and my failures, I realize know what Jesus meant when he implied in Luke chapter 7 (referring to his forgiveness of the sinful woman who approached him) that when we realize that we have been forgiven of much, we love and forgive a lot, but when we ignore God's love for us, we tend to be more judgmental and condemning of others.
Yes, I will admit that I was and still am a huge Michael Vick fan, and like most of his fans, I am disappointed in what he did. I am amazed at how quickly his career has taken a turn for the worse because of his actions; he obviously has some issues that he needs to deal with. But I still think that he is being unfairly demonized, especially when you think of the kinds of things that we give celebrities a pass on these days. And if Paris Hilton can find God in jail after her brief stint there recently (she told Larry King that she had found God and read the Bible often while she was in jail) why can’t we believe Vick when he says that he is contrite? Okay, so Paris Hilton was not involved in dog-fighting, but she was guilty of a crime nonetheless. And even if Vick isn’t contrite enough as some claim, that is something between him and God. Nonetheless, we should forgive him and pray for his well-being and rehabilitation, hoping that somehow this will be a stepping stone to a better and more productive future for him, even if it does not involve football. He is going to pay for what he did in more ways than one: he may never play in the NFL again (and if he does, it will almost certainly not be with the Falcons); he is going to lose in upwards of $120 million in salary and legal fees, not to mention his $22 million signing bonus that the team owner now wants back; and he will most likely do time in Federal prison, most legal analysts say at least one year. What more do we want, the man’s head on a platter? I am an animal-lover like most Americans and realize that what he did was wrong, but let us forgive him and allow him to serve his punishment. These self-righteous arrows being thrown at him do no one any good.
I am so glad that God is not like us humans, and that he is a forgiving God, because like the Psalmist once asked, “If you, Oh Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3) We all know the answer to that question. So why don’t we allow God’s love and forgiveness to become an integral part of our lives?
Stephen Akinduro
August 28, 2007
... and if not, who deserves God's mercy & grace?
Yesterday, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, entered his guilty plea, admitting that he bankrolled and engaged in illegal dog-fighting. After his court appearance, he then made a very somber apology for his actions, the first time he has spoken publicly since the charges were brought against him. Many people are skeptical about his apology, saying that it is nothing more than a strategic ploy on his part to win sympathy and try and sway the judge who will be sentencing him on the 10th of December. What is very interesting, however, is the level of vitriol and sheer hatred that is being leveled at the once-beloved quarterback. Now let me make it clear, in no way am I saying that what Michael Vick did was right. I am an animal lover and I see dog fighting as unnecessary cruelty to animals. Besides, whatever your feelings about dog fighting, it is against the law in this country. But let's put this in perspective: There have been professional athletes who have battered people, others who have raped women, and others who have been responsible for the deaths of human beings (directly, or by association), and yet they did not receive this much animosity for their deeds. Some were even allowed to continue with their sports careers after their cases were resolved in court. But when it comes to Vick, if I did not know any better, I would have thought that he was just a few rungs shy of being the devil himself, especially after hearing some of the things that have been said about him recently. Vick has obviously been a very polarizing figure since he was drafted years ago, and it is even more obvious now during this tragic period of his life.
Vick's guilty plea and apology were the subject of many of the news-shows on prime time cable TV last night, and some of his critics said that his apology was not sincere enough, and added that there is no evidence that Vick is really contrite and sorry for what he did; he is really sorry for being caught, at least so it appears in the eyes of his detractors. One reporter even said how everyone in his studio started laughing when Vick said that he had found Jesus and given his life over to God. Why does it seem – the reporter commented – that people always seem to find God after they’ve been caught doing something they knew they had no business doing in the first place?
I understand the reporter’s sentiment. It is easy to be critical of someone’s sudden conversion made as soon as they realize that the walls are caving in. But then, I thought about it for a moment, as followers of Jesus, shouldn’t we forgive him anyway? Isn’t forgiveness supposed to be our trademark as Christians (considering that we insist that we are a Christian nation)? After all, we have been forgiven of so much and are products of God’s mercy and grace, so what gives us the right to not forgive someone else? Do we justify being bitter because we think that to forgive is to let the person off the hook or somehow absolve them from taking responsibility for their actions? The truth is, however, that forgiveness is not excusing or justifying the deeds of the perpetrator, but forgiveness is an act of the will in which we decide to wish the person well in spite of their deeds, and seek to withhold the thirst for cruel vengeance against them. Yes, it is true that forgiveness makes no natural sense, because it is a spiritual act, but if we claim to know Jesus and are always reluctant to forgive, then we don’t know really know the Jesus of the Bible. After all, the moment we think that we have "arrived" when it comes to our moral deeds, we become consumed by our own moral acts and self-righteousness deeds . And while our "moral acts" may impress other people, they really do not impress God. This is evident by the story that Jesus told in Luke chapter 18: verses 9-14.
Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Does Michael Vick deserve to be forgiven? That is not the question we should be asking, because when it comes to the subject of forgiveness (especially from God) none of us deserves it, this is why God’s love and grace are truly amazing. When I look at my life and think about how much God loves me and has blessed me in spite of my many shortcomings and my failures, I realize know what Jesus meant when he implied in Luke chapter 7 (referring to his forgiveness of the sinful woman who approached him) that when we realize that we have been forgiven of much, we love and forgive a lot, but when we ignore God's love for us, we tend to be more judgmental and condemning of others.
Yes, I will admit that I was and still am a huge Michael Vick fan, and like most of his fans, I am disappointed in what he did. I am amazed at how quickly his career has taken a turn for the worse because of his actions; he obviously has some issues that he needs to deal with. But I still think that he is being unfairly demonized, especially when you think of the kinds of things that we give celebrities a pass on these days. And if Paris Hilton can find God in jail after her brief stint there recently (she told Larry King that she had found God and read the Bible often while she was in jail) why can’t we believe Vick when he says that he is contrite? Okay, so Paris Hilton was not involved in dog-fighting, but she was guilty of a crime nonetheless. And even if Vick isn’t contrite enough as some claim, that is something between him and God. Nonetheless, we should forgive him and pray for his well-being and rehabilitation, hoping that somehow this will be a stepping stone to a better and more productive future for him, even if it does not involve football. He is going to pay for what he did in more ways than one: he may never play in the NFL again (and if he does, it will almost certainly not be with the Falcons); he is going to lose in upwards of $120 million in salary and legal fees, not to mention his $22 million signing bonus that the team owner now wants back; and he will most likely do time in Federal prison, most legal analysts say at least one year. What more do we want, the man’s head on a platter? I am an animal-lover like most Americans and realize that what he did was wrong, but let us forgive him and allow him to serve his punishment. These self-righteous arrows being thrown at him do no one any good.
I am so glad that God is not like us humans, and that he is a forgiving God, because like the Psalmist once asked, “If you, Oh Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3) We all know the answer to that question. So why don’t we allow God’s love and forgiveness to become an integral part of our lives?
Stephen Akinduro
August 28, 2007
posted by Stephen O. | 12:01 PM
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1 Comments
