Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye – Colossians 3:13
“I don’t blame anybody. It’s over with, and you’ve got to move on past all that… get on with the future.” This was expressed by Charles Fain, a man imprisoned in 1983 for the kidnapping and murder of 9-year-old Daralyn Johnson in Nampa, Idaho. His story was featured on a recent episode of On The Case With Paula Zahn, titled “Irreparable Loss,” which detailed how Fain was sentenced to death row despite maintaining his innocence. Eventually, DNA findings led to his release in 2001 after eighteen years in prison, at which time he was given only a jacket and a pair of pants from the prison laundry. However, Fain refused to harbor malice or bitterness. Instead, he joined other exonerees to rally in support of the Idaho Wrongful Conviction Act, passed in 2021, under which he was awarded $75,000 for each year he was incarcerated.
Charles Fain credited his relationship with God for his survival when he said, “I just think that God has chosen me to walk a journey that’s a little bit different than everybody else’s.” He’s included with other Christians, such as Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., each of whom refused to harbor anger and resentment from cruel and unfair treatment. They, along with other faithful believers, chose to follow the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ, who forgave His enemies when He had every right not to.
Forgiving those who have wronged you isn’t easy. It’s a tough course that requires discipline and a desire to adopt the mindset of the One who mastered it. And this Professor, who taught about forgiveness and demonstrated it, will, through the Holy Spirit, empower anyone seeking to become an alumnus.