Forgiving as We've Been Forgiven: Community Practices for Making Peace

Theologians Jones and Musekura combine their interpretive wisdom and experiences, and the result is a weighty little book on making forgiveness a daily habit. Musekura, who lost family members in the protracted aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has a naturally compelling story to share. He subsequently meets relatives of those who had slaughtered his relatives, and ultimately decides to seek their forgiveness for his anger toward them, who while they are relatives of murderers are also, Musekura says, "brothers in Christ." Jones outlines a theologically grounded process for seeking forgiveness that involves truth telling, remembering, repenting, and committing to change. Repenting is a key step that acknowledges the need to be forgiven and the sovereignty and grace of God's judgment. Neither says this is easy, but practice as a community is necessary: "Our choice is between forgiveness and nonexistence," Musekura writes. This persuasive little book, part of a series developed by the publisher and Duke Divinity School, where Jones teaches, has application to situations from New York to Nairobi. (Nov.)