To Forgive is Divine!
On Sunday, November 20, Billy Joe Daugherty, pastor of Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma was allegedly attacked by a local resident, Steven Rogers, right in front of his own congregation. (See Right.) Daugherty has visited his suspected attacker and forgiven him. At this time, no charges have been filed against Rogers on behalf of Daugherty.
In 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca. Regardless of what happened, Pope John Paul II forgave him.
Rogers was arrested for simple assault by a security guard at the church and for a bench warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of violating a protective order. Supposedly, this is not the only scuffle Rogers has had with men of faith. It has been reported that he allegedly also hit Richard Roberts, son of Oral Roberts, about fifteen years ago. Roberts, like Daugherty hasn't pressed charges.
There is an old famous proverb, "To err is human; to forgive is divine." Now, I don't know about you, but if someone hits me, I would at least file charges. I'm about six foot and work out, but it would all depend on their size if I would fight back with my fist or in court.
Maybe Roberts and Daugherty feel that to press charges means to hold a grievance. I don't care for Oral Roberts or many TV evangelists. Part of me just thinks they're in it for themselves. They're using religion as a tax shelter so they can be able to buy nice cars and wear nice clothes.
However, I must admit their humbleness. People will always fight and people will always make mistakes. Maybe Rogers and Mehmet Ali Agca made mistakes. It is a rather big mistake to use violence against another business but maybe a mistake, nonetheless.
We tell our children to stand up and fight, but yet also tell them that it takes a bigger person to walk away.
Maybe what we ought to tell them that it takes an even bigger person to forgive.
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