Can you truly forgive and still press court charges?" Especially in extreme cases such as rape and murder.
First of all, we must understand that the scriptures supersede our human reasoning, and as believers, we must always bring our daily lives to agree and align with scriptures. What is forgiveness?
To waive any NEGATIVE FEELING or desire for VENGEANCE or PUNISHMENT. I'll treat this subject in three parts: I. Pressing Charges II. Bearing Witness III. Law Enforcement I. PRESSING CHARGES Matthew 18:15-17
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican". 1 Corinthians 6:1-4
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church." Here, you see the instructions of both Jesus Christ and Apostle Paul on the procedure of 'pressing charges' against a believer. It should be confined to the walls of the Church, except the person is unrepentant. Jesus said, in such a case, treat him as an heathen (i.e you may take him to the law court). As regards an unbeliever, you have the full permission to seek justice (not vengeance) at a court of law. With reference to the above scriptures, you can press charges, even though you have forgiven the person. I must however explain that it all boils down to what's on your heart... You can press charges from a stance point of vengeance, or from a stance point of love. 1. Love for the person (to redeem him) 2. Love for the society (to prevent menace) Rightly put, it's wrong to press charges out of hatred, vengeance, unforgiveness e.t.c, but it's not wrong if it's done out of love. For example, in a case of rape. Should we say, when a lady is raped, she should keep quiet about it if she's a Christian. After-all, we're commanded to forgive... Total Forgiveness!!! From a stance point of love, you know this person will go ahead to rape other ladies if left to go scott free. Do you love other ladies enough to see to it that he is not allowed to prey on them also? You see, now the focus of pressing charges is not from hatred, but from love! Same as in the case of murder, do you love the society well enough to see to it that he's not left to prey on other innocent souls? Now, there are exceptions: 1. When his freedom poses no danger- e.g a driver accidentally ran over a puppy and killed it; an accident that claimed a life e.t.c. 2. When it will cost life- Death never redeems. Whatever sanctions he faces should be with the intent to change him, not to kill him. II. BEARING WITNESS Romans 13:9-10 (KJV)
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law". Leviticus 5:1 (WEB)
"If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice of adjuration, he being a WITNESS, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn't REPORT it, then he shall bear his iniquity". Love does not bear FALSE WITNESS. However, refusal to bear RIGHT witness is a sin against the law of love. Now remember, love worketh no ill to his neighbour. So, just as it is, in the case of pressing charges, bearing witness must be done with a heart of love: 1. Love for the person (to redeem him) 2. Love for the society (to prevent menace) Following this thought process, it's actually a sin if you refuse to press 'love' charges, especially when it puts another man, or the society at large in danger. You also shall bear the iniquity... The Bible says so! III. LAW ENFORCEMENT Matthew 23:23 (KJV)
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." There are people who, by the reason of their profession, have been saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the law e.g Police Officers, Magistrates, Judges e.t.c. Jesus, in the scripture above mentioned 4 matters that are as important to such people as their walk with God (typified by paying tithes); in fact, Jesus called them weightier matters. 1. The Law- They must themselves, obey the laws they have been appointed to enforce.
2. Judgement- They must, with neither prejudice nor compromise, enforce the law at all times. 3. Mercy- In enforcing the law, they must maintain a heart of mercy; they are supposed to use their knowledge of the Law to seek how they can show mercy. As a law enforcement agent, rather than looking for ways to mete out the strictest punishments to people, look for ways within the confines of the Law, to save them.
Take for example, in some countries, man-slaughter is punishable by life imprisonment, while murder is punishable by death. Many times (though not always), the same case can be interpreted either as man-slaughter or murder depending on how the lawyers present their case and more so, the discretion of the judge or jury. A Christian judge should look for ways to judge a case as man-slaughter rather than murder, since death redeems no man. 4. Faith- Firstly, they must ensure that in dispensing their duties, they don't compromise their faith. The case of county clerk, Kim Davis is a good example. Furthermore, since their profession brings them in constant contact with sinners, they must use that opportunity to introduce them to Christ. Finally, it's worthy of note that these people are not bound by the conventional law of love in dispensing their duties, they must uphold the law come what may, so long as it doesn't require them to compromise their faith. e.g if a case of accidentally killing a pet is brought before a Christian magistrate, he must judge the case as stipulated by the law, though as a believer, he won't sue someone for accidentally killing his pet. May the Lord help us in Jesus' Name. Amen.