Valid subjects, poorly mixed

By Martha Thomsen and ChristianWeek | December 9, 2009

The cover is telling, suggesting a child that survived the Rwandan genocide who is now a man. Inside the book are stories of what it meant to be Tutsi and Hutu in 1994, and what it has meant since then. These are stories of people who have lost spouses, children and parents; people who have lost possessions and livelihood; people who were betrayed by friends, neighbours and churches; people who have lost trust. And they are stories of the people who betrayed.

As We Forgive tells of people who have journeyed toward forgiveness, in some cases becoming leaders in ministries of healing and reconciliation. These are people who have humbled themselves, confessed their sins, and asked for forgiveness. Their stories are at once horrific and hallowed, for they describe humanity at its very worst and the power and grace of God in redeeming evil.

The atrocities are described graphically and though such portrayals are journalistically acceptable, they seem unnecessary, bordering on voyeurism.

The suggestive cover is misleading, for it suggests only one focus of the book. Between the Rwandan stories, the author has inserted "interludes" in which she shares anecdotes of suffering wrongs and wrestling with forgiveness. The interludes quote counsellors and others on how to forgive. Most end with "Questions for Reflection and Discussion," not about Rwanda or the West's culpability and responsibility, but about readers' personal issues around forgiveness.

I recall only one instance in the entire book of someone from the West asking forgiveness of Rwandans for our inaction during the unimaginable days of genocide, though our assistance with reconstruction and reconciliation is mentioned a number of times. I wish that we, Jesus' body in the West, did a better job of confessing our own sin and asking forgiveness from those whom we have betrayed before we try "fixing" things, especially without calling our "fixing" restitution.

So I'm left wondering if this book documents the holy ground of God's marvellous work in ravaged hearts and lives, empowering them to forgive, or is it another Western "how-to" book on forgiveness? Both subjects are valid and worthy, but to my mind, they don't mix well.