Everett Worthington: A Just Forgiveness
Worthington closes off his book by promoting a “Track-Three Diplomacy” approach on the world level and concludes with suggestions on what we can do. Track-Three diplomacy “involves opinion leaders working with their constituencies to bring about changes in attitudes that foster and maintain peace and reconciliation” (p. 214). Before giving suggestions on what we can do whether in the family, the church, the workplace, community, society, and the world, Worthington singles out motives for doing whatever needs to be done. These involve recognizing the injustice gap that exists and the justice motive, grace and mercy motives, agape – the God kind of love – and keeping motives in balance. In whatever situation three primary actions must be taken and these are seeking God, taking responsibility for reducing tension, and pursuing pathways to peace no matter if the situation is interpersonal, church-related, societal-related, work-related, or community – related. He also defines specific things for individuals to do. Rather than describing those specifics, this reviewer recommends that the potential reader pick up and read the entire two hundred thirty-two pages of text. It is well-worth the reading by any one. There are no difficult terms within Worthington’s study but is very understandable and includes ample illustrations drawn from his own life and situations that have received national notice. There is one reference to an incident that is principally still sensitive to the Jewish community and it revolves around an incident in the life of Simon Wiesenthal after whom the Wiesenthal Center in New York City is named.
Reviewed by Woodrow E. Walton
Preview A Just Forgiveness: books.google.com/books?id=A6Fr9oEuPzgC
Publisher’s page: www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=3701
Category: Living the Faith, Summer 2011
Followers
Fans
