As I wrote in my last diary, the Huckster has been making news regarding Josh Duggar’s molestations by 1.) Defending Josh and seemingly ignoring the victims of Josh’s crime and 2.) Claiming that Josh’s actions aren’t unforgiveable.
First of all, let’s look past the irony that, no matter how egregious the crime (and this was a crime), as long as you’re a friend of the Huckster, he has nothing but forgiveness for you. But if you just want to live your life by your values which differ from those of the Huckster, then he has nothing but contempt for you.
But back to forgiveness: since Huckabee calls himself a Christian, it would be nice if he knew where Jesus stood on the subject. Unfortunately, Huckabee wouldn’t know Jesus if Jesus kissed him on the lips. And if he DID know Jesus, he would have nothing but contempt for him. So let’s ask this question: Can the Huckster be forgiven? And if you believe Jesus, then the answer is a resounding “No!” (We’ll get to Josh later.)
Jesus’ biographers recount a particular discourse on this subject, where Jesus described what he believed necessary for anyone asking to receive forgiveness from God. This comes from what I call Jesus’ manifesto—a.k.a., the Sermon on the Mount. In this document, according to Jesus’ biographers, there is a criterion to be met—even before asking—let alone receiving—forgiveness.
In Matthew 6:14-16, one biographer reports:
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Even a superficial look at this statement shows how complicated it is. Jesus doesn’t say,
“Forgive others their sins against you…” he says,
“their sins.” He doesn’t quantify this either. He doesn’t say
“just some people’s sins… or the people you like sins…” no, it’s bigger than that—
others—and all. Forgive all of everybody’s sins.
Luke 6:37 repeats this assertion but adds even further criteria:
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
This one is even more multifaceted.
“Do not judge… Do not condemn… Forgive…” Both Huckabee and Josh Duggar are masters at judging and condemning. Josh worked for the Family Research Council, whose very model is based on judgment and condemnation. Huckabee has made his living judging and condemning.
Jesus also discussed forgiveness with Peter, who wanted to know how many times he would have to repeat this process:
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
In other words… as much as was needed. And let’s not forget that in Jesus definition of
“brother,” that also included enemy (parable of the Good Samaritan).
As is so often the case with Jesus’ theology, the very thing you’re asking from God is the very thing you need to give to others FIRST. The irony here is that to be forgiven you have to be a forgiving person. Yet Huckabee has been doing everything in his power to show those godless heathen socialist communist Marxist immoral gun-hatin’ Bible-hatin’ Christian persecutin’ abortion-lovin’ liberal and atheists just how godless heathen socialist communist Marxist immoral gun-hatin’ Bible-hatin’ Christian persecutin’ abortion-lovin’ liberal atheist they are. And yet, when a friend of his is caught being godless, the Huckster suddenly finds forgiveness.
And Jesus wasn’t calling for “acceptance” either. He isn’t asking Huckabee to simply “accept” those godless heathen socialist communist Marxist immoral gun-hatin’ Bible-hatin’ Christian persecutin’ abortion-lovin’ liberal atheists, or to tolerate them, or even to “put up with” them. He’s demanding something far more severe—even problematic. Jesus is saying, flat-out, that the Huckster is NOT forgiven UNTIL he actually forgive those people he hates—seventy times seven. In essence, Jesus is saying, until you forgive them, in God’s eyes, you ARE them.
In this same discussion, Jesus told his audience:
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
Pay close attention to the wording here:
"If your brother or sister has something against YOU." That means, how those godless heathen socialist communist Marxist immoral gun-hatin’ Bible-hatin’ Christian persecutin’ abortion-lovin’ liberal atheists feel about YOU is a big deal. How we feel about the Huckster is HIS problem. The onus is on the Christian, not the other way around.
Somehow, Huckabee is going to have to leave his offering, his ideology, his guns, his bible, his grits, and maybe even his “Christianity” (such as it is) at the altar and make peace with the very people he’s spent his life trolling. Sure, he can “forgive himself,” but that’s not what counts. According to Jesus, he’s got a long way to go before God forgives him.
But not to worry, his ideology will still be there when he gets back. He might even find that once he’s made peace with his enemies, he won’t need that ideology anymore, and he can finally replace it with something that makes him human: compassion and love.
Now back to Josh: Jesus also talked about atonement. As I’ve already gone way over my intended word-count I’ll simply state:
Josh has to go to those he hurt and find forgiveness from them too… again, not just acceptance, but genuine forgiveness, which may take them a while to get to—if at all. That means Josh’s “forgiveness” could be in limbo for a while as his victims work through their own struggle to grieve and heal from what he did to them.
So the Huckster’s right. They both CAN be forgiven, but it’s not as easy as either of them like to think it’s going to be.