Why Forgiven People Must Still Sit in the Electric Chair

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
–Romans 12:19

One of the greatest misunderstandings about forgiveness is this: “If I forgive somebody, I erase the consequences they have to experience.”

Let’s say a woman divorces her husband after his numerous affairs. She also forgives him because she doesn’t want to hold onto bitterness. One day, he tells her, “These child support payments are choking me. If you’ve really forgiven me, you’ll stop insisting I make these payments.” Does forgiveness mean she should stop accepting child support? Or let’s say a church treasurer is caught embezzling funds. He asks for forgiveness and makes restitution. Does this mean he is automatically restored to his position as the church treasurer?

To settle these dilemmas, we need to understand the difference between vengeance and justice.

Vengeance is my desire to see another person suffer for the pain they caused me. The Bible includes many warnings against vengeance. Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.” And Romans 12:19 warns, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God.” Don’t try to settle the score yourself, God says. And if God or others do settle the score, don’t gloat when your offender is dealt with justly.

On the other hand, justice is the payment that God or other people demand from our offender. While we are to surrender our desire for vengeance, Scripture repeatedly says we ought to seek justice. Psalm 82:3 says, “Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.” And Isaiah 1:17 instructs, “Learn to do good; seek justice.” We are to surrender vengeance but seek justice.

Vengeance is our desire for retribution against our offender; justice is the repayment that others demand from our offender. Vengeance is striving to settle the debt ourselves; justice is allowing somebody else to settle the score. Vengeance leads to bitterness; justice leads to healing.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Why Forgiven People Must Still Sit in the Electric Chair,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2015.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.