That in a just, properly ordered world, Patrick McGee's life would have ended on the end of a rope, is close to unarguable.The low-life, IRA bomb planter served 25 years for his part in the Brighton Hotel bombings and has not shown one whit of remorse whatsoever.
He is now able to get on with his life not having paid off even a fraction of 'his debt to society'. The same cannot be said for a great many others, their families and friends.
Lord Tebbit is constantly urged to forgive him and is unwilling to do so but then, he is a noted atheist and feels this is unreasonable.
Had justice been served - which is the scriptural way - forgiveness comes more easily. It is a complete process: society punishes, the individual forgives.
It is good to forgive - but difficult to do so when there is no repentance, justice has manifestly not been done as a precursor and we must remember too that God does not forgive unconditionally.
Jesus showed us the correct attitude from the cross when He said "Father forgive them, they know not what they do."
But did God forgive them? - We cannot know but the answer is probably negative as repentance is still required.
God is always prepared to forgive. If we cannot as Christians forgive where there is no repentance - we must too, at the very least, be willing to forgive!
This is a difficult area for many as it is widely thought that Christians should forgive without reference to anything else.
What Lord Tebbit will not have grasped as a non Christian is that the attitude he develops is more about him than it is about McGee. Forgiveness will bring him greater peace.
I pray for the noble gentleman and especially for his wife.
I pray too that God will melt the heart of the appalling McGee!
