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Hoofstuk 5: Die post-apartheid verhaal?
p301
proses:
For the offending party (or anyone else) to ask for forgiveness of an
offense without repentance is the sin of presumption. In fact, it is worse
than presumption, because it is asking a mere mortal to do something
that is unbecoming to God. It is the ‘cheap grace’ that Dietrich
Bonhoeffer denounced the Church for preaching – forgiveness without
repentance.
Dit is na hierdie selfde “cheap grace” wat Tutu (1998:5) verwys as hy sê dat die WVK
by sommige ongewild is, omdat hulle ʼn goedkoop genade wil hê wat geen konfrontasie
insluit nie. Ware versoening sluit egter in “an acknowledgment in word and deed”
(Podles 2010:elektroniese bron) van die ware toedrag van sake.
Podles (2010:elektroniese bron) gaan dan verder en vertel van ʼn dief wat skuld bely,
maar wat weier om die gesteelde goedere terug te gee. Só iemand, sê hy, is in “a false
situation.” Die skuldige erken dat daar benadeling was deur die aanvaarding van die
verdiende loon en deur die gewilligheid tot restitusie. “To be truly repentant, the
offender must not only acknowledge the truth of the situation, but also accept any
punishment due him and will to make all the restitution that is possible.” Barry
(2006:708) sluit hierby aan as hy sê versoening “may also include reparation or
restitution. Indeed, it may also include living with the consequences of one’s choices,
but this redemptively.”
ʼn Belangrike insig wat Podles uitlig is dat enige doelbewuste “injury” op twee vlakke
seermaak. Eerstens is daar die spesifieke daad self en tweedens is daar die minagting
wat daarmee saamgaan. “This contempt is often more painful to bear than the injury
itself. When a person does us an injury, he tells us: I am somebody, you are nobody; I
am important, you are unimportant” (Podles 2010:elektroniese bron). Hieroor skryf hy
verder:
The offender must recognize that his offense has given the victim
power over him; the positions are reversed. The offender, who
regarded the victim as less important than himself, must now recognize
that he is less important than the victim; he must humble himself before
the victim and ask for forgiveness. This repentance, if sincere, must
include a willingness to suffer punishment and a will to make restitution.
A victim can then forgive the offender (Podles 2010:elektroniese bron).