Archive article 18
Two newspaper articles which make us think
The first:
“Drunken driving, the ‘popess’ in deep trouble”
The second:
“The Protestant ethic: he who makes a mistake (or steals) will not be forgiven”
The first article comunicates to the readers the news of the newly elected Lutheran Church in Germany,
la Signora Margot Kaessmann, being arrested for drunken driving. She had ignored a red light and when the police measured the level of alcohol in her blood, it was three times that permitted by German law. He driving licence was suspended and she was awaiting judiciary action.
The second article, under the heading “The others and us”, in synthesis observes how in Italy Mrs Kaessmann would have been able to receive help unknown in Germany. From the church would have come the religious-style-benefit of forgiveness: “The pope would surely have forgiven his ‘colleague’ as he would have any catholic priest”. On the broader social front she would have had “good friends who would have been able to put in a good word for her to the right person at the right time”. The writer of the column observes how things are quite different in Italy from Germany. There, she has resigned from her position and as such is in line with other former important German leaders who paid for their errors - Johannes Rau, Willy Brandt, and even Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
The articles made me think. While the second comments the first and makes an important observation, the title isn’t right. I myself wrote the following letter to the newspaper:
“ Dear Sirs,
The title of the article commenting the tragic case of drunken driving by Margot Kaessman; “The Protestant ethic: he who makes a mistake (or steals) will not be forgiven” (Friday 26th February), is wrong and misleading.
It is true, as Giardina observes, that the evangelical ethic recognises the consequences of sin to be real. The examples he quotes are quite illustrative. A society which is Protestant behaves very differently from a Roman Catholic one. Bishop Kaessmann resigned from her post.
This act, however, does not mean that “she will not be forgiven” , otherwise how can read Psalm 1304
“But with you there is forgiveness”,
or Jesus’s phrase to the woman caught in adultery;
“The neither do I condemn you”.
The consequences of our actions remain unchanged. History, forged by sin and evil, is not transformed. It’s the future that is different! Forgiveness takes place. Guilt is removed. The disciple Stephen, stoned by the crowd, stayed dead, but the apostle Paul, guilty of leading the tragic killing didn’t live under a continual condemnation. He wrote the phrase in the letter to the Romans:
“Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
The effects of our actions are historical and remain unchanged, but the guilt of our wrong-doing is forgiven. And this is a truth which, as Giadina rightly observes, transforms an entire society.
Paul Finch, Ferrara, 27 febbraio 2010 “
This is the privilege of everyone who takes to heart the truth of God’s Word. A real and authentic life, free from guilt by the grace of Jesus Christ, lived with passion and joy . . . and that despite all the horrific errors we may have made in the past. What a gift!! Fantastic! Hallelujah!!
Pastor Paul Finch
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