When we forgive evil we do not excuse it, we do not tolerate it, we do not smother it. We look the evil full in the face, call it what it is, let its horror shock and stun and enrage us, and only then do we forgive it. Lewis B. Smedes callenrageevil share on social
Some people have loved ones they will not forsake, even though they are a pain in the neck. Lewis B. Smedes forsakeloveneck Change image and share on social
Restorative justice is not a replacement of retributive justice, but a complement. It seeks the rehabilitation of the wrongdoer and the repair of the victim's injury. Lewis B. Smedes complementinjuryjustice Change image and share on social
Jesus said that we should render to the state what properly belongs to the state, and though he had taxes in mind, we might reasonably infer that giving the state the job of punishing wrongdoers is one way of giving the state its due. Lewis B. Smedes belongduegive share on social
When we have been badly injured and clearly wronged, we make an instant caricature of the person who did it to us. We define him totally by the one wrong he did. Lewis B. Smedes badlycaricaturedefine Change image and share on social
Any lazy or biased fool can have opinions; making judgments is the hard work of responsible and compassionate people. Lewis B. Smedes biascompassionatefool Change image and share on social
The right to personal privacy is precious. Without it, we are all potential victims for a prying secret police. Lewis B. Smedes personalpolicepotential Change image and share on social
Retributive justice did not arise from any Christian principle; almost every pre-Christian society dealt with wrongdoers by causing them pain. Lewis B. Smedes arisecausechristian Change image and share on social
Seeing reality for what it is is what we call discernment. The work of discernment is very hard. Lewis B. Smedes calldiscernmenthard Change image and share on social
Common sense suggests that if no one ever judged other people, there would be no real human community. Lewis B. Smedes commoncommunityhuman Change image and share on social
