The Oates Journal (ISSN: 1098-1446) is a publication of the Wayne E. Oates Institute addressing issues related to spirituality, ethics, and healing from the perspective of pastoral care and counseling.

I currently serve in Liberia, West Africa, as the West Africa Coordinator of the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) – Religions for Peace (RfP). In the sub-region, our organization supports development and implementation of projects related to peace building, conflict transformation, and advancing sustainable development, by the IRCs in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire. We are also working with faith communities toward formalizing IRCs in Senegal, Benin, and Nigeria.

Founded in 1970 as an international, non-sectarian, non-political organization, Religions for Peace has become the largest coalition of religious communities in a network of Inter-Religious Councils (IRCs) and groups. This network harnesses the power of cooperation among the religious communities to transform conflict, build peace, and advance sustainable development. Religions for Peace fosters high-level religious cooperation; builds and equips IRCs at the local, national, regional, and international levels; and networks IRCs as well as affiliated local groups. Guided by respect for religious differences and a belief in the power of multi-religious cooperation, Religions for Peace builds the capacity of religious communities to acknowledge and mobilize their social, moral, and spiritual assets, for collaboration on deeply held and widely shared concerns. No other multi-religious effort is as effective as Religions for Peace in integrating a multi-tiered network to harness cooperation with the aim of addressing global challenges.

Religions for Peace also works with religious women’s organizations around the world to establish “women of faith networks” at the global, regional, and national levels, to strengthen their capacity for advocacy and service delivery, and to mainstream women into multi-religious leadership roles. In addition to the women of faith networks, the African Religious Youth Network is formed to bring together continental youth to address issues of mutual concern.

Today, the Religions for Peace network consists of more than seventy national and regional IRCs, organizations of religious women, and affiliated groups. The senior most governing body, the World Council, includes Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Indigenous Leaders from all regions of the world, representing the religious and geographic diversity of the world’s faith communities. Religions for Peace is supported by foundations, governments, inter-governmental organizations, religious communities, religiously affiliated development agencies, and individuals.

At the sub-regional level, the West Africa Coordinating Committee (WA IRCC) brings together religious leaders, women of faith, and youth as representatives of various IRCs, for consultations and capacity building to address issues of shared concern related to Gender Based Violence (GBV); HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, and other pandemics; reconciliation, peacebuilding, and security in the sub-region. During the sub-regional consultations and training exercises, we also enhance the capacity of the leaders to serve as crises response teams to mitigate conflict situations. Their constructive engagement in collaboration with other local and regional stakeholders positively transformed conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, and Guinea.

The African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) functions at the continental level as the foremost pan-African multi-religious body complementing initiatives of the national IRCs. It is led by senior religious leaders representing Africa’s main religious traditions and affiliated with Religions for Peace as its regional body on the continent. The ACRL strives to be the collective voice of religious communities in Africa to advance multi-religious cooperation supporting challenges related to conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development; establishing partnerships with the African Union and other regional institutions to advance peace and development in Africa; facilitating cooperation among African national IRCs affiliated with Religions for Peace in responding to pan-African challenges of illiteracy, poverty, and disease; and taking action within African States in times of emergency or crises, in cooperation with the relevant national IRCs.

In that context, I also serve as the Pastor of the Zion Praise Baptist Church in Bentol, Liberia, which is about twenty miles northeast of Monrovia, our Capitol City. The Church is in an area which remains devastated as a consequence of the April 1980 military coup d’etat and the subsequent violent conflicts in Liberia which adversely impacted neighboring countries throughout the entire West African sub-region as well. The Government with international support has rehabilitated the clinic, elementary to junior high school, and delivers social services. We are still challenged by the lack of a senior high school and this contributes to the “brain drain” from the community. The majority of the community residents are internally displaced from other parts of Liberia; traumatized, disenfranchised and impoverished in dire need of services and related psycho-social interventions by local and international partners.

There are several questions related to the theme of this special issue of the Oates Journal, “The Power of Forgiveness” which are discussed by persons from all educational, socio-economic, political, and religious backgrounds. The questions include: How do we choose to forgive? When and who do we forgive? Where do we forgive? What are the effects of holding a grudge or seeking revenge? Can we find a way to balance our need for security with the potential to grant forgiveness? Can we find a way to balance our needs for justice with the redemptive healing potential of forgiveness?

In addressing the topic of “This Matter of Forgiveness,” I am reminded of the biblical story in Genesis 50:15 - 21:

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘what if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father left these instructions before he died: This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive them the sins of the servants of the god of your father.’ When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves’, they said. But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:15 – 21)

As it relates thereto, I would like to share my personal testimony. I was born into an affluent family in Liberia, West Africa. For several generations, my family members gained international prominence and made significant accomplishments through hard work in both the public and private sectors. My father, Dr. William R. Tolbert, Jr., was serving as President of Liberia, President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention (LBMEC), and Pastor of Zion Praise Baptist Church at the time of his assassination during the military coup d’etat in Liberia, April 1980. Incidentally, that period was also a celebration for the LBMEC commemorating 100 years of Baptist involvement in Liberia.

In the aftermath of the coup d’etat, all of our material possessions were confiscated and members of our extended family were summarily executed, imprisoned, or forced into involuntary exile. The females, including my mother and sisters, were imprisoned for varying periods and later placed under house arrest until eventual release by the PRC military government as a result of local and international advocacy. The males were also imprisoned until my uncle and cousin, along with former Government officials and security sector personnel, were executed by firing squad in April 1980.

My elder brother, Hon. Adolphus Benedict Tolbert, and I, along with other males, government officials, and loyal security personnel, were imprisoned in the same military barracks (Post Stockade – Barclay Training Center). One night during September 1980, my brother, along with the former Police Director, Hon. Varney Dempster, were taken out of the Post Stockade. We later read in a magazine interview by the former Commanding General Thomas Quikwonpa, that Tolbert and Hon. Dempster had been forced to dig their graves and were buried while they were still alive. I was in the same prison across from my brother, had the same name as my father, and should have also been executed that fateful night; but my life was spared. Not because I happen to be better then he was or committed fewer sins than he did, but because of the grace of Almighty God. And only God knows why today I am alive to glorify Him by sharing this testimony.

During my imprisonment and following my release, there were times when persons of influence and affluence tried to persuade me to engage in subversive activities, offering to financially support these military interventions to “seek revenge” for my father, cousins, uncles, brother, and other extended family members who were brutally murdered, raped, or assaulted. I especially remembered the biblical teachings of my youth in Paul’s Letter to the Roman Church and strongly voiced opposition to any form of violence, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17 – 21)

I attempted making contact with the PRC military government from 1980 – 1983 and when efforts failed, I was advised to discontinue as my motives for the initiative were probably being misunderstood. From 1983 – 1992, I remained in the United States, returning to Liberia to work with our Zion Praise Baptist Church and later complement efforts of others striving to sustain the LBMEC. My return to Liberia was a decision easy for me to make as I have forgiven those who persecuted my family and brought the devastation to Liberia. On the other hand, the decision was difficult for others to accept and there are persons who cannot and do not understand the joy and peace I experience instead of the suffering they expect me to experience or the sorrow they expect me to feel. While local efforts with international support are underway, we still have a long way to go for genuine community based reconciliation among Liberians at home and abroad.

I realized many years ago that my faith journey would take me to promote dialogue and cooperation among faith communities of the world. This of course has not been fully endorsed by Baptists and other Christian denominations generally. In fact, since the devastating effects of 9/11 for the United States and people(s) in other jurisdictions, there is even more reason for this effort of promoting religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among all people in the comity of nations. I therefore remain committed to this task and invite others to join our partnership to effect our positive transformation and together glorify Almighty God.

As I write on “this matter of forgiveness," the first fact to acknowledge is that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We all need forgiveness. Without sin, there would be no need to initiate our discussion about forgiveness. The fact is that with the first Adam came sin and death, and with the second Adam, Christ Jesus, came abundant and eternal life. This shows that Divine intervention has made a difference in the individual and collective state(s) of being of humanity. Throughout both Old and New Testaments, forgiveness is linked to repentance.

In the Old Testament history of Israel, prayers and sacrifices were done by the priests and prophets as intercession for atonement of individual or corporate sin. Divine forgiveness was done by God alone; with human contrition and confession being necessary requirements for forgiveness. The involvement of the persons seeking atonement both in conscience and deed was necessary. It was not enough to hope and pray for forgiveness. They were required to humble themselves before God, repent and acknowledge wrong doing, and resolve to discontinue sin. Acts of penitence such as weeping, fasting, rending clothes, and putting on sack clothes and ashes were condemned by the prophets and priests if these were not accompanied by the internal change of heart and mind. Contrition must be followed by acts demonstrating a genuine transformation has taken place.

In the New Testament, human repentance is linked to regret, remorse, or sorrow regarding actions, attitudes, or thought. Human initiative is followed by God’s response in the form of forgiveness. John the Baptist came proclaiming, “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," and offered baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

For me, forgiveness and reconciliation are first personal (internal) before they can be manifested externally. From my own personal experiences, I know of the redemptive healing power of forgiveness. This matter of forgiveness has several dimensions. First, there are many persons who shift blame to Almighty God for their personal sufferings or the sufferings imposed on them or felt by others. They have not forgiven the Divine or others. Because of the poor vertical relationship, all horizontal relationships are adversely affected. In times of personal or corporate distress, it is difficult to see beyond the pain and hurt of a situation that might be the present reality to acknowledge that God intends it for good. Joseph in his reaction to his brothers expressed concern after death of his father Jacob, reassured them that though they meant to harm him, God intends it for good (Genesis 50:20). Understanding God’s forgiveness should make us also willing to do likewise.

One of the greatest challenges we face is to forgive Almighty God for “causing bad things to happen to seemingly good persons such as ourselves.” The prolonged crises in Liberia devastated the lives of all people. No one was spared grief. All institutions and infrastructure are destroyed and will require billions of US dollars to rehabilitate. During the tragic events of 1979, the coup d’etat, and the prolonged crises of 1989 – 2003, monitors report that more than 250,000 persons were killed. More than 500,000 have been either internally displaced or are refugees in Africa and other jurisdictions.

Stories narrated by victims and victimizers are that child soldiers were forcibly conscripted to fight a senseless conflict and when the warlords were asked why, they claimed to have come to “liberate the disenfranchised and marginalized Liberian population.” Cities, towns, and villages were burned down and there is not a single building in Liberia today without bullet holes. People will continue to grieve the inhumane atrocities committed by combatants. Mothers and daughters were raped and assaulted. Other pregnant women were mutilated and disemboweled to find out the sex of the baby in their wombs. The wild domesticated animals ate remains of the dead left in the streets and some people in desperation were forced to eat the domesticated animals.

As rites of passage into the warring factions, children were forced to burn down towns and villages and kill their parents and elders so they would not return home. Our sons and daughters were forced into involuntary exile as refugees in neighboring countries where they had to sell their souls to the devil and their bodies for bread and water. Our mothers are still crying about the loss of their only children and share how they were separated from their husbands while running to escape the carnage. They came to find out later that their innocent husbands (also fleeing) were killed as opposition fighters. In bitter anguish the tears still flow freely and they wonder how could a “loving God” have allowed this to happen with the extreme demonstration of man’s inhumanity to man? The people are saying that God is punishing us for the sins of the nation but now the righteous are suffering and how long will God punish us for “the sins of the nation” while the unrighteous escape with impunity?

Every tribe, ethnic group, faith community, political group and socio-economic background have been affected by our Liberian crises. The same people who were adversely affected are now staring in disbelief at the impunity of former warlords and their collaborators who are now serving in public offices as elected Legislators and probably Ministers of Government. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is operational to ascertain the root causes of the conflict and make recommendations to Government to end the cycle of violence. Liberians who are signatory to the Comprehensive Accra Peace Accord (CAPA) decided not to have a war crimes court for Liberia. With all things considered, many Liberians now claim, I thought things would be different but there appears to be no significant change. The international community, Liberian Government and other local stakeholders cannot bring perpetrators to justice. It is business as usual, corruption is still rampant and the wicked go unpunished while the righteous suffer then, “we (I) have no option but to plan for revenge...and we (I) will not forgive God (or perpetrators) for allowing us (me) to suffer this way…”

After forgiving the Divine, then, we have to forgive ourselves. Confession of sin and repentance are critical to the process of restoring relationships. People generally struggle with a lot of excess baggage of hate, thoughts of vengeance, anger, and unforgiveness. These not only cause us mental anguish, spiritual separation from our Lord and others, but also a broad range of physical ailments which are eventually attributed to stress, trauma, and other non-medical conditions or situations. In the aftermath of our Liberian crises, we have observed that substance abuse and immorality have increased. Persons cannot easily accept what has happened to us and still dread going to bed at night.

Perpetrators as former combatants cannot easily forgive themselves for inflicting pain and suffering on defenseless civilians and relive nightmares. As a consequence of not forgiving ourselves, we never are truly free to be and become all that Almighty God has purposed for our lives. We might experience a lifetime roller coaster ride of occasional happiness and sadness but fail to understand the lasting joy and peace of the Lord. We might experience liberation and resilience but I want to share that with optimism, wholesome individual or corporate emancipation as a consequence of God’s unconditional love can also become a reality.

I have heard people say it is better to “negotiate from a position of strength” rather than forgive or give in during negotiations which demonstrates weakness. On the contrary, to forgive and become vulnerable to achieve a “win-win situation” as an outcome of negotiation demonstrates strength of character. As written by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ in God forgave you." If we “let go and let God," miracles will surely happen. We shall experience and show the difference in attitude and behavior.

Finally, I praise the Lord for His sustaining grace and mercy without which, we are all doomed to self-destruct. But I take the matter of forgiveness to be critical for our well being and not to be taken lightly. If we want to experience the redemptive and healing power of forgiveness, we have to be able to forgive God, ourselves, and others for wrong doings in spite of perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Christ Jesus not only taught us about this matter of forgiveness, in Luke 23:34, He demonstrated for us what He taught while suspended between life and death on the cross and asked our heavenly Father to forgive even those who had crucified Him. If God has forgiven us in spite of our belligerence and hardness of heart(s), who are we not to also forgive ourselves and other persons for their wrongs? In Matthew 18:21 – 22, Peter came to Jesus and asked," ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’"

Rev. William R. Tolbert III is the Coordinator for West Africa, the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) – Religions for Peace (RfP) and an active participant in the implementation of goals and objectives of the ACRL and RfP in West Africa. Activities include support of national and regional initiatives by inter-religious communities, promotion of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence, disarmament, peace education, human rights, HIV/AIDS, advocacy and action for the welfare and well being of refugees, IDPs, women, and children, empowerment, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation.

Rev. Tolbert's father was the president of Liberia at the time of the 1980 coup d'etat.

Religions for Peace is an international coalition creating multi-religious partnerships in order to confront issues such as war, poverty, and protection of the earth. The West Africa Regional office is now located in Monrovia, Liberia.

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