There is a world of difference between a pastor and this pa$tor. Any real Christian can see it, and most non-Christians can see it as well. Characters like this are a dime a dozen and the sad thing is, they scam a lot of people out of a lot of money on a regular basis. I wish people weren't so gullible but unfortunately, they (we) are.
As a Christian, forgiveness is critical to our faith. That does NOT mean God expects the victim (in this case, the parents and loved ones) of an evil act to rush right over and embrace the person who committed the evil. It does mean however that in time, with grace, and much prayer, and through seas of tears and layers of rage and anger, sorrow and grief, we are expected to let it GO and genuinely leave that person in the court of GOD'S justice. It's not easy and it's not quick... it's a process. For some it takes a very long time to get to that place. Doing lip-service about forgiveness is being dishonest about this process and essentially telling people they shouldn't feel the natural feelings one has when they've been betrayed in the worst way possible. Anger at whoever did this to AJ is natural, and right, and just. Now the process begins for everyone who loved her dearly, to work through it.
Forgiveness also does NOT mean we're not to seek justice. In a civilized society we are EXPECTED to seek justice for such things to keep our society from devolving into madness and chaos.
There's my sermon for the day. FWIW.
