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Arkansas governor Mike Beebe, who will leave office in January after two
terms, announced last week that he would pardon his son Kyle, now 34, in
connection with a felony drug conviction more than 10 years ago. The governor
also said that he had put on hold plans to pardon Michael E. Jackson, also 34,
who was a childhood friend of his son and a former player on the peewee
football team Beebe coached.Although it is unusual for state and federal executives to pardon close family members, it is not unheard of, and most observers agree that a convict's kinship to an office-holder with pardoning power should not make the convict ineligible for pardon. Also, at the time of Kyle's arrest, his father, who was then the state attorney general, said that his son would be treated like any other offender, and it appears that he was.
In 2003, Kyle Beebe was sentenced to three years' probation for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He completed his probation in 2006 and has not been in trouble with the law since. Following established procedures, the younger Beebe had requested a pardon, and the Arkansas Parole Board supported his request. Gov. Beebe said he would have granted the pardon sooner if his son had asked.
Jackson had been arrested in an Internet sting operation and convicted in 2008 of Internet stalking of a child. He served a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to the felony charge. He completed his probation in 2013 but still must register as a sex offender.
Although local prosecutors and sheriff's officials objected to Jackson's pardon application, the state Parole Board did recommended him for a pardon. But after the governor placed Jackson on the pardon list, Beebe's office received an affidavit in a child custody case that included new allegations against Jackson. At that point, the governor said Jackson's pardon would be granted only if those allegations are found to be untrue.
In his request for a pardon, Jackson said he is "in no shape or form a repeat offender" and that his wrongdoing occurred at "a time in my life that I lost myself and [had] clouded judgment."
In Kyle Beebe's pardon request, he acknowledged being "young and dumb" at the time of his wrongdoing, and said he had learned from his mistakes. He also wrote, "I'm asking for a second chance at life. I am asking for a second chance to be the man that I know I can be."
The governor's office said that he has issued hundreds of pardons while in office, and that pardoning his son is not special treatment.
"Pardon" is both a legal and a theological term. In the legal sense, pardon is the action of a government executive that sets aside the ongoing penalty for a crime and restores the wrongdoer's civil rights. In the theological sense, pardon is usually considered a synonym for divine forgiveness, an action God alone may do. Only God may grant pardon to sinners (see Psalm 130:3-4) because all sin, at its deepest level, is considered to be directed against God (see Psalm 51:4). One can, of course, forgive another individual for an offense against oneself, but such action is usually called forgiveness rather than pardon because only God can set aside the penalty for sin.
Pardon is also related theologically to the word "atonement," which refers to God's action of reconciling sinners to himself, making us "at one" with him. The Hebrew verb usually translated into English as "pardon" involves the idea of restoration to full favor.
More on this story can be found at these links:
Arkansas Gov. Beebe to Pardon Son but Rethinks Pardoning Family Friend. L.A. Times
Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Beebe to Pardon Son Over Marijuana Conviction. Washington Post
The Big Questions
1. What does the concept of pardon tell us about human behavior? What is the most important reason that human beings need divine pardon? Do all humans need divine pardon? Why or why not?
2. What does the concept of pardon tell us about the nature of God? What would the world be like if there were no divine pardon? What do you believe are the limits, if any, of divine pardon?
3. What if you have never committed a serious wrong and don't feel the need for divine pardon? Does that mean you actually don't need it? Explain your answer.
4. Can a pardon be earned? Why or why not?
5. Can human relationships thrive without forgiveness? Why or why not? What is the result for yourself, or what have you observed in others, when forgiveness is not forthcoming?
6. Consider the relationship between pardon/forgiveness and facing the consequences of our behavior. God offers forgiveness even for the worst of sins, but our sins still often leave consequences in their wake -- damaged relationships, broken trust, a tainted reputation, losses that cannot be recovered, etc. How do we both take responsibility for those consequences and live into the freedom provided through forgiveness?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
Genesis 6:5
The LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. (For context, read 6:1-8.)
This verse describes the time before the great flood that Noah and his family survived in the ark. Christian theology says that as a statement on the nature of humankind, this verse relates to all periods of human history, right down to the present day -- thus making the need for divine pardon essential.
Some critics of Christianity, however, believe verses such as this one overstate the case and argue that there are people who are essentially good -- or at least who do not plot evil continually -- and have no need of pardon from God. Yet even many "good" people acknowledge that there are things in their past or even ongoing parts of their lives that they are not proud of, things they would not wish to be seen as representative of who they are.
Questions: Do you view this verse as essentially true? Why or why not? Have you ever felt that all you could see was irredeemable evil? Is this a constant feeling, or does it ebb and flow, or even disappear at times?
2 Chronicles 7:14
... if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (For context, read 7:11-22.)
It is common for parents to tell their children before the young ones head out to do things with their friends, "Remember, you have my name. Don't do anything to dishonor it." Unspoken is the threat of punishment, but also the fact of love behind and included in giving one's name to the child.
In a similar manner, the Israelites bear the name of God. After the dedication of the temple by King Solomon, God appears to the king in the night. One of his promises is that he will forgive and heal the people of Israel, who are called by God's own name, if they will continue to humble themselves, pray, seek him and repent.
Although this is not the same as Mike Beebe's pardon of his son, the story reminds us not only that we bear witness to God's name in the world, but that he loves us and forgives us our sins when we repent and turn to him.
Questions: How does the fact that you bear God's name to the world influence your behavior? When have you been a bad witness to the name you bear? What does God's continual willingness to accept your repentance and forgive indicate about your relationship with him?
Isaiah 6:6-7
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." (For context, read 6:1-8.)
These verses come from Isaiah's account of his call to prophesy for God. As far as we know, he was already a "good" man, but when confronted by the holiness of God, he was overcome by a sense of his own sinfulness and declared, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (v. 5).
In the vision, God then dealt with Isaiah's sense of sin by sending a seraph to touch a live coal to Isaiah's lips, thereby blotting out his sins -- pardoning him.
Questions: Are there any times or ways in which you identify with Isaiah in this passage? If so, when?
In Isaiah's vision, his sins seem to be cleansed with the hot coals. What place, if any, does suffering have in receiving pardon? Should those who suffer get "credit" against sins they have committed, like time served?
Psalm 25:11
For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (For context, read 25:4-11.)
This and many other verses in Scripture show the penitent's attitude, one of acknowledging one's sin and asking for forgiveness.
Note that this psalmist bases his plea for pardon on the sake of the Lord's name. In Scripture, many names and metaphors are used to refer to God -- God Almighty, the Most High God, the Lord Will Provide, the Lord Our Righteousness, Father, Rock, Fortress and others. Many names are needed because no one name or even a series of names can capture all that God is. Each name highlights one aspect of God, but all the names agree on God's essential nature, which is to be involved with his created ones.
Nehemiah 9:17 describes God's nature this way: "But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love ...."
Thus, in pleading for pardon "for your name's sake," the psalmist is appealing to God's own nature, which is to pardon. (See also Jeremiah 5:1.)
Questions: When have you personally experienced the pardoning nature of God? Since God is ready to forgive, does that mean we can sin without concern, knowing that God will always forgive us if we ask? Why or why not?
Does the experience of being pardoned make it easier to forgive others? Was there someone you did not feel you could forgive? Did you ever request forgiveness from another and not receive it?
Matthew 1:21
She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (For context, read 1:18-25.)
The angel who appeared to Joseph to announce to him the divine source of Mary's pregnancy made the statement quoted above. In it, the angel said that Jesus' mission was to save people from their sins. In other words, pardoning was a major part of Jesus' ministry.
Questions: How did Jesus accomplish that pardoning ministry? What part, if any, do we play in that pardoning ministry?
Luke 11:4
And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. (For context, read 11:1-4.)
In this petition from the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, he clearly linked God's pardoning of us to our forgiving others. Indeed, it is the nature of sin that after we are forgiven, we sometimes decline to offer forgiveness to others. From this, too, we need to repent -- and be pardoned by God.
Questions: Where do you need to extend forgiveness to someone else?
Is forgiving others part of the condition necessary to receive pardon from God, or is it more of a natural reaction for having been forgiven? Does our granting forgiveness come naturally, or is it something that is learned?
For Further Discussion
1. Isaiah 55:6-7 says "Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Does this mean that we need to ask God for pardon? If so, why? If not, why not?
2. Theologian Walter Brueggemann writes that God is not to be understood "as either relentlessly 'rigid and unforgiving' or an automatic source of grace. Rather in a serious, ongoing relationship ... [God] is the senior partner who always has options and alternatives available when dealing with a wayward companion." What options has God used with you to draw you into the right way?
3. Respond to this statement: "Forgiving others is primarily what we do for ourselves. The other person still has to work out his or her relationship with God."
Responding to the News
This is a good time to remind ourselves that the purpose of divine pardon is to restore us to full relationship and fellowship with God.
Closing Prayer
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