All This Is from God: Augsburger, Lederach, Barth, and Coutts on Forgiveness

What is forgiveness and why should we forgive? What does it accomplish? Why does it falter? Are there wrong ways or wrong times to forgive? How can we forgive our brothers and sisters from the heart, as Jesus instructed (Matt. 18:35)? Can there be forgiveness without repentance or reconciliation? In this article, I consider several psychological, sociopolitical, and Barthian theological insights for the practice of forgiveness at the interpersonal and communal levels. Focusing on the work of pastoral counselor David W. Augsburger, international peacebuilder John Paul Lederach, and theologian Jon Coutts, I compare how each thinker envisions the grounds of, goals of, and threats to forgiveness, as well as where each locates the power to forgive. I then reflect on how these authors may elucidate the relationship of forgiveness with repentance and reconciliation.