Is Forgiveness Possible after the Holocaust?
“I heard someone say, ‘Holocaust survivors should forgive the Nazis!’” Atefeh exclaimed indignantly. As an atheist attending a Christian university, she often disagreed with her classmates, but few issues had frustrated her like this one. “We don’t know how the victims feel,” she said. “We’re not allowed to decide for them!”
This immediately sparked a discussion between Atefeh, myself, and our friend Jen. Is it appropriate, we asked, or even possible, to forgive the perpetrators of the Holocaust?
Jen, a believer like me, observed that forgiveness is less for the perpetrator and more for the victim, enabling them to heal from the wrongs they’ve suffered. I pointed out that forgiving someone for their crime doesn’t mean erasing the consequences. Atefeh argued that forgiving someone for a crime just opens the way for them to do it again. While Jen and I agreed that Jesus’ blood is sufficient even for all sins – even the Holocaust – Atefeh maintained that the Nazis’ crimes should never be forgiven or forgotten.
There was one thing we all agreed on: The complex pain and trauma of the Holocaust should not and cannot be reduced to a simple issue of forgiveness.
Personally, I’ve had to ask myself, “If I believe in forgiveness, why can’t I endorse this young man’s argument?” Looking at what Scripture says about forgiveness, here are three conclusions I’ve come to.
1. Believers are called to forgive as God has forgiven us.
If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
So that You may be revered (Psalm 130:3-4).
Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Messiah has also forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).
Regardless of the offense, Scripture makes it clear that God wants us to forgive. Paul emphasized that believers should forgive one another[1] and Jesus repeatedly taught that we should love our enemies and forgive those who harm us.[2]
In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells the parable of a servant who, forgiven by his master for a vast debt, immediately throws another man in prison over a small sum. When the master hears about his servant’s deed, he says, “You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:32-33).
The point is that our accountability to God is even greater than our accountability to one another. As believers, we have been pardoned by the God of the universe. Therefore, we are called to forgive others. Who are we to refuse forgiveness when God does not?
2. Only God’s forgiveness is vested with authority to pardon sin.
Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight (Psalm 51:4)
To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, because we have rebelled against Him… (Daniel 9:10).
Every sin is ultimately committed against God. Only God has authority to pardon guilt. This means that human forgiveness is fundamentally different from God’s forgiveness. Our forgiveness is between one sinner and another; God’s forgiveness comes from a unique position of authority.
Eva Mozes Kor, who survived Josef Mengele’s human experimentation at Auschwitz, publicly and controversially forgave the Nazis. Despite much criticism over her decision, Eva found personal peace and healing by choosing to relinquish her anger and resentment.
However, Eva’s choice did not undo her own or others’ sufferings. It did not reverse her parents’ deaths in the gas chambers. Nor did it erase the Nazis’ guilt before God. Human forgiveness does not have this power.
Our forgiveness does not waive justice; it merely leaves justice in God’s hands. The perpetrators of the Holocaust – even those who evaded human justice – will ultimately and inevitably face God’s judgment for their actions unless they repent.
3. Forgiveness only benefits the guilty party if they repent.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us (1 John 1:9-10).
Forgiveness is always beneficial to the forgiver. Forgiveness has been shown by many secular sources to facilitate healing and improve the forgiver’s mental, spiritual, and physical health.[3] However, a person’s choice to forgive does not necessarily impact the one they have forgiven.
God repeatedly places forgiveness within the context of human repentance:[4] the acknowledgement and abandonment of evil. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Jesus’ blood is sufficient to cover all sins – even the Nazis’ – but no one benefits from His sacrifice without belief and repentance.
Mengele spent the rest of his life fleeing justice for the atrocities he committed. He died in Brazil having never expressed remorse. Eva’s choice to forgive him made all the difference to her, but no difference to Mengele. He must still face God’s judgment.
So is forgiveness possible after the Holocaust?
I don’t have Jesus’ divine authority to forgive. I am not a survivor myself, nor am I the pastor, rabbi, or family member of someone who is. In fact, I don’t personally know a Holocaust survivor. Even if I were bold enough to admonish them to forgive, my admonishment would carry no weight.
To be clear, I believe forgiveness is always the right choice, and I would express this belief in the unlikely event that a survivor asked my opinion. However, rather than admonishing others to forgive, I believe my role is to listen to survivors’ stories and ensure they are never forgotten.
Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting. If we forget the Holocaust, we not only dishonor the victims and survivors, we risk allowing it to happen again.
If given the chance, I would love to introduce God’s healing forgiveness. After all, He is the only one who has the power to change hearts, pardon guilt, and heal wounds forever.
Written by Miriam, Life in Messiah Communications Coordinator
What do you think? Is forgiveness possible after the Holocaust? Do you think there are situations where this would be appropriate, and others where it would not?
If there is no God and no afterlife, forgiveness doesn’t make sense. However, if God and the afterlife are realities, it wouldn’t make sense for believers to withhold forgiveness from others. What do you believe about God, justice, and the afterlife? How does this affect your attitude toward forgiveness?
Do you believe Jesus’ blood is sufficient for all sins, including the Nazis’? Including yours?
Endnotes:
[1] See Romans 12:20, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7-8, 2 Corinthians 2:7.
[2] Matthew 6:14, 18:21-22, Mark 11:25, Luke 6:27,37.
[3] The Mayo Clinic, University of California, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Harvard Medical School are just a few reputable sources touting the spiritual, mental, and physical health benefits of forgiveness – even for victims of abuse and trauma.
[4] Isaiah 55:7: Let the wicked abandon his way,
And the unrighteous person his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.