Free of Charge

Short Review: Best books I have read on forgiveness and a very good look at what giving is all about. In someways it felt like two short books tacked together. I know that in Volf's mind they are very intimately connected, but I don't think he quite showed the connection well enough.

Regardless, Volf starts with a look at who God and and what God gives to us. The first chapter really sets the stage for the sections on both giving and forgiveness. The giving sections were good, giving is a response to God's grace to us. It is not an obligation and God does not need us to give (God does not gain anything from our giving because God is complete by himself.) But God wants us to give and so we are encouraged to give out of appreciate of what God has done for us and how God will use us in the lives of others. He contrasts the way that many people thing of God, Santa Claus or Negotiator. God does not give without regard to what is good for us and God does not give in response to negotiation (because God does not need anything from us.)

In a similar way Volf looks at forgiveness as a subsection of giving. He takes a slight variation on the view of God (Judge and Doting grandparent) and says that does not demand perfect justice, nor does he turn a blind eye to the reality of our sin. The only way he can reconcile our need for forgiveness and God's own holiness is forgiveness. All forgiveness in the end is God's work, but God gives us the opportunity to participate with him in reconciling people to one another and to God.

This is not easy forgive and forget. Volf is primarily thinking about the rough restorative justice here. He is giving examples of war crimes, rape, murder and neglegence that results in death. But he connects it clearly to the smaller things that we all need forgiveness for.

I cannot think of another book that I highlighted more. This is a book that I need to read again. In spite of the fact that it get a bit dry in areas where he is trying to make sure of all of his bases, this is an important book. It took me nearly a month to work my way through with long breaks to process it, but it was well worth reading.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/free-of-charge/