From the least of crimes to the most wrenching deed, their perpetrators have petitioned the President to exercise his unconditional constitutional right to pardon whomever he will. This typically falls in the final weeks of any year; in Bush’s case, it is in the ebbing weeks of his presidency.
For publicity and seasonal humor, the President usually pardons a Thanksgiving turkey. This is a misnomer because the turkey is guilty of nothing except his own involuntary existence. In order to be pardoned, one has to be guilty of a crime.
In fact, some of the pardon commentary this year is incorrect. One article said it was "forgiving" the perpetrator. Pardon is not technically forgiveness but merely removing the punishment and some lingering consequences of the crime. If I offended you by spilling coffee all over you, for example, I might say, "I beg your pardon." This does not mean that I didn’t do it; it simply means that I am asking you not to hold this against me or retaliate in kind.
Pardon actually permanently affixes guilt. That offenders seek pardon and that they then willingly receive it are twin confessions of guilt. The most pointed modern example was the pardon of Richard Nixon by President Gerald Ford. When President Ford testified before Congress, he stated, "The acceptance of a pardon, according to the legal authorities—and we’ve checked them out very carefully—does indicate that by the acceptance the person who has accepted it, does, in effect, admit guilt."
The U.S. Department of Justice website says, "While a presidential pardon will restore various rights lost as a result of the pardoned offense and should lessen to some extent the stigma arising from a conviction, it will not erase or expunge the record of your conviction. Therefore, even if you are granted a pardon, you must still disclose your conviction on any form where such information is required, although you may also disclose the fact that you received a pardon."
Ultimate forgiveness is available only from God since all sinning offends Him. David had it right when he declared in Psalm 51:4, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge." He added in verse 7, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
Even this is something short of New Testament "justification." The redeemed Christian is not merely pardoned; that would make him a permanent criminal although not suffering the punishment. The believer is a justified saint—legally proclaimed by God as though his sins had never been committed. Hebrews 10:17-18 reads, "…Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…"
The chorus of the hymn "One Day!" has it right:
Living–He loved me, dying–He saved me,
Buried–He carried my sins far away.
Rising–He justified, freely forever.
One day He’s coming–O glorious day!
Presidential pardons helpfully refocus biblical justification if we understand the Word of God.
Dave Virkler
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