I have been listening to callers on a local talk show respond to Ms. Porter’s statement concerning her choice to forgive Bobby Cutts.  Some people thought she spoke with astonishing grace and power while many more have criticized her words as “over-dramatic” or an attempt to hide the dysfunction of her broken home.

This is how the world views love – the authentic love of Christ. When you dare to go against the logic of this world- its brutal justice, against the wisdom of the ruler of this world or when you respond to suffering and to genuine harm with redemptive discipline, the world hates you.  As the world hated Christ when he loved the broken and the lost, so too will the world hate those who love Christ – those who follow in his ways. The world hates those who dare to defy its system and who choose to align themselves with biblical principles.

To Ms. Porter and to all those who choose love, I encourage you with these words from the gospel of John:

 From John 15:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

 Again scripture addresses the rage and venomous energy hurled at those who abide in Christ:

1 John 3:12

Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

Patty Porter understands something so precious that those who belong to the world cannot comprehend; she understands that she now has a new identity – that she has received a gift that she never deserved – she has been reconciled to God through Christ Jesus.

“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.

To those of the world, Christ and his forgiveness is a stumbling block – his love is so irrational!

“He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”

Christ’s love just does not make any sense to those who do not know him; they are so confused and lost. Christ came as the Good Shepherd to seek out the lost and to bring them into the protection of his fold.

Pondering these things gives me courage – to be bold and not afraid when I walk into the spiritual realm of warfare – I realize that victory has already gone to the Lord. All authority has been given to Christ and we as believers command this authority as his servants who go forth in His name and under His power.

So in light of these things, I am increasingly excited that Christ has imputed to His body the impactful, healing power of authentic love – I long to more deeply comprehend the heights and depths and breadth of the love of Christ.

I end with this Pauline prayer from Ephesians:

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

If you have been following the Bobby Cutts trial, you’d know that a verdict of guilty was reached.  For those of you unfamiliar with this local case, Bobby Cutts (a Canton police officer) was tried and convicted of murdering his pregnant girl friend, Jesse Davis, and their unborn daughter Chloe. This case had national coverage. Today a sentence was imposed. 

I usually don’t follow trials or watch court TV; however, a live broadcast of the sentencing trail was aired on WNIR. What I found so compelling about this sentencing hearing was the portion where the family of the victim expressed its thoughts and desires concerning the defendant – Bobby Cutts in this case.

Jesse’s sisters and father all expressed rage, confusion, hate, and disgust for this man – especially for his lies and for the brutality of this crime against their loved one – a sister – a daughter. I was moved by their statements. One person’s sentiments stood out during this highly charged, emotional portion of the hearing – Jesse’s mother.

Jesse’s mom, Patty Porter, is a member of Akron’s House of the Lord Church and has been a member for nearly a decade.  The House of the Lord is pastored by Bishop Joey Johnson. I have heard Bishop Joey teach and he is a knowledgable and inspired teacher.

I was struck – even stunned as I heard Ms. Porter speak during this hearing.  She spoke of her confusion that none of this made sense; she spoke of her sorrow and loss; she spoke of forgiveness and hope. 

This mother, who arrived at her daughter’s apartment one muggy June morning to find her 2 year old grandson abandoned and unkempt, pled with the judge to make ”a way for Bobby to have a relationship with his son.” She urged Bobby and others to consider their personal standing before the Lord.  She chose forgiveness.  She told Bobby, convicted murderer of her daughter and yet-to-be-born granddaughter, to look at her.  

Her words turned to forgiveness. She chose to forgive him as she has no right not to forgive him; she acknowledged Bobby’s sin – taking two lives, lying, the hurt that Blake (Bobby and Jesse’s son must endure). She also envisioned a hopeful future of reconciliation – not just between Blake and his father, Bobby, but also between Bobby and the Lord.

Christ has empowered this woman to take a stand; Patty Porter is not a victim – NO! She is victorious and moved toward this man who deserved nothing! She did not explain away or excuse the actions of this man – she saw his actions for what they were – evil and hurtful – ungodly. But she saw a way – a victorious way to impart love to Bobby Cutts.

What a witness this woman was to the world today – everyone on Court TV saw her or heard her words on the radio. So powerful – so redemptive! Once again I am moved to tears. I ask myself, “Could you,Lisa, extend the same forgiveness and love?” “Am I able to live this way in matters of the heart – in things less horrific?”

I’d like to say I could through choice and through Him – this is what Patty Porter said – “through Him I can forgive you, Bobby,” her voiced cracked with pain as she spoke those words – her wounded heart desiring so much to move towards Bobby in grace.

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I believe her – I truly believe that she desires what God desires – that all men come to Him and know Him – even the one who violently murdered her daughter and granddaughter – even Bobby Cutts.