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Level of Explanation versus Integration
Worthington (2014) addressed forgiveness by comparing the levels of offence to the
perceived amount of injustice of the individual. He determined choices must be made by the
recipient of the offence, after an individual has caused an offence or injustice to another’s mind
and emotions. I never thought about the biblical view of forgiveness as only related to the
individual that received an injustice, but not related to the offender’s apology or lack of an
apology.
Worthington (2014) mentioned, the ultimate goal of an individual is to decrease their
individual injustice gap by forgiving by personal choice (thoughts and emotions). The choices
he mentioned come from individual mindsets that demonstrate forgiveness through justice
(biblically virtuousness or fleshly vengefulness). The individual (receiving or not receiving an
apology) may have the mindset to exhibit virtue to forgive the offender because they realize that
they have been forgiven by God. On the other hand, individuals that received injustice may not
exhibit virtue and make the choice to ruminate in unforgiveness because of that hurt.
Worthington (2014) addressed the five steps: 1.acknowledge injustice 2. empathize with
the offender 3. extend 4. commit to 5. hold on to the forgiveness. Restoration starts in the heart
of the individual who did the forgiving, in spite of whether the offender apologizes. Although
Worthington suggested these steps were birthed because the Bible does not explain the “how to”,
he also stated forgiveness is the only thing that can replace negative emotions and contribute to
better physical and mental health (Worthington, 2014).
I also never thought from the aspect that McMinn (2019) mentioned as the Psychological
discipline promoted being self-centered. He addressed the brokenness within the Positive
Psychological discipline when compared against Biblical virtue. He addressed the need to
reclaim faith and individual wholeness from Jesus’s perspective and build a discipline on the
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foundation of virtues such as love and forgiveness to be integrated into Psychology. He stated
that the resumes of individuals pointed to selfish characteristics and not virtues such as humility,
gratitude and forgiveness (McMinn, 2019).
His stance also addressed that the motivation of an individual needed to be from the heart
related to relationship for God. He mentioned the difference between forgiving and seeking
forgiveness and it was eye opening to learn his acknowledgement of Biblical evidence as being
richer through games that studied virtue compared to sterile empirical studies that don’t
encompass the wholeness of individuals.
Both the Level of Explanations approach and the Integration approach demonstrate the
need to choose forgiveness. They indicate forgiveness studies result in tangible evidence for
better physical and mental health, a cause and effect leading to individual wholeness. The two
entities also agree that forgiveness and reconciliation of the offender are two different things.
Forgiveness is for the recipient of the injustice. Reconciliation is something that takes the two
individuals involved to resolve.
However, the difference between the two entities is that Worthington (2014) addresses
restoration/forgiveness as it relates to the individual person’s “self” decision and change of
emotions to decrease the injustice gap through human steps and mental effort. McMinn (2019)
on the other hand, addresses restoration/forgiveness as it relates to integrating faith and God back
into the constructs of Positive Psychology to rebirth individuals heart virtues based on the
example of Jesus and not “the big me”.
Both the Biblical view and the Positive Psychology entities present valid stances related
to forgiveness. However, the direction to turn, is not opposite of each other in order to reach the
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masses. The direction to turn, is toward each other so that the best of the Biblical view and
Positive Psychology can be combined to reach nations for God’s kingdom (MEV, Isa. 1: 17).
References
McMinn, M. (2019). The Science of virtue: Why Positive Psychology matters to the church.
Modern Evangelism Version, Breakthrough Jubilee Bible, (2014). Military Bible.
Wortington, E. (2014). Mind your heart conference. Center for Christian Thought (CCT)
