Friends: The test of a Christian isn’t being forgiven; we already are.  The test is in forgiving others.  Here’s one for the books.

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Spirituality Column #911

April 30, 2024

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Five Crowns

By Bob Walters

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis

We’re going to hit many bases today and it all begins with the fact that twice in the past week I’ve stumbled onto accounts of WWII holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom.

Corrie’s is a familiar name in evangelical circles, though I must admit until this week I only knew her name, not of her family’s – and her own – heroics and courage defending Jews in the face of Nazi extermination. They hid Jews in their Christian home in Haarlem, Netherlands, and her father, mother, and sister died in Nazi death camps.

Corrie survived, preached Christ the rest of her life, and wrote The Hiding Place.

After the war ten Boom traveled Europe – including post-war Germany – and the world, including several appearances with Billy Graham Crusades in America and elsewhere, with a Christian witness of hope, peace, survival, fortitude, and forgiveness. 

Once, after Corrie spoke at a church in post-war Germany, a man approached her with glowing admiration and a confession of deep contrition in his new life now ablaze in Christ.  Corrie froze; she recognized him as a death camp guard, a Nazi charged with observing the women’s showers where Corrie had been held captive.

In that moment of paralyzing non-forgiveness, she called on Christ to release her from her hate. Upon finally grasping the man’s hand extended in apology, Corrie felt the Spirit travel through her body and arm when she clasped the man’s hand, giving her peace … and forgiveness she thought she’d never bestow. Such is the power of Christ.

Her “forgiveness” story is one for all time. She became great friends with Cliff Barrows, Billy’s trusted friend and companion on countless Crusades for Jesus. Upon her death in 1983, Barrows wrote a devotional tribute to her on …

“… the five crowns this little woman wore in her life and ministry:

·      The crown of righteousness from 1 Timothy 4 given to those who love His appearing.

·      The crown of exultation from 1 Thessalonians 2, the soul winner’s crown.

·      The crown of life from James 1:2, reserved for those in great trials of faith.

·      The martyr’s crown for those who died for Christ.

·      And the crown of glory from 1 Peter 5 reserved for the under shepherds of the flock who lead and teach what the Bible has to say.

“Five magnificent crowns worn by prisoner #66730 who Christ forgave and to whom He gave a limitless capacity to forgive others.

“C.S. Lewis got it right. ‘To be Christian,’ he said, ‘means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.’”

This quote comes from my friend Ed Simcox’s new book, He Leadeth Me, a truly remarkable collection of devotions, meditations, prayers, and stories of his Christian life steeped in service, reflection, and leadership.  I’ll talk more about Ed’s book next week.

Also, First Things magazine last week posted a review (FT link) of a new biography about ten Boom, The Watchmaker's Daughter: The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie ten Boom by Larry Loftis. Two “ten Boom” sightings in one week.

Unlike many of you who know the story, I had previously known little about ten Boom. But those “five crowns” were assuredly well placed in the soul of this saint.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes another Netherlands’ WWII heroine, Anne Frank.