Pastor's Perspective - Christmas Pardons

According to ABC News, today before leaving for Christmas vacation, President Bush granted 19 pardons, offering forgiveness for convictions ranging from gun and drug violations to bank and mail fraud. One of the official pardons was granted to Charles Winters, a man with an interesting story who passed away in the 1980s.

Winters for many Jews was considered a genuine hero. A Protestant from the northeast, he ran a successful cargo business after WWII, in which he used former military aircraft to transport food and other items internationally. However, he began to use them to transport arms to his Jewish friends in their quest for independence and statehood, a violation of the Neutrality Act. Winters served 18 months in prison. As mentioned he died over twenty years ago in Florida. After his passing, director Steven Spielberg appealed to President Bush to pardon Winters and clear his name and record. The famous filmmaker recently remarked, “There are probably many unsung heroes of America and of Israel, but Charlie Winters is surely one of them. While a pardon cannot make Charlie Winters whole, and regrettably he did not live to see it, it would be a fitting tribute to his memory and a great blessing to his family if this pardon is granted.”

Christmas 2008 is only a few short days away. For many millions worldwide, it is so much more than mall Santas, slammed parking lots, beeping sales registers, tinseled trees and semi-chilled eggnog. It is, at its very essence, the celebration of John 3:16! It is the humble remembrance of humanity’s greatest hero, who continues to confound us with the account of His humble advent. It is the season in which we humbly bow in awe that a child would be the linchpin to the greatest rescue mission ever executed and recorded. We stop and reflect that One left the splendor and privileges of deity, to pay a price that simply wasn’t His to pay; and in doing so, offers pardon in place of our many and most vile offenses, not just to 19, but to every member of the human family – the scandal of amazing grace.

Undoubtedly, today is a day of celebration for the family of Charles Winters, Steven Spielberg, and thousands who remember and appreciated his controversial actions from yesteryear. However, unlike today’s White House news, the Bible tells us that the unparalleled pardon only Jesus Christ offers is available and accessible only while we’re alive. So, if you’re reading this, the ‘good news’ is – you still qualify!

Have you received your pardon?

“TODAY, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” Hebrews 3

Merry Christmas!

In the Fight,

Steve