One of Vick's dogs, from smiteme's photostream on Flickr
A lot is being made of Michael Vick's return to football. There are differing views as to whether he has paid his dues, but we have to face that society has deemed this to be punishment fitting of the crime, so technically he has earned his freedom.
The question for the believer of Christ is whether or not he has earned forgiveness, not freedom. It is not one with an easy answer.
We know that God calls us to forgive in order to be forgiven. In the New Living Translation, it is perfectly spelled out in Matthew 6:15...
But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you."
However, the important thing to remember is that those sins which we do not take responsibility for are not forgiven. Only those sins we repent of (including those unwittingly committed, which is why we should always pray for forgiveness of sins we may be ignorant about) are washed by the Blood of Jesus, as seen in II Chronicles 7:14 (King James Version):
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin.
In other words, it is not simply saying one is sorry, It is accepting that one is wrong, seeking the Lord for forgiveness, and desiring to right that wrong. So the question is, does this describe Michael Vick?
A lot is also being made of his apparent contrition and whether or not it is sincere. We cannot be certain, but there are some tell-tale signs that he is still not taking full responsibility:
- He continually describes his actions as a "mistake" or "pointless" or using "bad judgment." A mistake is someone forgetting to report income on their taxes. Pointless would be washing your car before it rains. In a more extreme example, bad judgment describes having "one for the road" before getting behind the wheel. Vick committed his crimes with intent, torturing and murdering dogs for not being mean enough.
- He also refers to his role in a diminished capacity. He says he should have stopped what was going on as though he did not actively participate in it.
- Some of his remorse still seems self-centered: he decries risking so much at the pinnacle of his career more than he does the suffering of defenseless animals.
- He refers to having been naive, but the reality is this operation was run by Vick—no one fooled him into taking part. Even if we were to attribute that statement to the idea of dog-fighting in general, which was common in his environment growing up, he went beyond just having his dogs fight in further acts of cruelty that are not mandated by the activity alone.
On the other hand, there are positive signs from Vick that do suggest repentence. One of the chief words translated in English as repent in the Old Testament is "schuwb" (pronounced shoob), which can literally mean "go back the way you came." Thus, Vick's stated hope that he can be part of the solution rather than the problem and teach kids about animal cruelty fits with that definition of repentence.
He does speak of having done "terrible things" and being "wrong for what I did." He also talks of a the experience being humbling, one of the things God called for in the scripture above. His speeches, both before and after prison, have not been scripted, suggesting he is more likely speaking from the heart.
Only Vick knows how sincere he is. My only hope is that he begins to accept full responsibility for his horrific actions, instead of making comments that lead me to believe he still thinks his role is one of a collaborator instead of a facilitator. Until he does this, I remain skeptical and cannot offer forgiveness.
Comments
The problem with Vick is that he's remorseful that he got caught, not that he killed dogs. While I never subscribed to the "throw him in jail forever, don't let him back in the NFL" crowd, I'm certainly not going to forgive what he did.
If I thought he truly believed that what he did was wrong, I'd forgive him. But what am I supposed to forgive him for under the current circumstances? Getting caught?
Vick wasn't naive. He enjoyed what he did. If he hadn't been caught, he'd still be doing it.
Your points, 1-4, are all right on the money. Gonna throw a link to this at the end of my Vick article.
-Sean
I might be naive, however, animal cruelty is one of the litmus tests we use to identify future serial killers in our youth. They minimize the value of life.
So, Vick has been "invited" to speak to our youth about animal cruelty. I've got an idea, why not invite a "REFORMED" (because that is what he claims to be) Child Molestor to speak to our classrooms about the evils of Child Molestation and how it was, "not my fault." Would it really happen in this world? Only if others want to pay them for molesting them in the first place.
By the way...it is Micheal Dwayne Vick, afterall, we give all serial killers 3 names.
He just didn't kill under performing dogs. He tortured them to death. Knowing how lax our criminal justice system of reforms really is, I can not accept the idea that this guy mended his ways after a mere 18 months of prison. I can't wait for him to screw up, as I know he will.
wow! He should get into politics or acting. He a poor excuse for a human being.
Although the joke of a prison sentence he served is over he will be judged by his actions going forward. A hunch tells me a normal human being with a true pain and remorse for what he did would become a face in the public about making good choices, primarily in the community with children. A point here may be that dog fighting isn't exactly something a lot of people are into but maybe he could be an advocate against animal cruelty? Something like this would show his remorse, and would require my forgiveness. I won't be holding my breath.
Great article MJ. Love the mix of sports and faith.
In a word, no. I want him to show how he acts when he doesn't get his way before I am okay with him being in an NFL uni.
DIE, VICK,DIE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WONDERFUL INPUT! Now to address you individually...
Sean, I agree. I think that remorse has led to a rethinking of what he has done, but like I said (and you seem to agree), he has not fully accepted his role. And thanks for the link!
Naive, you chose a poor name, because you clearly are not. I love the analogy.
ProfD, I hope you are wrong. I don't want him to screw up, because that means more bad being done. I'm not even going to say he will. But I think you make excellent points.
dglvr: I hope he has reformed, but your description is at the least apt of the old Vick.
Ken and Michael: I agree he could do good in being part of the solution, and I hope he does—that would earn him the second chance that he was only given so readily because of his talent.
Is God willing to forgive Vick? I know He is. Jesus' death on the cross is for all of us and I have to realize that Jesus calls me to have the same love for Michael Vick that He has for him. So it is with much prayer that I look at someone I identify as a monster and try to see him as God does--a prodigal, a wayward child, a being worthy of Jesus' walk to calvary. This is God's calling on us all. I have to admit that if Vick has or will become a Christian I will have to ask God to help me forgive him since right now, he's still that entitled guy who killed God's precious animals. Some would say that this is much ado about nothing--let the man play. I would say let the man be forgiven like anyone else who wants to receive God's grace but then, go out and sin no more.
Two questions: has God forgiven Vick? should we forgive Vick? The answer to the first is between God and Michael Vick. The answer to the second is between us and God. Let those who are without sin cast the first stone. John 8:7
I'll never forgive and one more thing...the Eagles will never ever get my support. What a stupid thing for them to do.
One more thing...will the dogs he killed have a chance to forgive?
What a mix of sports and religion and sports. Let God decide.
He did his time... time for him to make a living.....what he did was wrong.... but come on, he cann never work? Silly --
Thank you for more excellent comments! Heather, I agree wholeheartedly. MikeB, casting the first stone is one thing—I would not have him suffer revenge at my hands, I am only interested in determining whether his remorse is genuine and thus, whether or not he should play. Which brings me to people and dogs: few are suggesting he should never p[lay, but it is a privilege, not a right. There is nothing wrong with making him show his sincerity before letting him back in the league.
Dorothy, I appreciate your view, but it is not God's will for us to not forgive. We all sin, and if we are to expect God's forgiveness, we must at least make an effort to forgive others. And as for the dogs, they are in heaven (multiple scriptures support animals being in heaven), so yes, they can and have forgiven him, as they are perfected now.
Thank you for more excellent comments! Heather, I agree wholeheartedly. MikeB, casting the first stone is one thing—I would not have him suffer revenge at my hands, I am only interested in determining whether his remorse is genuine and thus, whether or not he should play. Which brings me to people and dogs: few are suggesting he should never p[lay, but it is a privilege, not a right. There is nothing wrong with making him show his sincerity before letting him back in the league.
Dorothy, I appreciate your view, but it is not God's will for us to not forgive. We all sin, and if we are to expect God's forgiveness, we must at least make an effort to forgive others. And as for the dogs, they are in heaven (multiple scriptures support animals being in heaven), so yes, they can and have forgiven him, as they are perfected now.
Only God knows for sure whether Vick is remorseful or not. He is an athlete, and may not be able to fully articulate as well as a professional speaker might. I agree, he doesn't seem sincere to me, but am willing to concede that I don't know him, or his heart, only God does. While I am (very) cautiously optimistic that he has changed, time will tell. I think part of his sentencing should have included not speaking out against animal cruelty, but actively working against it with a local chapter of the Humane Society, working to rehabilitate and keep alive mistreated animals that others have abused. Showing him another side of the fight against such activity might not hlp him realize just how wrong he was in his actions, but is a step toward reparations. In the end, however, the Eagles simply got an over-rated player who has a lot of work ahead of him getting back to his former much hyped form.
Cuz, I agree, and his participation in pro-animal causes and public services are expected as part of playing in the NFL, even if not technically mandated.
Forgive him ia the right thing to do. He looks sincere.
He shouldve gone a step further and pledged to use part of his earnings in rehabilitating abused animals..he could've bee required contractually (by whoever hired him) to deductions which would be utilized for caring for dogs in distress.
Omar, I agree that should have been a stipulation, but maybe he couldn't because of all the money he owes.
AC, I'm not so convinced he's sincere, but I hope you're right.
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Sandra and Chen: I appreciate the credit for extra comments, but would ask that you not spam my site...since there is nothing substantive in your comments and no related material apparent at that site, I can only assume that's what your posts were.
Great article and know your love of sports and religion.
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