The God-Shaped HeartSample

A Father’s Forgiveness

On December 10, 2003, Kent Whitaker, his wife, and two sons, Kevin and Bart, went out to dinner to celebrate Bart’s upcoming graduation from college. After a wonderful family dinner, they returned home. As the family approached the house, Bart ran back to the car to get his cell phone. When the rest of the family entered the house, a masked gunman jumped out and shot and killed Kent’s wife and Kevin. He also shot Kent in the chest, but fortunately Kent survived.

As devastating as the murders of his wife and son were, the worst part for Kent was yet to come—the police discovered that Kent’s surviving son, Bart, had been the one who arranged to have his family murdered so he could inherit the family money. Bart was arrested and tried for murder with the prosecutor seeking the death penalty. 

If you were Kent, what justice would you want for Bart? Do you see only through imposed human law and seek punishment for Bart, or do you see through God’s design law and realize Bart is in need of healing and restoration? If you realize your son is sick of heart and mind, what do you want for your son—to be executed for his crimes or transformed in his character? 

As he writes in his book, Murder by Family, Kent understood his son was sin-sick and needed healing. He forgave his son and publicly asked the prosecutor not to seek the death penalty. But the prosecutor, an agent of the human imposed-law system, did what he thought was just. Bart was found guilty and sentenced to death. 

Kent stood by his son, pouring his forgiveness upon him, visiting him in prison, and seeking his eternal healing. Bart eventually said, “If you can still love me after all I have done, then I believe God can also.” Though still on death row, Bart gave his life to Christ. 

Kent says he has peace knowing that his family will one day be together for eternity. Such grace, such forgiveness, such love is only possible when we realize the truth about God and experience his love in our lives—when we come back to focus on design law and reject the fallen, human imposed-law construct.

This is the goal. This is the God-shaped heart.

When have you seen God’s forgiveness through the words or actions of someone else?