There was one word Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar brought up frequently during a recent interview with Fox News' Megyn Kelly about their oldest son Josh’s molestation of young girls -- forgiveness.
In a Facebook post addressing the scandal, the "19 Kids and Counting" stars, both conservative Christians, emphasized the Christian concept that God can forgive any and all sins.
“It is one of the reasons we treasure our faith so much because God’s kindness and goodness and forgiveness are extended to us … He can bring you through anything,” the Duggars wrote.
But Rev. Alan Rudnick, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, NY, said that he found the Duggars’ response “troubling.”
In an interview with HuffPost Live, Rudnick said Jesus talks about forgiveness quite a lot in the New Testament. However, focusing on forgiveness so soon after the allegations came to light could be interpreted as trying to sweep the victims, who include Josh’s two younger sisters, under the rug and move along.
“The whole narrative is troubling because there is such a thing as cheap forgiveness and cheap grace,” Rudnick said.
Watch the full HuffPost Live conversation here.
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