Thus, when viewed under a restorative justice lens, punishment cannot have any beneficial effect. Using this method, pioneered by the Mennonites, murderers may actually play a role in restoring the lives of the survivors to a greater degree of normalcy. And survivors can also sometimes provide their loved ones killers with a transformative experience, as opposed to stigmatizing shame. The essence of Jesus words is that when forgiveness occurs, a mending of the fabric of society occurs also, and everyone benefits. This is the heart of the Christian message.
Restorative justice opens the possibility of receiving grace through transformation.
This means that even the most stigmatized capital offenders can be redeemed, that even their lives can have value for human society. Indeed, their lives have value in the eyes of God. Instead, let us go forth and teach restorative justice. Let us spread the news of it as part and parcel of the Christian message in order to fully allow God s desire for true justice to take place within our midst, in order that we might co-create shalom .