By Tim Swanson
The General sat across the table from me. The name and location of the restaurant had to be kept a secret. In fact, we didn't even eat in a restaurant. We ate behind a restaurant, hidden by tall thick bamboo. Had the Cambodian public known of his whereabouts, they would have killed him and his family in the streets. His name was General Tith Voeum. He was a top military general for The Khmer Rouge, a military regime that slaughtered 2 million innocent people in Cambodia during the late 1970's. This genocide came to be known around the world as The Killing Fields.
A translator speedily rattled off an English translation of the General's words . But the thing I remember most clearly was his smile. He had dark skin, which seemed even darker at night. His white teeth shone brightly through his grin in an almost Cheshire Cat sort of way.
Through the translator he described what it was like to work with Pol Pot, the infamous leader of the Khmer Rouge. He went on to tell us about his later conversion to Christianity. He allowed us to ask any questions we wanted to. I'm sure my team asked a bunch of really good questions. But I couldn't stop staring at that smile. At one point, someone asked the General, "how can you smile knowing what you have done?" The translator re-asked the question in Khmer, his native tongue. His smile didn't waver for a second before he began giving his answer. The translator looked at us and relayed, "The blood of Christ covers over a multitude of sins". At first I was appalled at the audacity of this man to try to use Jesus' good name to excuse his unimaginable evil acts. But at the same time I cannot deny Scripture (2 P
eter 3:9; Romans 4:5; Acts 10:43; and there are many more). The Bible points continuously to one qualification for the forgiveness of sins and it is a belief in the saving power of Jesus Christ. I cannot argue with the Truth, which tells me that no action, no matter how great an evil, can disqualify a man from receiving salvation through faith in Jesus.
Furthermore, in light of the above, the General's faith stands as a testament to Jesus' limitless capacity for love and grace. Paul talks about this in a letter he wrote to a young church leader named Timothy, “13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:13-16). Paul explains how God’s mercy is amplified by the greatness of his sins. It’s the same way for the General. God’s limitless love is displayed in his forgiveness of General Tith Voeum, who preaches Jesus’ love to this day.
While this is a great example of God’s power to forgive, I still struggle with it. During my time in Cambodia, I visited the Killing Fields. I experienced a place that truly displays the depths of human depravity. Unlike the concentration camps of Germany, the Killing Fields have not been well visited by the whole world. Nor have they been cleaned up. Human remains still lay along the paths of the Killing fields. shredded remnants of clothes with dried blood hang on the signposts that mark mass graves telling, “400 headless bodies found here” or “250 infants”. I struggle with the idea that the General gets to lay that sin on Jesus’ shoulders and sit next to his family while wearing that massive grin. It doesn’t sit well with me. He is forgiven and free, while so many live in relentless pain over loosing their whole families.
I believe something that doesn’t feel right, and that is tough. I struggle with it still.
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