Holding Forgiveness, Telling the Truth
In the ninth episode of the Smitty Bros SauceCast, brothers Porter and Ryan dive deep into a subject they say affects every human being—forgiveness. With candor and spiritual conviction, the duo explore what it means to truly forgive, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and why their own story—marked by betrayal, loss, and redemption—is steeped in this powerful principle..
While forgiveness is often tossed around in church culture as a blanket requirement, the brothers challenge that oversimplification. For them, forgiveness is not cheap, nor is it conditional on apology—but it is powerful. They point to their faith in Jesus Christ as the source of that power. Because they themselves have been forgiven, they believe they can extend forgiveness—even to those who’ve wronged them gravely and unapologetically.
The conversation underscores that forgiveness is a personal heart position, independent of whether the wrongdoer repents. However, reconciliation—the restoration of trust and relationship—requires repentance. Drawing from both personal experiences and Biblical examples, such as the story of the prodigal son and Peter’s rebuke in Acts 2, the Smitty Bros emphasize that forgiveness can await someone, ready and open-armed, but it cannot be fully received until repentance is present.
Throughout the episode, they unpack common misconceptions, including the idea that speaking the truth about past wrongs is unloving. On the contrary, they argue, truth told in love can be freeing—for both the speaker and the listener. They reject the idea that forgiveness means pretending wrongs never happened or blindly restoring trust. Instead, they advocate for honest storytelling, rooted in truth, as a way to both heal and hold space for future redemption.
The brothers also respond to critics who question why forgiveness isn’t always mentioned when they tell their story publicly. They explain: it’s already been extended. The forgiveness is sitting there, ready. And if those who wronged them ever choose to repent, reconciliation could happen—but it doesn’t mean trust is automatically restored.
Ultimately, the episode is not just about theological theory. It’s a call to action for anyone holding pain: hold forgiveness with power. And for anyone harboring guilt: repent and be free. In their words, “The truth will set you free.” And so will forgiveness—real, rooted, and ready.