john,
I wonder if a lot of the arguing in this thread is due to a difference in what people are meaning by "forgiveness".
I do see what you mean and I agree that the confusion on this thread is due to the different definitions assigned to the word "forgiveness".
So - I will declare what my definition is:
Forgiveness is an unmerited gift given
to a repentant offender, that is initiated by the offender himself by asking. In other words, forgiveness takes "two to tango" as the offender must repent and ask before he is able to receive forgiveness.
The fact is that an
unrepentant offender will only consider forgiveness to be judgement/manipulation by the victim, and will inevitably respond to the true victim's "forgiveness" with resentment or even aggression. This is because the offender errantly believes or denies that he has done anything wrong (or sinful) in the first place.
We may not confuse true forgiveness with a willingness to forgive, or a lack of malice/vengeance, or prayer on the part of the victim on behalf of the
unrepentent offender.
To put this as simply as possible; It is impossible to forgive without a repentant "forgive-ee".
Denny
Romans 3:22-24
