Good point Janie. A friend of mine went to prison a few years ago. I wrote a character reference for the sentencing court. I said that I could forgive the sinner but not the sin.

After all, he had pleaded guilty and had been convicted. I am sure the balance of his past community work, friendship and support over the years made my view somewhat subjective. I wasn't a victim, and in this case, the victims were third party rather than people you could name, but my view was skewed by his exemplary past. Not to mention the fact that a good friend was in a position nobody wished to see anyone in.

What I learned from that episode was that judgement should be cold, even and without prejudice. Perhaps forgiveness is subjective too? When society says time is spent, should anybody express lack of forgiveness? I accept that I see my friend and his wife, we go out for meals and drinks etc, yet some other friends of mine cannot understand why I still give the time of day to him. I see their point too, but we are who we are.

Not sure Christians are the link here. It applies, if indeed it does, to all.