Forgiveness and Second Chances: Why do Christians withhold them?

Although I agree Mel Gibson should be forgiven his statements, I have to wonder...did you actually, literally hear God talk to you?

And as for Christians forgiving something that didn't actually happen to THEM, you seem to lack an understanding of forgiveness.

In the Bible...nowhere is anyone ever forgiven unless that person asks for it. In the Bible, no one is REQUIRED to forgive something that did not happen to them. If you personally are not sinned against...why do you have to forgive it?

If a group of people are sinned against, the group must collectively decide to forgive. Sure, individuals can forgive as well, but it's more meaningful when the group as a whole offers its forgiveness.

Mel Gibson's statements weren't against Christians. Christians don't need to forgive Mel. Jews need to forgive him. He's said he is sorry, so lets move on and forgive him.

Christians who stick up for Jews need to move on too. But I think it's awesome that there ARE Christians who love Jewish men and women and who are willing to stick up for them.

There are many Christians who won't forgive Gibson's remarks and deeply side with their Jewish counterparts on principle. Many news reports featured pators and priests who wouldn't forgive his remarks. It was a shameful jump into a fight that wasn't theirs to begin with.

And yes, God does talk to me. He doesn't tell me go off and start wars like He seems to tell other people, but we all get different words from God. You are fully entitled to hold the opinion it may not be God's voice, and that's ok with me, too. I've got better things to do than try to convince you, and if I did, then I'd be one of those obnoxious religious right people I think have drank the kool-aid. I respect your suspicion; it's a healthy thing to have right next to curiousity.

In terms of the Jewish acceptance of an apology, it shouldn't be determined as a whole group. God tells you to forgive because you've been forgiven much by Him. So by withholding forgiveness from others, God is withholding forgiveness from them. If the Jewish community wants to withhold forgiveness, then it falls on their head. I'd rather not see a collective punishment for an entire group.