Christian Attitudes Towards Forgiveness

In the parable of the sheep and the goat (Matthew 23:36) that people who help those in prison will go to heaven. This is because Jesus identifies himself with the outcasts, including prisoners.

Should you always forgive and forget?

I think it depends on what the offender has done. Its easier to forgive someone for stealing your food but alot harder to forgive someone for hurting yourself or a friend and extremely hard to forgive a more serious offence. If someone steals something from you, they can either give it back. If someone takes a life, you can never repay them.

A christian may argue that only God can take away lives as he created them.

'Forgiveness means that you arent seeking revenge. Its recognising that we are all in the same boat. All the same but not perfect.'

I agree with this statement because forgiveness is about putting hatred and wrong-doing in the past, like letting a weight off ones shoulders. Seeking revemge makes you as bad as the offender.