I didn't say anything about forgiveness. I don't view the terms as synonymous. I can extend you an opportunity to make things right without necessarily accepting your effort to do so. If you say you made a mistake, I'll understand that you're human and give you space to reconcile. That's how I define grace. It's a form of empathy or sympathy. Forgiveness is on my end, not yours. Grace is too, but it isn't a judgment in itself. It's just an acknowledgement that we're both human and subject to mistakes. It isn't a mistake if you keep doing the wrong and actively try to avoid accountability, justice, or the consequences one must face when owning up to a mistake or wrongful action. So in that sense, I don't feel I can offer grace. We aren't the same and it isn't a mistake. It's a choice. Forgiveness, in my view, is more about me letting your transgression go. I view reconciliation as maintaining some association or relationship beyond that.

I'm not religious, so if we try to make this into a religious issue we are probably going to be two ships passing in the night on the terminology front.