A drunken driver speeds through a school zone and strikes several children in the crosswalk.  If the children's parents believe they must excuse the driver because he was drunk, they will not forgive.  Excusing the drunken drive would say, in essence, that he could not help himself as was not to blame for his actions.  This would be untrue.

If we look closely, we will find that "Forgiveness" is the polar opposite of excusing.  Forgiveness must reach beyond excusing.  Forgiveness acknowledges that drunken driving is inexcusable but pardons the offender anyway.

There may be times where there are extenuating circumstances that surround a particular event.  Perhaps a close look at the circumstances will allow us to understand more fully the event and thus make allowances for those involved.

But make no mistake, excusing is not forgiveness. As C.S. Lewis notes, such excusing "is not Christian charity; it is only fair-mindedness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."