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I’m sorry, Part 2
There's an "I'm sorry" that is more significant than you can imagine. And it results in immediate satisfaction and peace in the relationship that matters most to you. Here's how to say it.
I saw this tweet and got wrapped up in its relevance to my blog Learn to say it: I’m sorry.
I can't overstate how healing it would be for even just a handful of evangelical leaders to admit they were wrong and sincerely apologize for shaming other Christians who deviated from regime talking points. https://t.co/Zlmbk2hDda
— Josh Daws (@JoshDaws) March 1, 2023
As I followed the thread, I saw Megan Basham’s question about apology:
This is interesting because I have on quite a number of occasions seen church leaders offer mea culpas toward left (Beth Moore apologizing for going too far on homosexuality & revising book). But can’t think of single example of apology for getting it wrong toward right. Anyone? https://t.co/oBxL3vjQhI
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) March 3, 2023
One of the responses to Josh was Tom Buck:
I think @BethMooreLPM did apologize for what she said about the Covington boy. Am I right about that, Beth? Could you link to that apology?
— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) March 3, 2023
Which prompted a response from Beth Moore:
Tom, thank you for this. Yes, several times but not satisfactorily so I’ll say again I foolishly believed my eyes over the truth & spoke grievously & wrongfully. I deeply regret it & rarely see a clip w/out context that I’m not reminded of it. My hope is not to repeat that error.
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) March 3, 2023
Which led me to post:
This thread, with @BethMooreLPM sharing her own repentant apology, is worth reading and digesting. And the response to sincere contrition is remarkably gracious. https://t.co/cZrPCnLQMO
— Jeff Noble (@biblebeltman) March 4, 2023
Regardless of your opinions about Beth Moore’s apology, it brings me back to my post about sincere contrition:
Not only is our culture really bad at good apologies, there’s an outright poverty of apology. No one apologizes for anything.
And how deeply we all need it.
A righteous, contrite, sincere apology (and restitution if appropriate) is the way forward for future civility. Regular admissions and confessions of fault is the way forward to become neighbors again. To be able to speak to “the other side” again. To be able to like one another again. To be human. No relationship can long survive without apology.
Where “I’m sorry” means the most
As I pondered the outpouring of opinion over Moore’s apology, I realized with sudden humility that “I’m sorry” is the very foundation of beginning/healing a relationship with God Himself.
The biblical word is repentance.
It was the first word in John the Baptist’s constant sermon, and it was the first word in Jesus’ message as well:
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” 1
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 2
We are able to approach God only on the foundation of our admission/confession of sin. I said in the first post:
A righteous, contrite, sincere apology (and restitution if appropriate) is the way forward for future civility.
The same is the foundation of any one of us being made right with God. We must come before Him in humble faith and repent (say I’m sorry) for our sin.
It’s what Jesus also commissioned His disciples then (and us now) to preach:
So they went out and preached that people should repent. 3
It’s why the apostle Paul said the church had been given the ministry of reconciliation. The church exists to help people mend their broken relationship with God and with others.
“…has given us the ministry of reconciliation… We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’” 4
“I’m sorry” means the most when prayed with humble, broken sincerity to God.
Do you need healing and help?
You may be waiting on someone else to do something or say something to you. Perhaps you’re stuck, waiting for an “I’m sorry” or “We’re sorry.”
However, may I suggest that the path forward for your own healing and help lies in your own “sorry?” Your own repentance before God can give you – right now – rest.
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you… therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.” 5
Perhaps you’re reading this and are baffled at the simplicity? You may wonder, “Surely it’s not that easy to be made right with God?” Or you may be thinking, “Can I really become a Christian by apologizing to God? Don’t I need to do something or pay something? It doesn’t seem fair that it should be as easy as repenting and believing in Jesus as Son of God and my Savior.”
That, my friend, is the good news. That’s why we all call it “the gospel.”
It’s that easy.
Say “I’m sorry” to God today and step in to a world of glorious wonder and forgiveness provided freely to you through Jesus’ death on a cross. Then make plans to attend a local church this Easter to celebrate that Jesus didn’t stay dead. He is alive. So you can be too.
Last note
[If saying “I’m sorry” to God is premature for you right now… if your mind is swirling with spiritual questions, but your heart resonates with this message of a sincere, contrite apology to God… may I suggest some research?
- Ask a Christian friend/family member you respect and see humility and growth in about their own relationship with Jesus.
- Watch The Story film (about 5 minutes).
- Binge watch The Chosen series. (Season 1 Episode 1 here)]
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