Take your sorry...

The Spiritual Classics has an interesting exercise at the end of John Wesley’s musings about sin and the new birth.  The book invites the reader to review their recent actions and seek forgiveness and make amends for any wrongdoings.  We’re bound to commit sins against one another.  It is our nature to sin and it is inevitable.  How we deal with it and how we love is another matter entirely.  John Wesley writes,

 “There is no condemnation for any inward sin still remaining in those who ‘walk by the Sprit.’ Even though sin may seem to cling tenaciously to everything we do, we are not guilty as long as we do not give way to it.”

As Christians we can rejoice in the freedom we have through Christ.  Through this freedom we can find comfort and solace from the ways we offend one another.  The key to this is rejoicing in that forgiveness and freedom from the slavery of sin rather than continually focusing on the offenses.  As followers of the Savior, we should strive to not only treat others with the love and respect that they inherently merit as image bearers of the one true God, but we should right our wrongs.

I was a member of a church down in San Diego called Kaleo.  It was a wonderful church led by godly men and wonderful examples.  One of the greatest lessons I learned was the difference between apologizing and repentance.  Too often we enjoy apologizing when we sin against one another.  The word sorry is not a word of remorse but a demand for forgiveness.  It does not carry with it a confession, but rather an expectation that nothing else will be asked.  Sorry no longer carries any indication of sorrow, as it should.

What the men taught me was repentance.  They taught me that even the godliest of men, were men; prone to sin and folly of all kinds.  They didn’t expect forgiveness; they sought it through confession and repentance.  After discussing their sins and going through great pain to recognize their guilt and admit what areas of their life required change and prayer, they would ask for forgiveness without any expectation that it would be given.  It was a beautiful example of what living the gospel looks like, their identity wasn’t found in themselves, but in Christ.  Their pride was in the Gospel, not in themselves, and through their desire to see Christ glorified they announced their sin freely and without shame.  Forgiveness was not theirs to demand, but a gift of grace and something they truly cherished.

I miss that in Christians now.

The lack of concern and understanding of forgiveness as a gift is disconcerting and worrisome to me.  I do not know what to make of it, and fear growing lax in repentance and not concerning myself with the furtherance of the Gospel.

It is important that Christians realize there is no shame to be felt.  We are free from all condemnation!  If the Almighty is for us how can we be shamed?  If we are repentant and desiring Him, then He will be glorified!  As Christians, isn’t that what we desire?  Isn’t that what will make us happy?  Let's stop being sorry and start repenting.