Do you notice how often folks are asked to apologize for things these days? I mean, there are always news events reported on that are demanding an apology for some offense taken. (Imus anyone?) What good does this apology do for us, or for the offended? The party line would state that confession is good for the soul and that the individual, or peoples, or ethnic group, et al who have been apologized to feel better.
At best, this is a half truth. At worst, a gross lie. If you really think about it true repentance can only mean that the time for the repair of one's life is over and you are in greater need of an embalmer than a physician. Robert Capon mentions in his book Between Noon and Three that it is "simply pointless to confess to anybody unless you are either prepared to stay dead or be sure that the person you are dealing with is capable of, and committed to, raising the dead. Anyone committed to less than that will just insist, glumly or gladly, on shoveling dirt onto your coffin".
However, does this mean that we should not apologize for committing a wrong? No...because of Grace. Grace has died, is dying, and will die for our life. Our omissions kill, and our joy consequently comes from Another. Consequently, unless we accept the forgiveness of the One who is able to raise the dead, our confessions are worthless. They become nothing more than the last desperate gasps of western civilization as she tries to hold on to some false morality.
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