I Was Wrong
A friend once asked me, “If a man speaks in the middle of the woods and his wife is not around to hear him, is he still wrong?"What do you do when you are wrong? Or does that never happen? If an apology is in order, what constitutes a genuine apology?I am sure you have heard the “I’m sorry if I offended you,” weasel-out that is passed off as an apology. Those on the receiving end can tell a big difference. I think there is something so humbling about the words, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” that we are often willing to say or do anything to get around them. But is there ever a solution to any problem if our pride is so intense it keeps us from coming to terms with our guilt?Examine your last argument. Was it really all her fault? Was he the sole source of the problem? Did you ever verbalize your wrongdoing and what you would do differently next time?Yes, it is necessary. The Scriptures teach that forgiveness only comes on the heels of confession. It is our pride that keeps us from forgiveness, and it is our pride that keeps us from a genuine, forthright apology.I’m not advocating for dishonesty. Of course, we cannot apologize for what we have not done – and it would be equally wrong to do so. But how often are we in the middle of a problem (whether it be family-related, work-related, friend-related, or church-related) without at least partially contributing to it?So, what should we do when we are wrong? The Biblical thing is to examine our own words and actions and determine what should have been said or done differently. Then admit this to God AND to the appropriate people. This is called confession. Next, we are to practice repentance, which is a genuine effort to change in the area we admitted guilt. That’s why confession is vital. Without it, repentance never takes place.The easy way out is to pretend the problem never existed, or concentrate on how you’ve been wronged. Some attempt to make up for it by buying gifts and saying nice things. But the only way to eliminate guilt and make way for restoration in damaged relations is the Bible way – confession and repentance.Are you big enough for that?