Sorry Because You Got Caught
Posted By Aaron Marcelli on February 14, 2012
After hearing someone apologize have you ever thought they’re only sorry because they got caught? It’s normal to look at the circumstances that our friends, family members, and even celebrities get themselves into and conclude that they didn’t come out and apologize until they had to. But I guess the question I would ask is not so much the circumstances of the acquaintance or public figure that broke our trust, but the sincerity of their apology.
When it comes to sin and wrong, there is always an amount of time that we excuse, allow, tolerate or justify the wrong we are doing. This may be a period of just a moment while we indulge in sin and immediately feel remorseful. It may be a multi-year affair that we allow to go on before finally coming clean. Or get caught. This post addresses the latter of those options.
We’ve all either confronted someone or seen them confronted and eventually have to confess their wrong. This leaves the accused with no choice but to try and save face with an apology. This usually leaves everyone else involved saying, “They’re not sorry they did it, they’re just sorry they got caught.”
But when it comes to repentance, does it really matter what brings the person to an apology. In order to get to a place where someone is willing to apologize, they have to be shaken out of their place where they make excuses or justify their actions in their head. They have to move to a place where they regret what they did and admit it was a mistake. If they are sincerely at the place of sorrow, does it really matter by what means they got there?
If being caught is what it took for God to get through to them, then is that not a good thing. Does it automatically make their apology any less sincere than if they had confessed their wrong on their own? Isn’t the point to get to a place of repentance? If so, it should not make a difference what God uses to get their attention. If it’s guilt and conviction, good. If it’s getting caught, then so be it. Surely we’ve heard people say that looking back they’re glad they were caught before their habits continued too far. Being caught and forced to apologize can be a good thing.
So maybe you or someone you know was caught in the act and “forced” to apologize. If your sin has to find you out to get you to turn away, then I think God is fine with that. Again, the point is that you come to a place of repentance, not what gets you there.
Agree?
Disagree?
What are your thoughts?
Comments
Leave a Reply