I'm Sorry

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.  2 Peter 2:1

So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.  Philippians 2:7

My journey toward being an unapologetic Christian was a tough one.  Even though I personally knew God at the bright young age of nineteen, it took almost twenty years to become Christian because of a person who falsely taught me what it meant to be Christian.  They would say that you had to meet the standards of God or you would not be saved.  What they did not say was that we were forgiven of our sins through Jesus Christ.  Thus every time I did not meet the measure, I felt like I was a failure never worth of either God’s love or a relationship with Him.  How do we fight a society claiming God is an angry God who is merciless and devoid of tolerance?

As Christians, we must learn to speak the truth especially when another’s belief is based on false teachings.  I remember hearing a preacher talk about a tragedy as being God’s way of punishing a group of people who sinned against Him.  While it is true that God is almighty, powerful, and capable of such things, the God we know is also loving and merciful.  So when I saw a person hurt by those preacher’s words, I simply looked at them, and said, "That is not the God I know.  I am so sorry someone led you to believe that."  The world will either teach others they are not worthy of God’s love or disillusion them with false teachings from those who claim to know God.   But as personal representatives of Jesus Christ, we must show the true loving God who gave His only Son for our sins.  When confronted with the argument that God is without remorse, concern, or love for them, we must reflect God’s grace, and there are no two words that show both love and grace better than a sincere “I’m sorry.”

We are unapologetically Christian, but it does not mean that we should not apologize for any false truths about God.  Our relationship with Him is the most wondrous and beautiful thing in our lives.  If someone is inhibited from making that connection due to prior experiences, let us share the special of favor Paul speaks of both defending and confirming God’s truth.  Find out what is behind their pain, and soothe them with words of love and understanding.  Who do you know that is against God  because of pain?  How will you stand when someone speaks falsely about who Christ is?  My prayer is that we are shining examples of the true living God to a deceived world by first simply saying, “I’m sorry.”  Amen.