SORRY NA, PUEDE BA?
The past two months have been interesting (to say the least) for everyone as the country had never gone through a lockdown where normal life came to a screeching halt. But in the midst of an unusual experience (which we hope will never be seen ever again) was a flurry of incidents that enraged the public. A major general was captured on video violating the very law he was tasked to capture violators with. A lawmaker was exposed to have exposed frontliners at a supermarket and hospital. A presidential adviser complained about doctors for doing nothing but complain. And a former blogger was caught once again being liberal with her contents. But in fairness, they all came out with an apology.
“I apologize for what transpired during my birthday that caused anxiety to the public. It was never my intention to disobey any existing protocols.” After apologizing he appended it with, “Wala pong mali doon...It would be ungentlemanly kung 'di ko sila hinarap at pinauwi ko sila.”
"I apologize to MMC for being in their hospital [on] the evening of March 24, 2020 which they deemed to be a breach of their safety/containment protocols…I never intended to breach any protocol but I realize now that my presence in MMC unnecessarily caused additional anguish and concern to the courageous frontline health workers we all depend on. I was simply there to be with my wife during the birth of our daughter."
“I apologize if my words were perceived to criticize doctors in general. I hope we will be united in our efforts. With this, I extend my deepest thanks to all frontliners that continue to go beyond the call of duty for our people.”
"Yung ginawa ko naman, ay ang intensyon ko, i-inform yung ating mga kababayan na hindi pinababayaan ng gobyerno ang ating mga health workers, mga front-liners, kaya nga dun sa post ko, nai-share ko 'yung good news na mayroong ginawa ang gobyerno na mag-provide ng PPE sa ating mga front-liners.”
Their apologies were lengthy as they explained how it was not their intention, how sorry they were how their action was perceived, and how there was really nothing wrong with it. It is a bit annoying but let us make something productive out of it by looking at ourselves. How do we who profess to be Christians, believers, and followers of the Bible apologize to people we have offended and most of all, with our Heavenly Father---if we ever bother to say sorry at all.
“Sorry, Lord, pero siya kasi….”
“Sorry, Lord, hindi ko po alam…”
“Sorry, tao lang…”
Contrast our sorry excuse of confessing to sincere repentance in the Bible:
“I have sinned against the Lord.” 2 Samuel 12:13 ESV
“I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 2 Sam. 24:10 ESV
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:1ff ESV
Even Saul who had no heart for God confessed better than most of us do. “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” 1 Samuel 15:24 ESV
Compare our poor confessions to the characters in the parables. Yes, they may be stories but the words came from the lips of our Lord so there is that huge implication of a prescription.
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Luke 15:21 ESV
“God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Luke 18:13 NIV
Notice the difference? No ifs and buts. Just an admission and a sorrowful heart are all that God requires of us. Yes, we all know the forgiveness that brings forth our salvation from the lake of fire but we need to learn how to confess God’s way for the daily cleansing we all need while we are still on this side of heaven. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8-9 KJV) The Bible says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1 ESV) We won’t know that joy if we do not it the Heavenly Father’s way.
The past two months have been interesting (to say the least) for everyone as the country had never gone through a lockdown where normal life came to a screeching halt. But in the midst of an unusual experience (which we hope will never be seen ever again) was a flurry of incidents that enraged the public. A major general was captured on video violating the very law he was tasked to capture violators with. A lawmaker was exposed to have exposed frontliners at a supermarket and hospital. A presidential adviser complained about doctors for doing nothing but complain. And a former blogger was caught once again being liberal with her contents. But in fairness, they all came out with an apology.
“I apologize for what transpired during my birthday that caused anxiety to the public. It was never my intention to disobey any existing protocols.” After apologizing he appended it with, “Wala pong mali doon...It would be ungentlemanly kung 'di ko sila hinarap at pinauwi ko sila.”
"I apologize to MMC for being in their hospital [on] the evening of March 24, 2020 which they deemed to be a breach of their safety/containment protocols…I never intended to breach any protocol but I realize now that my presence in MMC unnecessarily caused additional anguish and concern to the courageous frontline health workers we all depend on. I was simply there to be with my wife during the birth of our daughter."
“I apologize if my words were perceived to criticize doctors in general. I hope we will be united in our efforts. With this, I extend my deepest thanks to all frontliners that continue to go beyond the call of duty for our people.”
"Yung ginawa ko naman, ay ang intensyon ko, i-inform yung ating mga kababayan na hindi pinababayaan ng gobyerno ang ating mga health workers, mga front-liners, kaya nga dun sa post ko, nai-share ko 'yung good news na mayroong ginawa ang gobyerno na mag-provide ng PPE sa ating mga front-liners.”
Their apologies were lengthy as they explained how it was not their intention, how sorry they were how their action was perceived, and how there was really nothing wrong with it. It is a bit annoying but let us make something productive out of it by looking at ourselves. How do we who profess to be Christians, believers, and followers of the Bible apologize to people we have offended and most of all, with our Heavenly Father---if we ever bother to say sorry at all.
“Sorry, Lord, pero siya kasi….”
“Sorry, Lord, hindi ko po alam…”
“Sorry, tao lang…”
Contrast our sorry excuse of confessing to sincere repentance in the Bible:
“I have sinned against the Lord.” 2 Samuel 12:13 ESV
“I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 2 Sam. 24:10 ESV
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:1ff ESV
Even Saul who had no heart for God confessed better than most of us do. “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” 1 Samuel 15:24 ESV
Compare our poor confessions to the characters in the parables. Yes, they may be stories but the words came from the lips of our Lord so there is that huge implication of a prescription.
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Luke 15:21 ESV
“God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Luke 18:13 NIV
Notice the difference? No ifs and buts. Just an admission and a sorrowful heart are all that God requires of us. Yes, we all know the forgiveness that brings forth our salvation from the lake of fire but we need to learn how to confess God’s way for the daily cleansing we all need while we are still on this side of heaven. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8-9 KJV) The Bible says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1 ESV) We won’t know that joy if we do not it the Heavenly Father’s way.