Responsibility & Repentance
“Our sins testify against us.”
Isaiah 59:12 (NIV)
In her excellent book Hoping for Something Better, author Nancy Guthrie lists fifteen ways people try to get rid of their guilt. They:
Deny their sin.
Excuse their sin.
Redefine their sin.
Run from their sin.
Ignore their sin.
Pretend they have not sinned.
Lie about their sin.
Cover up their sin.
Justify their sin.
Blame others for their sin.
Drown their sin.
Look for ways and people who will make them feel comfortable with their sin.
Try to pay for their sin.
Destroy their conscience.
Try various forms of religion.
By now most of us are probably aware of the plagiarism scandal that recently forced Dr. Claudine Gay’s removal as the president of Harvard University. Following her resignation, Dr. Gay wrote an op-ed published in the New York Times in which she fully affirmed her scholarship and research despite the fifty plagiarized passages currently identified. In her article, Dr. Gay acknowledged that she made a “mistake,” but blamed others for her downfall. Many New York Times readers responded with comments that included:
“A sorry-not-sorry apology really isn't an apology.”
“There was no conspiracy. She did this to herself.”
“Claudine Gay is trying to ‘have the last word’ here, but it is her defiance and refusal to take responsibility that makes it come across as empty.
King David certainly understood making a “mistake.” His adultery with Bathsheba led to the eventual murder of her husband Uriah; a quickly conceived coverup; and devastating long term consequences for both his family and kingdom. Eventually God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David with his sins. David quickly responded with, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). He didn’t call his sins a mistake. David also didn’t deny, excuse, justify, or shift the blame for his sins. He acknowledged them, owned them, faced his consequences, and then wrote Psalm 51.
Psalm 51 is a beautiful blueprint for true repentance. No matter our sin, repentance begins with a recognition of our sin and moves quickly to accepting personal responsibility; confessing the specific sin; and begging God for a restored relationship. It’s important to note that repentance is not regret or remorse. Author Tim Keller writes, "Legalistic remorse says I broke God's rules. Real repentance says I broke God's heart."
The Apostle Paul reminds us "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). Our particular offense- marital infidelity; murder; plagiarizing someone else’s work and claiming it as your own; gossip; bitterness; or cultivating churning, burning, and anxious hearts are all sins that separate us both from God and each other. And while our sins may differ, the path toward restoration is the same for us as it was for King David. Repentance-not remorse or regret-but a true recognition of our sin, accepting personal responsibility for our sin, and confession for our sin- makes possible restoration with both God and man.
Pride is our biggest obstacle to repentance. Some of the hardest words we will ever utter are, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” Few of us want to admit we are wrong because humility is required. As we humble ourselves before God, however, he gives us more grace (James 4:6) and cleanses our hearts and our consciences, allowing us to not just to receive His forgiveness, but to also forgive ourselves.
Oh, that we would be people who quickly accept personal responsibility, confess, repent, and echo King David's words, "Against you and you only have I sinned and done what was evil in your sight." (Psalm 51:3)