On June 26, 2015, George Robertson, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia, wrote an essay entitled, “We, and Our Fathers, Have Sinned.” The article was reprinted on August 3, 2015, at the Gospel Coalition. Here’s an excerpt:
As white members and leaders of evangelical churches, we must repent of our passivity and/or proactivity during the dark days of our Nation’s Jim Crow era. We must repent of our passivity: our sins of omission in which we failed to seek justice, follow the golden rule, and resist the cultural temptation to hoard power. But we must also repent of our activity: the ways that we actively contributed to and participated in the sinful and exclusionary culture of the day both knowingly and unknowingly. Jesus said that whether or not you are actually guilty of offending your brother, if/when you learn that he has something against you, you must “get going” and pursue reconciliation with him. Even if you are in the middle of a worship service, you must “leave your gift and be reconciled to your brother.” Through the decades, we have learned that our African-American brothers rightly have “something against us.” In their years of struggle, even to the present day, we have failed to validate their oppression and at times have contributed to it.
I’ve been engaged in conversations about race in the North American church for many, many years. Often, these conversations go around in circles with people taking sides and building up walls. George Robertson’s essay feels something like forward movement, and I worry that people may invalidate Roberston’s perspective or poke holes in his argument.
Apologizing for something is hard work, and accepting an apology is a holy and sacred charge.
When Jesus taught us how to pray, he included these words: “ … forgive us … as we also have forgiven.” When we go to God, seeking forgiveness, he tells us he is quick to forgive. He doesn’t keep a record of our faults and failings. He extends forgiveness to us and continues to woo each of us back to himself.
We do not forgive as quickly as God; we are human, after all. But perhaps we can remember how hard it is for someone to apologize, and let that stand for something.
Some questions for your day: What is the most difficult part of offering an apology? Is there someone whose apology you need to accept? Is there someone to whom you need to apologize?
Hi Deidra, thank you for sharing. I have been absorbing as much as I can lately on racial tension and reconciliation, and how I can be a part of the work for unity. I am learning that I have a lot of learning to go, understanding to work on, and humility to bear as I work through learning and understanding. Each time I think I “get it” I make a white biased assumption, and I’m back to learning. I have especially been inspired by Christena Cleveland’s work and her Urbana talk this year.
For your questions, I think the most difficult part of offering an apology is doing the work of it coming from the right place in us but not making it about us. Are we offering it nonchalantly to move forward, or are we asking with sincerity while valuing the other person. And on the flip side of that, when someone asks us for our forgiveness for them, are we really forgiving them or are we holding thoughts in our heads of “Yes, but, are you really sorry? Do you really mean it?” I learned this lesson the hard way after not speaking to my father for two years because of all the hurt he had caused, and I didn’t believe he was sorry enough. Until Jesus broke through to my heart and reminded me of how much he forgives me without making me go through hoops to prove I am sorry enough. Asking forgiveness and giving forgiveness are both so complex. I am forever learning and just pray that my eyes stay open enough to know that I need to keep learning.
Good thoughts. This is bigger than I can get my thoughts around (agreeing with Julie’s comment). Come to think of it, asking for forgiveness on the personal level is also a never ending thing. I continually come back to the Lord’s prayer — just handing it over.
Love this quote. I think the most difficult part of making an apology is wondering if it will be received . In a few months here, I will be speaking on releasing and receiving in an awesome conference, so I am gearing up for it. I am learning the reason that receiving is so hard, is because we “refuse to do the work of releasing.” Some of us have experienced so much rejection in so many ways and sometimes its a HUGE risk of trust and humility. But I have learned as I’ve gotten older, to take the reasoning as such: I must decide to forgive in order to stay in right standing with God. I apologize to God, and then man, if I have offended. I would definitely say, in my case – almost ten times out of ten, it has worked for my good, and I have never not been received. Perhaps as a counselor, I understand if I am not received, the hurt and harm is more about those who have harmed them in the past, and not I. The flip side of this coin, is that the enemy wants us to believe that we are not worthy to be received because indeed he wants division and angst to remain.
Thanks Deidra for writing about the hard things. Amen.
Great thoughts, Jennifer. “The flip side of this coin, is that the enemy wants us to believe that we are not worthy to be received because indeed he wants division and angst to remain.” Truth. Best to you in your conference! Is it something we can watch online?
Well.. not yet… but the thought is to make it vailable for sure online afterwards . I will let you know Julia! I do have a few online resources though. I have an online course I will will be speaking from a book I wrote and if you desire me to post here, I can and I shall. 😉
That would be great! Thank you;)
Here’s the online course: My topic is spirtual self-awareness . Thanks for asking! https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9PRG
Thank you! I’m going to check it out on my lunch today 😉
Deidra,
This: “Apologizing for something is hard work, and accepting an apology is a holy and sacred charge.” Yes.
What struck me is how Pastor Robertson acknowledged sins of omission and activity. For me, I know a real apology, whether giving or receiving, it helps if the apology actually includes “hearing” what the offense meant to the offended. It does require humility and sometimes it may not happen the first go around, it may be a long process, especially if the offense is long standing or very deep.
The heart behind a real apology is reconciliation and understanding. Thanks for sharing this.
Love this: “Apologizing for something is hard work, and accepting an apology is a holy and sacred charge.” The most difficult part of an apology is that we have to admit to ourselves that are not better than anyone else, including the person who lied. Pride. Once we’re passed that, we can offer freedom in our heart. Freedom from the shackle that binds us from holding grudges. I love this post. Thank you so much. Have a blessed week.
I find myself asking forgiveness for the sins of this nation quite frequently as I pray. On a smaller note, I had to apologize to a friend the other day for something as trivial as a Super Bowl comment. Whether, big or small, apologizing is never easy but oh so cleansing!