Has anyone ever embarrassed, hurt or insulted you openly in public? Have you ever done so? Have you ever made public some information about someone later to find out that information was wrong? Have you ever defamed or slandered someone?
Many times when we realize what we’ve done, truly feel sorry and want to apologize. We’ll pull the person or persons to the side and tell them, “I’m sorry… I was wrong”.
This is good but not good enough…
Acts 16:37 (NKJV)
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
Those who heard or witnessed the embarrassment may still think you were right. Those who heard or witnessed the insult may still be influenced by what you did or said…that public embarrassment deserves a public apology.
I remember growing up in church that sometimes in testimonies, people would stand before the church and proclaim, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt anyone here today, I’m sorry”…if you know who you hurt and what you did, this also is not good enough.
If you know that you slapped someone in the face, simply saying, “I’m sorry IF I hurt you” isn’t enough. If you slandered someone, making a blanket statement to a group that, “If I hurt SOMEONE, I’m sorry” is just not enough.
If you know what you did and who you did it to, then you need to show enough respect to call out their name.
It’s good to apologize, but if we aren’t careful, we can take the easy way out and not fully respect the person or persons that we have hurt.
Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
BE BLESSTIFIED! 
Well said: “Don’t take the easy way out with your apology.”
Be BLESSTIFIED!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks my brother. I’m definitely guilty of this:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reconciliation is the key. Forgiving and forgetting isn’t so easy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree. I think it’s possible to forgive, but impossible to ‘forget’. Even when reconciled and on good terms, we will always remember what was done or said, we can however forget our ‘anger’ and the frame of mind that we had about it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Even that can be tough, without Jesus’ reminder of our dependence on Him to get through the trials of life. Thanks for addressing this today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is soooooooo true. It is tough, and impossible without the Lord. I always appreciate your perspective. Thanks:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on A Blog About Healing From PTSD and commented:
“If you know that you slapped someone in the face, simply saying, “I’m sorry IF I hurt you” isn’t enough. If you slandered someone, making a blanket statement to a group that, “If I hurt SOMEONE, I’m sorry” is just not enough.” ~ Minister Aldtric Johnson
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yep…!!.. excellent:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen! Truth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
God bless you:-)
LikeLike
So true – practical and Biblical, brother Aldtric!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you my sister:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen! This is well said.
What you called, ‘public displays of ‘non-affection’ I actually call soul murder. At the time we gossip, slander, or just speak poorly of someone without cause, what we’re really doing in engaging in metaphorical murder. We’re trying to snuff the life out of their soul, so it’s serious business. Sometimes a public apology is like breathing life back into them,it can restore and return what we tried to steal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love That! You are right. Gossip and slander have driven some to suicide. Our words have power. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great teaching, especially in our culture of “unpologies.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and God bless:-)
LikeLike
I was very young in ministry when my pastor embarrassed me publicly. We were on tv and radio, and it was my first Sunday. I was ready to repack my Uhaul and stayed ready for the whole 6 years. I knew I would never receive an apology for any of the hurtful things that were said over that time, but God eventually healed the wounds.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes sir! Moving on without an apology is a true sign of maturity.
LikeLiked by 2 people