Why I Don't Apologize when I'm Wrong Anymore

I made a post on social some time ago, saying, 

"I will never apologize again when I am in the wrong!"

There was a thread of comments by some stunned friends...

"Huh?"

"??? This doesn't sound like you."

"Sounds like you are ripe for politics."

"If you don't apologize then you will get a bad reputation with people."

My statement caused a good deal of head shaking, consternation, and questions.

Then I explained.  In case you have one eyebrow raised in incredulity as to my meaning, I will explain it to you as well.

What does it mean to say, "I apologize."

Some years ago, I discovered that the words "apology" and "apologize" come from the Greek apologia.

Due to our modern use of these words, this root might be expected to mean to "to confess one's fault" or "say I'm sorry", but that is not the case.

Apologia means "to give a defense, a reasoned answer; to defend oneself"

This is why a Christian apologist is NOT saying "I believe in Christ...sorry about that."

Considering that the word means to "give an answer" to clear or justify one's self, beliefs, stance, or actions in a reasoned defense, why should a GUILTY person give an apology?

IF I AM IN THE WRONG, I should not apologize, but rather admit I am wrong, express my sorrow, and humbly ask for forgiveness.  I keep the apologetics for when I defending my faith (or when I am giving a reason of why I don't use the words "I apologize" when confessing my being wrong).

Now some have said, "But that is not what the word apologize means today.  Why do you bring this up?"

I completely understand what most people are talking about when they say that they apologize for doing wrong.  I do not fault other people for using the word "apologize" to express their guilt and sorrow.  I don't interrupt to correct them for their usage when they come to me, or grumble that they must not mean it because they used that word.  That would be ridiculous.  

I just choose to not use that word when I am confessing guilt, expressing regret and repenting.  I like words, and words have meanings, and I desire to be consistent and careful as to the words I let out of my mouth.

But besides my own personal decision, why bring it out?

The root of the word means to give a reasoned defense, and therefore it is a great way to teach an important concept that is valuable to keep in mind: 

It is all too easy to put a defense up (apologia) even while seeming to say I was wrong ("apologize").

I have noticed that when someone is saying that they were wrong to do something, often their "apology" does include excuses of why they did what they did (apologia).  When someone comes out and issues an "apology" to say that what they did was wrong, but then in their confession tell why it was OK to do so, there is a problem.

When we are wrong, instead of explaining ourselves to try to justify what we did, is it not better to simply confess and forsake it?

Therefore I am just sharing that this is why I do not use the word "apology" or "apologize" when I am wrong, but rather follow this confession found in Scripture:

Psalm 38:18  
"For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin."

Thank you for letting me engage your thought.  Aren't words wonderful?   

Abortion must be abolished.

Silly Antitheists, Reason is for Christians.

I have heard often that those who reject the God of the Bible do so on the grounds that it doesn't make sense to believe in Him. They say they trust in logic, science, and reason—therefore faith is not an option.

It seems to be the accepted thought throughout our culture that if someone is a real thinker, his commitment to logic and reason will lead him away from believing in Christianity.

These giants of Reason seem to stomp through the land, shouting "FE- FI- FO-FUM, I smell the blood of a Christian!" and believers scatter so as not to be squashed.  But perhaps we should consider that the "wisdom" of this world is often "foolishness" to God, and those scary sounds from the Giant's mouth are vanity! It is only noise--signifying nothing.

FE--feeble  FI—finite  FO—faux  FUM—fumbling

I submit that Christians are the only ones who actually have a basis for sound logic and consistent reasoning.

Here are some not so random thoughts about antitheistic reasoning.

[Note: I make a practice of calling those who deny the existence of God "antitheists" rather than "atheists" because I feel it is more accurate.  God doesn't believe in atheists, and neither do I.]

Those who reject the existence of the true and living God do so in denial of what they already know.

Romans 1:18-21 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." 

They are completely flawed in their logic.  This does not mean that they may not be brilliant in other areas, but that they have rejected the only foundation for knowledge.

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge..."

Though they profess themselves to be wise in rejecting their Maker, they are become fools.

Romans 1:22 "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

The underlying cause for rejecting God's existence ultimately is not science, but sin.  They want to live in rebellion toward their Creator.  They love their sin and do not want any accountability.  They want to go their own way.

Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God  They are corrupt, they have done abominable iniquity, there is none that doeth good."

Next time you hear someone claim that because of logic they do not believe in God, remember that there is no basis for logic's existence in the antitheistic worldview.   

The laws of logic are immaterial, unchanging, and universal in nature. A materialistic worldview has no reason to reason or expect such laws.

What about their intellectualism? Why should we trust the random fizzing inside the cranium of an evolved bipedal protoplasm, which is, as famous antitheist Michael Ruse says, merely "molecules in motion"--and as Lawrence Krause teaches, "star dust?"  

So why should we ever trust what we think? Why should we ever agree with our reasonings?

Consider the musings of former antitheist who had turned to Christianity:

"Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind.  In that case nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking.  It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reason, they arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by product the sensation I call thought. But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true?  It's like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London.  But if I can't trust my own thinking, of course I can't trust the arguments leading to Atheism, and therefore have no reason to be an Atheist or anything else." 

That man was C.S. Lewis.

To use logic to argue against God, is like taking a breath in order to argue against the existence of air.  They have to borrow from the Christian worldview in order to argue against it, and thus have already lost.

Silly Antitheists, reason is for Christians.  

As I have heard Sye ten Bruggencate say, "God is not a God you can reason to.  He is the God you cannot reason without."

To summarize a quote of Van Til, they are like "a rebellious child who wants to slap his father, but cannot reach the face to slap him without climbing up on his lap."

Antitheists are in rebellion against the God they know exists.  This is not only foolish, but also dangerous. "Though hand join in hand, [they] shall not be unpunished" (Proverbs 11:21).  One day, "EVERY knee shall bow", but for some it will be too late.  

Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Those who wade in the waters of humanism, evolutionism, and antitheism are in dangerous waters.  This is because living in denial of the true God that you know is is not wise, nor is it safe.  It is not safe to live in denial -- Crocodiles live in deNile!

It is out of love that Christians must warn them!  It is out of love that Christians must preach the Gospel that those who reject truth will repent and come to Christ.  

"Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (II Corinthians 5:11). 

There is judgment for sin and only those who turn from their rebellion to the Creator and Redeemer of mankind, trusting in Him alone. 

So we go, "For the love of Christ constraineth us" (II Corinthians 5:14). 

Abortion must be abolished.