Words Almost Extinct

Some words are heard so rarely that it seems they may be in danger of extinction.

When did we last hear a leader of any description say?…

“I’m sorry.”

“I was wrong.”

“I made a poor choice which I take ownership for, and regret.”

“I apologize, I had no idea…”

When did we last witness a climate where someone can admit being wrong, making a mistake, not having to resign, not be ridiculed by a blood-thirsty public, or torn apart by media? Acknowledgement worked out in public with humility, rather than behind closed doors where pride remains intact for all the wrong reasons.

We live in a world where human frailty is rampantly displayed and yet self-righteous denial rewrites events, history, and even truth. It’s not a sin to be wrong. It’s not weakness to be misguided and come to a new revelation or realization.

The hope and core value of all Christian teaching and living is rejoicing at how God sees all, forgives all, and heals all. In other words a God who takes hold of our frailties, does not turn a blind eye, but acknowledges, redeems, heals, and restores. Only one proviso. He cannot do it alone. Every response and solution he offers is dependent upon the one who requires the help to acknowledge their need and their responsibility. It is called confession. And it happens repeatedly throughout the duration of life, never once and for all.

But confession does not always come easily or rise to the surface on command. Confession, and the acknowledgement of wrong, is often buried beneath shame, guilt, denial, and most of all, the fear of what will happen to me if I admit anything. One of my greatest honors and joys in counselling was the privilege of being a kind of midwife to confession. And when it came into the light to share God’s forgiveness, love, non-judgement; to remove the grave clothes and help fill the voids with grace and hope. It’s not theory. it’s very real.

If there is no safe place for a person to be human, weak, wrong, or broken, then a crust of anger, hostility, and defiance will inevitably cause separation and broken relationships.

No-one gets a free pass or can join a group that absolves them from owning their stuff. There is no political party that has all the answers, and certainly no spiritual group that is so intimate with God that they are above reproach. Too often it is the ones who declare themselves the most righteous who are the most culpable.

I often reference the woman caught in adultery, dragged in humiliation to the feet of Jesus by religious leaders. They were the ones who claimed to speak on behalf of God and who called people to obey his laws. Except their focus became blurred and cataracts of judgement clouded any vison where love was the focus. Jesus suggested that the one without sin should throw the first stone at the guilty woman. All turned away. The oldest and most religious dropped their rocks first. In that atmosphere Jesus forgave the woman and removed her mantle of shame and humiliation. It was not condemnation that set her free, it was finally experiencing a place where forgiveness was offered by a man who saw her as so much more that an object of desire.

We might all do well to consider who we are throwing stones at in our thoughts, our conversations, our politics, and whatever our sense of righteousness might be. Of course we can disagree and hold strong opinions, but sometimes our passion and conviction may be ill-informed, misguided, and not be met with a smile from Jesus at all.

When Jesus told the Christians to be salt and light it was no small commission. Declaring truth (as we understand it today) by loving sacrificially, bearing witness to truth from a servant heart, correcting with humility, or at times perhaps being silent. I used to know so much and be sure of even more. But as the years have gone by and the experiences have piled up, it’s not quite so clear anymore.

We all, without exception, will have times/opportunities to listen well and forgive deeply; and also times to speak up and ask forgiveness. Can’t have one without the other, always only revealing our best side. That’s not God’s way, if authenticity and transparency is the place in the heart from which light and salt are to be poured out. God’s word is not extinct, he became flesh. and lived among us. We are called to do the same.

Let God be the judge.

We started out strong
But somewhere along
We lost our way
Done things in Your name
I’m so ashamed
I don’t have the words to say

We’ve killed and destroyed
Stolen and blamed
All in Your name
You told us to give
Told us to love
But we chose to take

You laid down Your life
Put power aside
Showed us the way and the Truth
We roll into church
Open the word
And forget that we’re called to include

Now, it’s long overdue
But I can’t dilute
What we seem to havе put on the shelf
I can’t speak for us all
But I gotta bеlieve
I’m speakin’ for more than myself
When I say

I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, so sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)

We say that we’re one
But we’re broken up
By anything that can divide
Our color o’ skin
The clothes we’re in
That valley’s deep and wide

We overlook the broken
The homeless
And discard the poor
While we celebrate the rich and beautiful
With a wide-open door
I’m sorry we’re nothing like You
You chose to bear a cross
We choose to give You parts of us
And rarely the parts that cost

Now, it’s long overdue
But I can’t dilute
What we seem to have put on the shelf
I can’t speak for us all
But I gotta believe
I’m speakin’ for more than myself
When I say

I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, so sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)

Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up, Lord
Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up
Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up, Lord
Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up

I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, so sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry (no, no no)

Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up
Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up, Lord
Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up
Wake us up, wake us up, wake us up, Lord

Blessed are the poor in spirit
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Blessed are they that mourn
For they shall be comforted
Blessed are the meek
For they shall inherit the Earth

Blessed are they which hunger and thirst for righteousness
For they shall be filled
Blessed are the merciful
For they shall obtain mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart
For they shall see God
Blessed are the peacemakers
For they shall be called the children of God

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’s sake
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you
And shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Toby Mckeehan / Tommee Profitt