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The Challenge of Accepting Empty Apologies
Are Christians just supposed to take empty promises at face value?
As Christians, we get that we must forgive other people. God will not forgive us our sins if we do not, so the stakes are high. However, some people in our lives are insincere when they say they are sorry for doing harmful deeds or saying hurtful words. They may be repeat offenders who keep doing the same wrong things repeatedly and then try to fix things with an apology.
So how are Christians supposed to respond? Some people think that forgiveness is all that is needed and that the victim should just “get over it.” They may pressure the victim to act as if nothing had happened.
Under this kind of pressure, the victims may feel as if they are being judged as having a wrong attitude towards the transgressors, even though they have probably done nothing wrong. Victims may fear that people will think they are being unforgiving or hateful if they choose not to accept apologies and hold the transgressor at arm’s length.
The problem is that sin has consequences and impacts a relationship, whether victims decide to forgive or not. The sins could include crossing personal boundaries, violating the trust of a friend or loved one, or making hurtful remarks.
