July 7 Unapologetic Apology

Dearest e-votees,

Today's e-vo is an example of unapologetic apology.

Here's what's help to note from the outset:

There are two senses to the word apology.  The more current one is for one to express regret or remorse for doing something.  i.e., "I'm sorry I forgot your birthday.  I'll try to do better going forward."

The older sense of the word is to make a defense of something.  It comes from Greek with "apo-" meaning "off" or "away from" and "logos" meaning "speech" or "word"  (thank you http://www.etymnoline.com).   In the Book of Concord there is the Augsburg Confession (1530) and then the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (September 1531).  This was not an apology by the reformers "for" the Augsburg Confession but rather an apology "of" the Augsburg Confession.  It was arguments defending the contents of the Augsburg Confession.

Peace,

Karl

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1 Peter 3:13-16 (NRSV) says:

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?  But even if you suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed.  Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.  Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.  Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for yoru good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

 

In other words you should not apologize for your faith ("do not be intimidated") but rather be prepared to make apology of your faith ("be ready to make your defense...for the hope that is in you").  We called to be people to share hope to a world that can be in desperate need of said hope.

That doesn't mean we don't apologize for missteps, transgressions and sins against God and one another.  We most certainly should do so.  There is a reason that we start services often with confession and absolution.  Repentance, the beginning and the deepening of faith, is about apologizing to God and to those made in God's image.  Those who refuse to apologize betray a shallowness of character and faith.

And as we make apology of our faith we can proclaim God's forgiveness, mercy and grace for all who seek those things from God through repentant hearts.  As we make apology of our faith we can proclaim God's forgiveness, mercy and grace at work for those who haven't even yet come to repentance.  God leads and we respond.  God saves and we can help engage the world with that saving hope.  God accepts our apologies (those spoken and those yet to be spoken) and equips us to make apology.

God use us this day to be unapologetic apologists for the hope we have in you.  Amen.