Admission of Wrong or Change of Heart?

It was a classic every football season for several years in the Peanuts comic strip. Charlie Brown practicing his place kicking and Lucy holding the football.

Every time Lucy held the ball for Charlie the same thing would happen.  Charlie would approach the ball and with all his might was ready to kick the ball out of the end zone.  But at the exact moment, the point of no return, Lucy would pick up the ball.  Charlie would kick and his unchecked momentum would cause him to fall flat on his back.

One strip opened with Lucy holding the ball, but Charlie Brown wouldn’t kick it.  Lucy begged.  But Charlie wouldn’t budge.

Charlie said, “Every time I try to kick the ball you remove it and I fall on my back.”

The next few frames had them going back and forth for the longest time.  Finally Lucy broke down in tears and confessed, “Charlie Brown I have been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football like I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I’ve seen the error of my ways! I’ve seen the hurt look in your eyes when I’ve deceived you. I’ve been wrong, so wrong. Won’t you give a poor penitent girl another chance?”

Characteristically  Charlie Brown was touched by her apparent sincerity and moved by her display of sorrow.   “Of course,” said Charlie, “I’ll give you another chance.”

So Charlie stepped back.  Lucy held the ball.  And Charlie ran ready to kick with all his might.  Once again at the last possible moment, Lucy picked up the ball and Charlie Brown fell flat on his back.

In the final frame the Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz, has Lucy’s saying, “Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!”

Ah, so true, Lucy, so true!

How many times in the past several years has a scene like this played out on the national stage.

An athlete is discovered breaking the rules and creating an unfair advantage over his competition.  A politician admits to some misleading statements.  An audit reveals that the CEO of a major company has misappropriated funds.  A respected national leader is caught in an affair.

At first there is denial.  Sometimes vehement and vicious counter charges against  those that would dare to question.  Time goes by.  The truth begins to trickle out.   Reasons are suggested.  Excuses are given.  And then apologies are offered that begin with phrases like this.  “If I have offended anyone…”  “I was caught up in the culture….”  “Everyone else was doing it….” “I didn’t get the memo….”  “I may have done ____, but at least I didn’t do _____” You get the picture.  And we’ve heard it all before.  The names change, but the stories are the same.

The press uses words like “disingenuous.”  “Unfair advantage.” “Plausible deniability.”  “Misappropriated.”  “Affair.”

Why not call these actions for what they really are?  Lying.  Cheating. Stealing. Adultery.  Hypocrisy.

My point in today’s post, however, is not really to question the sincerity of apologies by those in the spotlight.  Or to curse the darkness. Or figure out a way to change our culture.

The real issue for most of us, is how do we handle the truth?  How do we face our faults?  How do we admit our sins?  And are we willing to change our ways?

The character flaws of celebrities becomes national news for all of us to see and hear.  But similar situations are discovered day after day in homes across America that will never make the national news.  Sometimes in Christian homes.

God calls for us to genuinely repent.  To honestly confess our sins.  Earnestly ask forgiveness. And sincerely seek to change. (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30; James 5:16; Matthew 6:12-15; Colossians 3:5-15).

Lucy’s words ring in our ears.   “Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman