“Never apologize, Mister. It’s a sign of weakness.”
– John Wayne, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, 1949
I was raised in a John Wayne household. Grown men don’t cry. We don’t admit it when we are wrong. And we don’t apologize.
Nothing could be more opposite from the biblical model. Scripture reads, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy” (Hebrews 12:14).
I’m not going to ask you if you have said or done anything for which you should apologize. I know you have. That’s part of the human condition.
A better question is whether you have apologized for the pain you have caused.
Recovery Step: Ask God who you need to make amends to, then follow his lead.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
