Repentance and Sincerity

As to sincerity in repentance, simply saying the words−simply saying we are sorry−is not enough. The persistent repeating of former offenses suggests a certain lack of sincerity, or at least of self-control. “Prove that you can control yourself,” said Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, “and you are an educated man; and without this all other education is good for nothing. . . .”

Suppose someone who has injured or offended another comes to him and says, “I’m sorry,” and because he says so we assume his regret is sincere. Then suppose the next day he does the same thing, and again says, “I’m sorry”−and keeps on doing the same thing and keeps on saying he is sorry. Surely there comes a point when one wonders how sincere he is in repenting and in repeatedly saying, “I’m sorry.”

The limits of patience of the Judge and Father of us all, of course, we do not know; though we have reason to be thankful that His patience and love and understanding are very great. Yet is it wise to press that patience beyond a reasonable point, in persistent repeating of offenses, and in insincere repenting?

“By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins−behold, he will confess them and forsake them.” This accords with the Master’s words when he said: “Go, and sin no more.” Sometimes the latter part is underemphasized.

“Immorality in any society,” says a current source, “is defined by the magnitude of the gap between ideals and behavior.” In other words, the difference, the gap, between what we say and what we do may be the measure of our sincerity, in repentance as in all else also.

“Profound sincerity,” said Emerson, “is the only basis of talent as of character.”3 And it follows that, to be effective, repentance must be sincere.