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We're Sorry

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I'm sorry for all the times we've shoved God in your face and loved you with an agenda- trying to keep you from the burning pits of hell. I'm sorry we don't live more unique and genuine lives centered around loving one another. I'm sorry we get over righteous on you and fail to see life as it is. I'm sorry I told you I was a christian but I never minded gossiping about my sister or brother. I'm sorry I judged you.

--Krisann 

I have been critical and expected you to live according to my expectations. I am sorry.

--Patsy 

I'm sorry i overlooked you as a potential friend just because our beliefs were different.

--Cindy

I'm sorry for ignoring you in preference to the "God stuff" that I was doing.

--Heather

Here’s the thing … it’s pretty clear that Jesus came to bring hope, healing and freedom and we, the church, his followers have sucked all the fun out of that. We’ve taken the hope out of hope and continued wounding the wounded and piled chains on slaves. I am so sorry.

--Sonja

I am sorry we have not been a more frequent, more firm and more graceful voice in environmental, political, and human rights arenas.

--Anonymous

I am sorry that so often the church has twisted Jesus' message to exlude rather than include people. 

--Sally

I am sorry for acting like I know-it-all and have the corner on truth while making fun of people who have actually devoted their lives to studying things like the Bible, or science, or history.

--Julie

I'm sorry for trying to make you come to us (church) instead of coming to you. 

--Lee

I'm sorry we've created and used labels so that we don't have to deal with people as people.

I'm sorry we've willingly embraced ignorance so that our faith won't be stretched or challenging.

I'm sorry we've turned the greatest message of hope and social justice and liberation into an issue of "eternal security" or a hell escape plan.

I'm sorry we've done more damage than good in the areas that matter to God.

I'm sorry we don't encourage women enough to embrace their God-given abilities to lead, and in too many cases, actually discourage it.

I'm sorry we haven't been the healers our leader was.

I'm sorry we ever made you feel less-than, because you're not.

I'm sorry we've denied your encounters with God as real and authentic.

I'm sorry we've never reached out to you to learn about Reality from you, believing that we're the only ones who know.

And I'm sorry you have to come to this site to find out how sorry we are, because we might feel too embarassed or ashamed, or perhaps not willing enough to be weak, humble, and vulnerable to your face. I hope you accept this as a step in the right direction- a little late, we know... And for that, too, I'm sorry...

--Cody

I'm sorry for the times I have challenged, insulted, or condemned you for believing differently than I. Your spirituality is just as valid as mine, even if we disagree on the expression.

--Erin

I'm sorry that so many acts of kindness we bestowed upon you had strings attached.

--Lee

I'm sorry for not loving you because you didn't see things my way or look like me or fit my agenda.

--Eric

I am sorry that my need to be right made me miss that I should have loved you instead.

--Iggy

I am sorry for adding to the Gospel and forcing people to become Republicans, or accept creationism, or stop being homosexual, or alter their physical appearance before they can love and follow Jesus.

--Julie

I'm sorry that I'm homosexual. And that I hurt and make my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ ashamed of me. I'm sorry that I lie to you by not openly admitting it. I'm sorry that I don't believe that you can heal me, and I believe I am made this way by the most wonderful, loving God.

I'm sorry that I hurt you with my words and actions. I'm sorry that I try to hard, or don't try at all.

I'm sorry for assuming that you were someone I should avoid, in case I contradicted my God. I'm sorry that I believed for so long that my faith would not be big enough to hold those ideas and experiences I encounter.

But most of all I'm just sorry.

--Anonymous

I apologise for the times when I have been a hypocrite, not living out the faith I profess.

--Sally

I’m sorry for all the times I didn’t listen to you, for all the times I crossed to the other side of the road and walked on by, leaving you in your pain. I’m sorry or all the times I put church before you, for all the times I failed to tell you - and show you - how much God loves you. I’m sorry for all the times I’ve given you the wrong picture of God because I’ve been self-centred or all the times I have failed to respect you - who you are as a person - your background, culture, language and baggage- and tried to make you more like me. That’s got in God’s way. I really am sorry that my behaviour -my actions, my words, and even my body language- time and time again, has driven you away from Christ, the one who longs to redeem you.

--Lorna

I'm sorry that I joined with the multitude of Christians who were known by what (who) they are against, rather than what (who) they are for. That’s judgment, not grace!

--Glenn

I'm sorry that as a Christian, I don't love as much as I show my other emotions and judgments. Not only to my family but to others, including people I don't even know. Driving down the road, at parks, everywhere. The world can be so cold and unforgiving, but we have no reason to be.

--Chris

I'm sorry i didn't come into your business because there was a similar one owned by a christian.

--Cindy

I am sorry that as Christians we have focused on speaking words of judgment, rather than living lives of love and grace.

--John

I'm sorry that we have spent our fortunes on ourselves while neglecting the needs of those who are desperate.

--Anonymous

I am sorry for manipulating your children into saying the sinner's prayer because I told them they would go to hell and be separate from you if they didn't.

--Julie

I am sorry that I ran off my mouth instead of just listening to you.

--JP

Lorinda, I'm sorry for letting someone goad me into telling you that you were going to hell while we were hanging out on the girls' locker room, supposedly creating an aerobics routine to Donovan's "Mellow Yellow" and the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams."

To the number of people who kept parts of their life secret from me because they thought I would judge them and tell them it was wrong, I'm sorry. I probably would have.

To the kids in my Sunday School class whose asses I whupped in Bible trivia games, eat it. Actually, though, Christ knew his scripture and probably would have beat the whole class at Bible hangman, too. I think he might have been a little more gracious about it. Since most of you were dragged to church without getting a chance to discover a faith of your own, I think it's appropriate to apologize to you here, also.

--Rebecca

I'm sorry I didn't show you who I really am, and instead showed a plastic, christian caricature of myself.

--Heather

For those of you who bothered to read up on Jesus, I know you read the wonderful stories about people flocking to Him and finding love. Or finding a miracle and you hoped that if you came to church you’d get some too. So you came with that last ember cupped in your hands, coming to find the God you’d read about and the love, treasure and the miracle. We stomped on it. I am mortified that we took your last hope and extinguished it. Lord have mercy. I am so sorry.

--Sonja

I'm sorry that my inability to control my flesh led you astray. That my desire to be loved and fulfilled went to you and not God. I'm sorry that you now reject Him, consider Him a folly and a waste of time. Had only my heart been so buried in Him that to even find me you had to find Him first.

I am sorry and every day it breaks my heart.

--Jen

I'm sorry for thinking that God can only work and speak through Christians and that true beauty can only be found in the sacred.

--Makeesha

I’m sorry that as a Christian, I don’t listen as much as I talk, to others but also to you Lord. I miss out a lot on what people are saying or just don’t hear what they really mean until sometimes it’s too late. I can so completely determine what I want to hear or think they should say and close my ears to hearing what is actually said.

--Chris

I am sorry that so often the way I live my life is so un-like the Christ that I claim to serve, that I turn you away from Christ instead of toward him. I am sorry that, as a whole, we Christians have been more concerned with advancing a political agenda of intolerance toward homosexuals, pornographers, women who have abortions, etc. than we have been towards LOVING those people, putting our arms around them, listening to their hurt, and helping them find hope in Christ. How can you find hope in Christ while we're screaming at you that you're going to hell if you don't shape up??? If we invested even half the energy into showing God's love to people as we spend in passing around petitions and supporting boycotts, maybe you would actually see Jesus as He is -- loving, compassionate, forgiving... intolerant of sin, but unconditionally accepting of sinners. Of whom I have been one of the worst. Please forgive me.

--Kim

To people who are of a different faith to mine I apologise for getting on a high horse, for being lazy and copping out by throwing accusations and judgement when I should have been doing the harder thing i.e showing love, grace and forgiveness.

To the people of Muslim faith in particular I apologise for the fear. It was not warranted.

To Indigenous Australians I apologise for thinking all your problems were your own fault and I had nothing to do with it.

To the people of Iraq especially the women and chidren: There are no words that could sufficiently express the regret for the mess we've had a hand in making.

--Joshua

I'm sorry for the years I spent hiding behind the walls of the church.

--Cindy

I'm sorry I voted to legislate reproductive and sexual issues. I now realize those issues are for the individual conscience to decide, not the state to dictate.

--Erin

I'm sorry I said no when you came to my door asking me to buy your pictures, I should have bought one (I could afford it) and saved your dignity, and given you hope for the future.

--Anonymous

I spend a lot of time writing about what it means to me to be following Christ, instead of me just being out in the world helping people. For this I am sorry.

--Jim

I met you in a chat room. As a new Christian I thought it was my mission to "convert" everyone, so I basically ambushed you. You were hurt and angry and didn't really want to talk to me. But I kept telling you that you had no reason to be angry, that God would fix all your problems.

You needed a friend, you needed someone who would listen, who would just let you vent, someone who would understand that people do get mad at God and I was wrong.

I'm sorry.

--Allen

I'm sorry we don't party more.

--Anonymous

I'm sorry that we have been having such a good time ourselves that we have not even heard those who are screaming for our help just outside our door.

--Lee

I'm sorry I argued with you and told you that you were wrong. You weren't.

--Heather

I'm sorry that I've participated in helping make the hours of the week when most churches worship together the most segregated hours of the week, segregated racially and economically.

--Anonymous

I'm sorry that I'm so concerned with trying to be "cool" and "approachable" to my non Christian friends that I don't appear to be a Christian at all. I'm sorry I ignore the boundaries I know are there.

--Elisabeth

I am sorry we have shared more about what we're against than what we're for.

--Anonymous

I'm sorry that we've made your life a hell to live instead...

--Jethro

I'm sorry that I've not spent more time getting to know you because I've been so busy hiding behind the walls of a church.

--Anonymous

 I'm sorry that I ever thought that a pointing finger would be mistaken for a beckoning hand.

--Sonja

I am sorry that we create the facade that Christians are sinless, issue-less, unbroken, unf*****up. we are a community of sinful, broken, f*****up people and you are welcome to join us. I am also sorry that we in America think in terms of the bottom line and have reduced the message of Christ to getting people out of hell. I am sorry for how we cram this truncated message down your throat. i will do my best to help change the atmosphere that encourages this kind of behavior.

--Mike

I am sorry for thinking that being moral was more important than being merciful.

--Anonymous

I'm sorry that for far too long my politics and my rhetoric have far too often mirrored the kingdom of this world rather than the Kingdom of God.

--Anonymous

It's not right. I know. I've done it. I've messed up big time. But I love you.

--Anonymous

I am sorry I have misrepresented my Jesus in such a way that it has pushed you away from Him. I was the one who was wrong, not He.

--Sarah

For our long and bloody history, where we chose to use the words of christ as an excuse for bloodshed, we are sorry. When we mixed our imperial colonialism with religion we sowed of seeds of bitterness in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. For pitting nation against nation, culture against culture, petty oneupmanship, our me-first-ness attitude, and for papering over the cracks in our own societies and lives, we repent and ask for forgiveness from all we have hurt.

--Anonymous

Remember that night you walked into church—and both of us recognized each other...I'm sorry I didn't walk over and talk to you, ask you how your mom is doing and if your sister is still in college. I'm really sorry now that we could only talk about the weather, and not about politics involving your area of town or discuss when we're gonna hang out again.

And while I'm at it, let me attempt to apologize for all the perfect people in church that didn't talk to you at all. They judged you by the moral standards they have been raised to believe that everyone should have. They decided you looked too “poor” to be of any help or interest to them. They didn't want to be seen associating with you. If my apology would do any good, I would apologize for all Christians. But please accept it now as from the people in my church. They didn't know what they were doing. They claim to follow Jesus, but it's so hard to follow a homeless revolutionary in 21st century America.

Maybe if I spent more time trying to walk in the steps of Jesus, my apology would actually make an impact. I want to love you as a person, not a “lost soul”. I want to help you live, not “prepare you for death”. I'm really sorry for the reputation I have as rich-person-who-only-wants-to-increase-his-church-attendance. I'm sorry if I ever gave you the impression that I had my life together, because I don't. I need your love and acceptance just as much as you need mine. We really are siblings—we share the bond of humanness, and I regret ever locking you out of my life because you “aren't saved”. I know it's almost too much to ask, but please forgive me. Please forgive “us”. We didn't know what we were doing.

--Art

Jesus was Jewish and we forget that the roots of our faith lie in that rich ancient tradition. Isaac had a half-brother Ishmael who became the grandfather of Islam. We have much to learn from other faith traditions and other perspectives on God. S/He who created the universe may not be reduced to a linear equation and we demean Her when we do this. We have much to apologize to other faiths for and I am again … so very, very sorry.

--Sonja

I'm sorry that I am not a better example of what we can be in Christ.

--Mike

I'm sorry that he had to write "love Julie" on the prayer board as one of his prayers for me...that somehow I can call myself a Christian and yet she doesn't know that I love her.

--Amy

I'm sorry that I thought so highly of myself that instead of showing you Jesus, I just showed you what you didn't want to be.

--Cyndi

I'm sorry I have misrepresented Jesus so badly in the past. He is not a man of rules nor a God of anger. He is the ultimate and perfect expression of unconditional love and acceptance, who came to earth so that we might all have life eternal.

--Erin

I'm sorry, really sorry, that my sometimes silence and the silence of the church has led to people hating themselves, or worse, committing suicide because they believed that there was something "wrong" with them, and that God did not love them. I am thinking especially of gay teenagers, and also of a gay pastor in Pennsylvania who recently killed himself when someone threatened to expose his gay identity to the church. I am guilty by association with my church and my denomination which is still struggling over this issue. We are not working fast enough to change the church and express God's love for all people.

--Nanette

I'm sorry for referring to myself as a follower of Jesus Christ, yet all the while not caring enough about you or your circumstance to help you or love you unconditionally...as He does. I'm sorry for making it even harder on you to find Him based on my poor example. I'm sorry for allowing the sin of pride to keep me from apologizing sooner.

God, I'm sorry for misrepresenting you.

--Adam

ssI am sorry that we Christians have turned so many people against us. Our politics have interfered with our beliefs. Beliefs that we say are the basis of how we live. I am sorry we treat those around us like enemies. I am sorry homosexuals feel like they have to run from us.

--Andrew

I'm sorry that I have thought myself any better or smarter than anyone else. I got grace and mercy I did not deserve! I am sorry I forgot where it was I came from and who I was before He got a hold of me, and who I still can be at times when "Christianity" doesn't fit my agenda. I am sorry for thinking I was somehow more deserving of His forgiveness. I am sorry I have not been a better representative of Christ in love and compassion.

--Andi

I'm sorry for taking nineteen years to realize that God won't hate me if I disagree with certain doctrines. I'm sorry for alienating all of you until I learned that. I'm sorry that the denomination I am still technically a part of is making your lives so hard. I'm sorry for the Crusades, I'm sorry for slaughtering my own ancestors, I'm sorry for oppressing everyone. I'm sorry that the church let itself be seduced by politics, and I'm sorry that basic human rights are now under attack by the very people who should be most interested in protecting them. I'm sorry for failing you, day after day, by being blind and stupid and selfish.

--Sara

I offer my apologies for the acts in history in which the church has acted in ways that do not echo the character and example of Jesus. Whether the Crusades or the Burning Times among witches and Pagans, we simply must do better. I also apologize for our frequent imposition of church culture on the cultures of other pathways rather than allowing the Spirt and the gospel to move into new subcultures resulting in transformation and renewal.

--John

I am so sorry that I viewed you differently for being homosexual. You are worth just as much as I or anyone else is. I'm sorry I grouped you and all other homosexuals into a group. That was wrong.

--Nick

I'm sorry for crowing about the fact that I give more to charity than you, even though the main reason I did it was out of fear of God and a desire to get some kudos in before I die.

--Mike

 

 
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