#sorrynotsorry
by Sandy Simpson, 11/8/22
Recently a saying has been
showing up in ads on TV and popular songs.
This saying is disturbing because it highlights an attitude that seems
to be taking over the hearts and minds of the youth today. The Urban Dictionary defines the phrase
“sorry, not sorry” as follows:
1)
Typically used to signify that speaker does
not care whether their behavior emotionally upsets someone else.
2) The term
could also be used to acknowledge that the speaker's behavior could
upset someone, but the speaker stands by their behavior. (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sorry+Not+Sorry)
Wikipedia defines it as “a non-apology apology.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorry_Not_Sorry)
“In 2017, pop artist Demi Lovato
rebranded the phrase with her award-winning song “Sorry Not Sorry,” championing
self-empowerment—never apologizing for who you are.”
There is a movement today
away from ever admitting wrongdoing or sin.
This is because so many, especially among millennials, no longer believe
in objective truth.
While most American adults believe in
absolute truth — a reality that is fixed and a concept supported by
the Bible — a new poll sponsored by Summit Ministries shows a majority of
adults under 30 don't, and researchers are concerned the finding could have
negative consequences on mental health and community. The poll, produced
in partnership with polling firm McLaughlin and Associates, was conducted from
Oct. 12–17 among 1,000 likely general election voters nationwide. Researchers
found that 60% of 956 respondents who gave a definitive answer to the question
expressed a belief in absolute truth, while 40% said each person determines their own version of the truth.
(The Christian Post, https://www.christianpost.com/news/majority-of-young-americans-say-there-is-no-absolute-truth-poll.html)
The current cult of
subjectivism has captured the minds of this generation. But all this inability to apologize is not
bringing more love and acceptance but rather is part of the mindset that is
behind what is called “woke” and “cancel culture”.
Christianity is vastly
different from other “faiths” because it teaches that all men are sinners by
nature (Rom. 7:18) and by deed (Rom. 3:23, 5:12), that God is the One who
reveals Truth to His children (1 Tim. 2:4, John 16:13) because this is His
universe (Gen. 1:1) and people are His creation (Gen. 1:27), and in order to be
justified with God (Rom. 3:24) we have to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
(Acts 16:31) and repent of our sins (Mark 1:15), nailing them to the cross
daily in repentance (Luke 9:23). To
repent means not only to say you are sorry but to turn away from sin (Acts
3:19).
But today, people refuse
to repent, just like they have done throughout history and will do till the
end. The difference is that now it has
apparently become a popular thing to do.
Jeremiah 5:3 Lord, do Your
eyes not look for honesty? You have struck them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed
them, But they refused to accept discipline. They have made their
faces harder than rock; They have
refused to repent.
Revelation 9:20
The rest of mankind, who
were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands so
as not to worship demons and the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone,
and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;
Revelation 9:21
and they did not repent of
their murders, nor of their witchcraft, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of
their thefts.
Revelation 16:9
And the people were scorched with fierce
heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues,
and they did not repent so
as to give Him glory.
Revelation 16:11
and they blasphemed the God of heaven
because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of
their deeds.
Repentance, however, gives
people the only chance they have of having a realistic worldview which is one
of the first steps to salvation.
2 Corinthians 7:10
For the sorrow that is according
to the will of God produces a repentance without
regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world
produces death.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise,
as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
We should be willing to
admit when we are wrong to one another and to God.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so
that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought
about, can accomplish much.
1 John 1:9
If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will
forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The modern madness that is
“sorry, not sorry” is based on people thinking they are justifiably good within
themselves.
Romans 7:18
For
I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in
my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I
cannot carry it out.
It is
ironic, then, that millennials who will not apologize for their beliefs, are
completely intolerant of people who disagree with them.
Western culture generally prides itself on being open-minded
and tolerant of everyone and everything—but do they live up to their own
ideals? Not according to a new study out of Great Britain. This study found
that Gen Z (today’s 13–24-year-olds) “is less open-minded and more intolerant
than older generations.” According to the report, “[a] quarter of Gen Z say
they ‘have very little tolerance for people with beliefs that they disagree
with.’ They don’t believe in unrestrained free speech, with nearly half
agreeing that ‘some people deserve to be canceled.’” According to an executive
of the group that conducted the research, "These are progressive people in
that they support the freedoms won by earlier generations who changed social
attitudes toward issues such as sexuality and equality. Indeed, they are
significantly more progressive than their parents and even than millennials on
some issues .
. . But, and it is a big but,
young people could be said to be less liberal because they are less tolerant of
the views of others than their parents and grandparents — surely a
novelty." (Ken Ham, Source)
People today
are being led by the enemy into thinking that they are gods and that whatever
they want to do is right for them. They
are being fooled into thinking they don’t have to answer to anyone. But this is exactly the character of the
devil, who decided he was a god long ago (Is. 14:13-14) and tempted Adam and
Eve to make decisions for themselves because there was no consequence for doing
so. But he lied to them as he is the
father of lies (John 8:44), and because of their actions, condemned the whole
human race and universe to the corruption and degradation of sin.