Apologists and Apologies

I remember as a young boy thinking that Christian apologists were people who basically regretted preaching the cross of Christ and were sorrowful for telling the truth.  I obviously did not understand the real meaning of the term “apologist.”  Historically, Christian apologists have been people who vehemently and unswervingly preached and taught the great doctrines and truths of the Holy Scriptures no matter the cost.  They sought to defend the Christian faith in the face of fierce persecution even unto death.  To defend the Christian faith meant to “make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an acount for the hope that is in you, yet with gentelness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15) The early Christian apologists such as Athenagorus, Justin, Theophilus and Tatian and of course the Apostle Paul were tenacious in engaging their culture, exegeting and expounding the Scriptures with expert precision in order to convince kings and win the lost. 

The Greek term“apologia” is quite a different term from the English “apology.”  Furthermore, to apologize today is to perform an act so removed from the biblical historical meaning that it is scarcely recognizable.  In Merriam Webster’s English Dictionary there are two major categories of meaning for the English word “apology”: 1. A formal justification.  2. An admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret.  I think that we can all agree that the way in which modern thinkers use the term “apology,” is consistent with #2 by Webster.  However, in my experience only half of the #2 definition is employed.  Usually when someone “apologizes,” they simply express regret.  Such expression of regret is rarely if ever preceded by a real admission of error or discourtesy.  This is the case many times because there has been no error or discourtesy for which to be regretful much less express regret.  This however doesn’t seem to matter to people who feel they have been wronged.  So whether or not the alleged offender actually has reason to apologize becomes a null point.  So, what usually happens today is that people receive apologies without reason. Or do they? 

Can a simple expression of regret for the unhappy or hurt feelings of others pass as an apology.  It cannot if we are to use this term consistently.  If I say that I am sorry for the way you feel, you should not take this as an apology.  It is simply an expression of regret; not of my actions but for your sad state of affairs.  An authentic apology even by modern English standards must contain both “an admission of error or discourtesy,” and “an expression of regret,” not for the way you feel, but regret for what I have done.   

It seems that we have dumbed down the real meaning of an apology.  We tell hurt people what they want to hear to make them feel better while practicing injustice upon ourselves and lying to the offended party about how we really feel simply to quiet their provocations.  As the Christian apologists of old let us deal justly, however  ”with all gentleness and reverence.”  Let us stop apologizing for the way people feel and start apologizing for our actions.  Conversely, let us stop pursuing empty apologies from others which only placate our situation (one that is is sure to be repeated, because we have allowed others to determine our degree of happiness.)