May the mumbling commence!
Are you sorrowful? I offer you my sympathies. And I also want to offer you some food for thought. Some sorrow is good – or should I say godly. Read a passage from 2 Corinthians chapter seven:
Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it – I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while – yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. (Verses 8-11)
Though Paul did not regret the Corinthians’ sorrow, Paul did regret the pain that the confronted reason to sorry brought. After the brief pain, there is happiness because repentance has happened and rightful relationships have been restored – both to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and to God. This repentance and restoration are the defining aspects of a godly sorrow – in contrast to worldly sorrow that leads to death. Worldly sorrow manifests itself in the high percentage of people who are suffering from depression – the largest percentage of mental (and I add spiritual) ailments.
What does godly sorrow produce other than repentance and restoration of rightful relationships? Godly sorrow produces the opposite of apathy. Godly sorrow produces concern, longing, and earnestness. Godly sorrow fuels indignation and an eagerness to clear your good name – which means a readiness to see justice done, regardless of personal cost.
Many of you may have at least heard of the scandal unfolding at Penn State. There was much sorrow displayed by those who recognize now, in hindsight, that they should have done more to prevent the abuse of children. There was much sorrow displayed by students and faculty and community members as they held a candlelight vigil for the alleged victims.
The only questions left in my mind for the healing of that community are these three: Is their sorrow a worldly sorrow? Will business as usual continue after the firings of top officials and coaches? Because firing individuals alone may not fix the problems at Penn State. This is not a time to expel a scapegoat.
Or is their sorrow a godly sorrow? Let them leave behind all apathy and isolationist thinking. May the indignation and alarm and eagerness to clear Penn State’s good name erupt forth in readiness and transparency so that justice can be done – at least as well as humanity can manage it. Ultimate justice is in the hands of God.
After Penn State has truly purged – after we purge ourselves from sin and repent – then the praise for God will flow not only from our lips but also from the lips of all humanity that sees justice has been served.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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