Justifying Mistakes
General Idea
This lecture addresses the danger of justifying one’s mistakes, and how justification prevents true repentance and keeps a person in sin, while honest confession of fault is the beginning of correction and spiritual growth.
Spiritual and Educational Points
- His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that a person who wants to walk in the right path must watch himself and confess his mistakes without excuses or evasions.
- Continuous justification of mistakes leads a person to persist in them and may cause him to believe he is without blame, before people and even before God.
- God is the examiner of hearts, and excuses do not deceive Him; therefore, justifying oneself before Him is futile.
- Many people justify their spiritual weakness with excuses such as busyness, the difficulty of the commandment, or the corruption of the surrounding environment, but these excuses are unacceptable.
- The Holy Bible presents clear examples of people who lived under severe pressures yet kept their principles, such as Joseph the Righteous, Daniel the Prophet, Moses, and Lot.
- Justification can turn into a habit and may even lead to condemning others instead of judging oneself.
- Christ Himself, who is without sin, excused others and carried their sins, while we are called not to excuse ourselves but to blame ourselves.
- The commandment may seem difficult, but with God’s grace all things are possible for the believer.
- The spiritually strong person does not make difficulties, lack of role models, or weak pastoral care an excuse for failure, but strives, struggles, and seeks God’s help.
- On the Day of Judgment there will be no room for excuses; therefore, it is better now for a person to say, “I am without excuse,” and begin sincere repentance.
Conclusion
Justification does not save a person but binds him, while confession, repentance, and spiritual struggle are the true path to abiding in God and walking according to the commandment regardless of circumstances.
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