Apologizing without compromising your opinion

I read them in His Word, and I slowly over the years have put them into practice, all the while becoming much more conservative than even most Christians.

Sara- I could have written that myself! I have been dealing with some of the same issues. It seems that family are the first ones I seem to offend with my quote “radical” views. Still some of those I have offended are fellow Christians. If your husband feels you should apologize, then I agree with Gem and I would apologize for offending but never compromise on your convictions. I have had to say the same thing to family members. I just say that I am sorry they were hurt or offended by anything I said because that was truly not my intent, however I will not compromise on my convictions because these convictions came after studying, praying and seeking God’s will for my life. They are viewpoints/comvictions that were given to me by God for my life/family. If you have questions about these viewpoints, I would be glad to discuss them and how I came to them with you. I’ll be praying for you during this situation because I know how troublesome it can get.

Sara,

Do you know everyone’s phone number? A phone call is more personal and less easily misconstrued. Just have your apology written down and don’t let the conversation wander, ask the L-rd for His Spirit to guide you and control the tongue (which can b a dasterdly thing, as Proverbs and JAmes makes clear). Also, pray for covering over the “airwaves”, as The Adversary is prince of the airwaves and you must take authority over them, Satan doesn’t want truth told and he doesn’t want reconciliation either when it is possible; pray for G-d to affect their receiving of your apology, too and that this will be used by Him as an opportunity.                                                                    But do remember, that Yeshua (Jesus) said in Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me in the presence of others I will also acknowledge in the presence of my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my Father in heaven. 34 “Don’t suppose that I have come to bring peace to the Land. It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword! 35 For I have come to set 36 a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, so that a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. 37 Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me. 38 And anyone who does not take up his execution-stake and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his own life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for my sake will find it.

We went a season with ridicule by refusing to  bring my children around my sister while she was an active wiccan and openly expressing her beliefs in front of the children, placing her hands on them and wearing her pentacle (an amulet, not just pretty little jewelry). It was very hard, but it took till she decided she wanted to be an Aunt first and respected the boundaries we placed around our children, that she can’t just force herself on our children. So things are better. But I was called “fanatic”, too. So we gave it to G-d and He worked it out. But it was hard; hopefully your situation isn’t as serious as this. when you pray for it in humility, asking for His Spirit to search your heart as well, to-“Renew a right spirit within me”-G-d’s Spirit can move mightily to prepare another’s heart before you begin to speak, as only He knows their hearts and minds enough to understand fully why the offense. We can’t control other’s people’s responses that come from their experiences/hurts/wounds/insecurities and you’re not responsible for that, either; just your own.

I think apologies should be on the phone or face-to-face, too; as said above, if possible. They’re harder over the phone, but better, IMO, and experience.

Rachel