Shame

I've been noticing that there are two main forms of "repentance" in my dealings lately. 

In the first form, people will often speak phrases like "I'm so ashamed," "what will people think of me?" "I'll never be able to look ... in the face again." "Now everyone knows, they're going to hate me."

This kind of "repentance" isn't repentance at all. It's sorrow at being caught. It's more concerned with public opinion than with a true apprehension of wrongdoing. At heart, people aren't really sorry for their actions. They're sorry that people found out about it. It's the "worldly sorrow" that Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 7:10. 

Worldly sorrow stubbornly holds on to the "I'm right" while saying whatever is necessary to get people to look away. Then they can get on with their behaviour again. "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." (Proverbs 26:11) Not a pretty picture, is it?

The second type of repentance is when we actually admit that we have done something wrong, and truly want to change direction. This kind of repentance is true repentance. It leads us back to Jesus - to see that we are all sinners before God, but that Jesus died to save us from our sins, so that we could live a new life with him. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow leads to death." 2 Cor 7:10

I often have to ask myself the same question when I slip: Am I sorry for what I've done, or am I just worried that people are going to find out about it?