Am I required to face the person I have harmed and repair the damage that I caused?

Question

Peace and Love

Answer 1

Do so with humility. Apologize and ask for forgiveness and offer to make restitution for the damage. Make no excuses for your conduct because there are none. Be honest. Before confronting the person, pray to Jesus to send the Holy Spirit and establish peace and reconciliation. The presence Spirit of God makes all the difference.

Answer 2

I am Buddhist, I'd like the opportunity to answer this very good question from a Buddhist perspective if I may be so permitted, perhaps others may find my small insight useful as comparison to their own.

From a Buddhist perspective, all Actions no matter how insignificant have Consequence.Actions include but are not limited to thoughts, words and deeds as well as inaction. If you have caused someone suffering through some Action, this will have Consequence, often negative Consequence. It will also have generated negative Karma. Forgive me, you may not believe in Karma and I use this term for reference only.

Subsequent Action in a positive sense may resolve that Karma, but this is uncertain as the results of Karma are wide and varied. What is certain is that subsequent positive Action will result in positive Consequence. To decide to face the person harmed is certainly a positive Action. What should be kept in mind in making the decision is to ensure that there is no benefit for yourself and that the Consequence is positive towards the other person.

As to whether you are "required" to do so is not so obvious. From a Buddhist perspective our compassion will direct the answer. If it is possible, not only would you face the person harmed but reverse the harm done and leave the person in a position even stronger than before. This is the tougher choice. Your insight will guide your Action as will your compassion.

The guiding principles of Right Speech, Right Intentions, Right Action will ensure the Right Outcome.

Peace from a Buddhist...

Answer 3

Absolutely. I always try to make amends, even if I'm not entirely sure I've hurt the person. That way, I know I will feel better, and if I hurt the person, they will feel better too. It's much better than just leaving it and letting things stagnate and fester, so that when you see the person again, things are extremely awkward or unfriendly.

Repairing the damage is also a sign that you are the bigger person, you are mature enough to realize that while both parties may have been wrong, you have a duty to make things right.

Answer 4

This depends on whether attempting to make amends would, in itself, cause more harm than good. Some wrongs cannot be righted. Sometimes the guilt must be carried on one's own shoulders with no hope for forgiveness. Quite simply, sometimes we all screw up so badly that whoever we offended will only be more hurt by our attempt to atone. At that point, we have to find a way to learn what we can from our mistake, not repeat it, and hope that someday the other person will be open to our attempts at atonement with them.

Answer 5

David said "I have sinned against Thee, and against Thee only have I sinned."

Sin by definition is an offense against God. So no, you don't have to. But, if you really value pleasing God over protecting your ego, you probably should.
It takes a big man to be right.
It takes a bigger man to admit being wrong.

Source: Experience

Suggestion: Approach the matter by saying " It takes a man to admit he did something wrong." "I want to apologize for something I did wrong, and I really want to somehow make up for it." You may not respect me much for what I have done, but I hope you will respect me for owning up to it, and that you will try to forgive me.

The forgiveness of God is what ultimately matters, and you receive that as soon as you confess (1st John 1:9). The forgiveness of others you might or might not ever get. But you will always have the peace of knowing that you stood up like a man and did what you knew to be right. If a man does not have that, he will question his manhood.

Answer 6

That would be the right thing to do, but unfortunately, it depends also on the other party. Some times the person you have harmed is not in the mood of listening and accepting your apology.

Answer 7

Do you realize that we can't really answer your questions unless you give us something specific?

Each harm has a specific remedy. Some things are capital crimes, others need nothing more than repayment of what you've stolen.

If you're looking for redemption from your own sinful nature, then what you're really needing is something that will compell healing. Just repaying a stolen amount isn't enough.

Answer 8

only if you have a list, ya know like on "earl", he has a list of everyone he wronged and is going around trying to right them, of course he does this only after he hits the lottery

Answer 9

if you can face them ... this does bring peace to both you and them
if you cant face them , then sending out your thoughts and love will hopefully reach them and bring them peace
but dont carry bagage of something you cannot fix ... that gets too heavy to carry

Answer 10

That's usually the way it should work...but in today's society and unfortunately, some people are exempt. Do you have more than alot of money? If yes, you are exempt...