If you look around, this phrase is everywhere. I’ve seen it on t-shirts and tattoos. There have been multiple songs with this title, as well as a movie. It’s even what Ace Frehley, the former lead guitarist of the rock band “Kiss”, called his autobiography. (Really, Ace? You don’t regret that makeup…?)

 

Although it seems like a noble sentiment, I’m not sure that it’s a motto that should guide a person’s life. On one hand, none of us wants to do things that we will regret later. Most of us have a hairstyle in our past, which makes us wonder, “WHAT was I thinking?” Or a piece of clothing. Or a relationship. However, we are broken people, who do broken things. We have things to regret. 

 

I see two potential dangers with living your life driven by this phrase. And the Bible points out both of them, as well.

 

First of all, we’ve all done things that should be regretted. Some of them have been sinful. Some of them have caused pain for people we love. Some have left scars (emotional, physical, or relational) that we will carry for the rest of our lives. God’s grace brings healing (2 Corinthians 5:17), and he even uses our mistakes for His glory and His purposes (Romans 8:28). His intent is NOT for us to be imprisoned by things from our past. However, I have done things that I regret. And so have you.

 

Secondly, a “no regrets” philosophy can actually begin to limit our freedom as we make decisions. This Sunday at Hope Church, we will look at the Parable of the Talents, from Matthew 25:14-30. In this story, a wealthy man entrusts his property to three servants. Two of them are commended for the way they handle the responsibility. One is severely criticized, mostly because he doesn’t want to do something he will regret. The two faithful servants took a risk. They faced potential failure. They took what they had in their hands, and they laid it on the line. They weren’t paralyzed by the threat of possible regret.

As we look back, we should: “Regret the regretful things I’ve done. But I won’t let them bind me.”
As we move forward, we should: “Not do things that I’ll regret. But I won’t let fear of regret bind me.”
Life is often complex. And I don’t regret pointing that out.

 

~ Mark Morris is a member of the Hope Community Church Steering Team, and is serving as HCC Worship Director. Mark has served more than 20 years of ministry, as a Youth Pastor, Teaching Pastor, and missionary. Mark and his wife, Julie, have two children- Ben (20) is a sophomore at Taylor University, and Angela (17) is a senior in high school. If you want to get in touch with Mark, please feel free to email him.