A Shift

In the northern hemisphere, Easter occurs in the spring, when the long dark nights move into brighter and warmer days. That means the 40 days of Lent, prior to Easter, are a time of transition. In Lent, we move from the shadows into the light. The seasonal shift forms a metaphor for the soul. The first movement of Lent is a recognition and confession of how black our sins are. But we can turn towards the brightness of God’s grace. How? By repentance.

 

A Turning

The call for repentance is a repeated refrain in the Scriptures. The prophets declared that in repentance, there is life (Ezekiel 18:30-32). John the Baptist arrived proclaiming a baptism of repentance (Mark 1:4). Jesus’ good news about the Kingdom of God began with a call to repent (Mark 1:14). So what does it mean to repent?

At my ordination, (back when we chiseled memos on stone tablets), I presented my theology for review by my peers. On the topic of repentance I wrote, “Repentance is the desire to turn from our sins.” An astute brother responded, “I am sure what the candidate means is that repentance is an actual turning from sin, not just the desire.” I quickly shouted “Amen!” and learned from my mistake.

Repentance is more than a desire; it is a turning from sin. It is proved not by our intentions but by our actions. John the Baptist told soldiers to stop extorting money from people and to be content with their wages. He called upon the crowds to share their food and extra clothes (Luke 3:10). These actions were more than just intentions. Repentance is demonstrable.  My own early misunderstanding of repentance is not rare. There are other misconceptions we have about our “turning from sin.”

 

Some Corrections

Repentance is not defined by emotions.

It is true that James calls for weeping and wailing over sin (James 4:9). And of course, there may be strong feelings in repentance. But we make the mistake of believing emotions are the core of repentance. If we equate true repentance with sorrow, we may delay repenting until we feel intense emotions. We doubt our acts of repentance if there are no tears. In truth, emotions may accompany our turning, but what matters is not our crying, but our turning. Repentance is an act of our will. It is a decision we make, not an emotion we feel (by the way, if we measure one another’s apology by the degree of emotional content, we may fail to forgive and reconcile because “They weren’t sorry enough!” Does God do that to us? Look for change, not just emotion.)

 

Repentance is not a guarantee.

Since repentance is proved by our actions, we might mistakenly think it means that we will never commit that sin again, but that’s not true either. We assume that a transgression of the same sin means our earlier repentance was insincere or inauthentic. And if our repentance didn’t “stick,” then God’s forgiveness didn’t “stick” either. It is a jumbled theology that leads to fear and insecurity.

Of course, there ought to be “fruits of repentance” and changes that result from it. But only the most naïve will forget that we are frail creatures. When we fail and commit a sin we repented of, it simply means that we must return once more. Repentance is not only the gateway to Kingdom life, but also the pattern of Kingdom living. Repentance is a habit of the soul. We keep turning from sins. By God’s grace we find that our failures are fewer and our spiritual battles take us to higher ground, but repentance is never obsolete.  We are continually turning from the dark places of our lives into the light of God.

 

Repentance is a positive, not a negative.

Since repentance demands an exposure of our sins, we think of it in negative terms. Repentance hurts. Repentance makes us feel bad. Repentance reminds us of our failures. If there were a time in a Sunday service to pass the microphone around the congregation and ask for instances of repentance like we do testimonies, what do you think would happen? Silence! We view repentance as a negative. But God doesn’t.

 

We are like patients dying of a curable disease, refusing to go to the hospital because there’s too much sickness, pain and death there. But it is a place of healing and health. God calls us to repent not to shame us, but because it is the gateway to life! If we want to be healed and whole, we can turn from our sins and find mercy. Repentance is a step out of darkness into light. Repentance is always a step in the right direction. It is a movement towards hope. It is a gateway to grace. Repentance is not bad news. It is the good news of God that in Jesus, the repentant find life!

 

May we offer to God the sacrifice of repentance, as expressed in Psalm 51:

For you will not delight in sacrifice,

 or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.