My purpose in this series is to erase the gap between so-called "insiders" and "outsiders" by proving that all people share common spiritual experiences even if we don't utilize religious language to
describe it.
Repentance is a loaded term in communities of faith. For many, it is a "hitch-pin" in their sin management system. Far too often repentance is seen as an event that must follow a bad deed. In many religious systems, it is a prerequisite for any type of relationship with God. Thus "insiders" see the
world as "unrepentant sinners" who willfully refuse to know or follow God. In the cultural church's mind, until they "come to their knees" in a moment of repentance, the people will be at odds with God and will bear His wrath. Sincere repentance then, "Get's us in" or "Get's us back in." It's the common duality of religion (in vs out, good vs bad, God loves you vs God hates you.) It also creates a roller coaster ride for believers who see themselves as far or
close to God based upon their repentance status.
But what if repentance doesn't work like this? What if it's not a lever we can pull? It turns out that the bible doesn't load the term nearly as much as religious delivery systems. It doesn't share the economic and social validation needs of most religious
institutions.
The term METANOIA is the New Testament's term for repentance. It simply means to "change ones mind." In scripture it is always an important aspect of stories in how people relate to the truth, it's not part of a religious formula. It is not a rung in the stairway to heaven.
What we discover is that repentance is a process, not an event. It is the constant appraisal of good & better. It is the vehicle for self-awareness and how we relate to the truth that surrounds us all. Repentance is a common, everyday experience. For example:
- We all possess a set of categories that we have determined are true. Since we
don't possess all truth, we go about our life meeting information that either fits or doesn't fit with what we believe is true. If we alter our belief according to new bits of truth, then we have "Changed our Minds" or REPENTED.
- Some repentances are more significant than others.
- That part that changes, is the inner working of our minds. It's our deeper self, our
spiritual self. (this is key). A change here is a kind of death to our old way of seeing things and a awakening to a higher consciousness.
- Repentance is thus transformative.
This allows us to see something amazing. Repentance doesn't distinguish insiders from outsiders in a religion, It distinguishes between the proud and the humble in all of life,
irrespective of faith commitments. Repentance means that we are open to hear wider perspectives and that we are better because of the contributions of others. This is how repentance reflects the people of God, they will always be humble students, (i.e. disciples). Funny how religion often has the opposite effect on people, making them overly certain, proud, and powerful. No wonder Jesus was so hard on religious people.
I think C.S. Lewis said it best when he said: “ this repentance, this willing submission to humiliation and a kind of death, is not something God demands of you before He will take you back and which He could let you off if He chose: it is simply a description of what going back to Him is like.”
Repentance then is a disposition of humility and openness and inclusion. It's not an event that gets us to God, but a lifestyle that broadcasts to the world that we already know something about ourselves and our Maker, namely that we don't know. If we start there, we are never far from God. We all lose when we dig in our heels.
Have an awesome week!
k
