Repentance is a change of mind, or more accurately, a change of perception. (See the previous two articles.) But what does that look like in real life? Is repentance always about sin?
When you think about it, the word repentance is rather neutral. After all, if you called a friend and announced, “I’ve changed my mind,” he would be waiting for you to finish your statement. He needs context; you are changing your mind about what???
Imagine when sailors finally learned that the world was not flat. They repented of their perception of the shape of the earth. At that point everything changed. They perceived that they could freely sail the oceans without fear of falling off the edge into an abyss. (There were other things to fear, but not the edge of the earth.)
I know that belief in a flat earth is not a moral issue, but that is the point. The Greek term behind repentance was not always used in reference to morality. The context in which the word was used defined the object of repentance.
Let’s turn to the New Testament and see a few examples of repentance...in context.
John the Baptist came onto the scene preaching
When you think about it, the word repentance is rather neutral. After all, if you called a friend and announced, “I’ve changed my mind,” he would be waiting for you to finish your statement. He needs context; you are changing your mind about what???
Imagine when sailors finally learned that the world was not flat. They repented of their perception of the shape of the earth. At that point everything changed. They perceived that they could freely sail the oceans without fear of falling off the edge into an abyss. (There were other things to fear, but not the edge of the earth.)
I know that belief in a flat earth is not a moral issue, but that is the point. The Greek term behind repentance was not always used in reference to morality. The context in which the word was used defined the object of repentance.
Let’s turn to the New Testament and see a few examples of repentance...in context.
John the Baptist came onto the scene preaching
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
—Matthew 3:2
So, what was the object of repentance? Or, we might ask, “Repent of what?” Or more accurately, “Change your perception about what?” If we were to replace the word ’repent’ with the meaning of the Greek term…
John was announcing the coming of the kingdom of heaven saying that it was near in time. He insisted, “Change your perception.” That was a wake-up call that alerted people to change the way they had been thinking about the arrival of the kingdom of heaven. Their nation had been waiting and waiting and waiting...and waiting. Now! The time had come.
A person’s mind would be more alert the next time they went to the synagogue to hear the scripture read. They would be more interested in the word-of-mouth news of events transpiring in other locations. They might go to their local rabbi and ask to be reminded of the signs that would accompany the coming of the kingdom and the Messiah.
Everything coming into their mind and going out of their mind would be filtered through this new information, this new perception.
Another repentance verse, spoken by Jesus, is a often quoted:
“Change your perception, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Does that help to clear things up?
John was announcing the coming of the kingdom of heaven saying that it was near in time. He insisted, “Change your perception.” That was a wake-up call that alerted people to change the way they had been thinking about the arrival of the kingdom of heaven. Their nation had been waiting and waiting and waiting...and waiting. Now! The time had come.
A person’s mind would be more alert the next time they went to the synagogue to hear the scripture read. They would be more interested in the word-of-mouth news of events transpiring in other locations. They might go to their local rabbi and ask to be reminded of the signs that would accompany the coming of the kingdom and the Messiah.
Everything coming into their mind and going out of their mind would be filtered through this new information, this new perception.
Another repentance verse, spoken by Jesus, is a often quoted:
“I tell you, no, but unless your repent, you will all likewise perish.”
—Luke 13:3
Interestingly, Jesus was not talking about sin at all. Rather, the people had approached him with the ‘headline news’ of their day wondering what He thought about it.
Jesus actually rebuked them for being distracted by their muddled cause-and-effect thinking associated with the horrible news that had little to do with them personally. He then told a parable instructing them to refocus their minds; to focus on their response to God, not everyone else’s response to God. Change the way you are thinking; change your perception...or you will perish just like the others.
Repentance is vital, but repent of what???
Jesus actually rebuked them for being distracted by their muddled cause-and-effect thinking associated with the horrible news that had little to do with them personally. He then told a parable instructing them to refocus their minds; to focus on their response to God, not everyone else’s response to God. Change the way you are thinking; change your perception...or you will perish just like the others.
Repentance is vital, but repent of what???
Only when we answer this question does repentance make sense.
(Next week, additional examples to consider.)
Mark Stinnett
(Next week, additional examples to consider.)
Mark Stinnett
December 1, 2019
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