Repent and Follow, Jesus Said: Psalm 27 1, 4-9; Matt. 4: 12-23
I read a comic the other day which talked about the importance of apologies. It added, “Unfortunately, I apologize thusly, ‘I’m sorry that your terrible behavior made me act out of character. You should work on that.’” There are various versions of this joke. Some say, “I’m sorry the truth hurt your sensitive feelings.” I’ve also heard “I’m so sorry you misunderstood what I said.” They are all variations on the same truth. Apologies are hard, and we don’t particularly like to do them. We’d rather pretend the offense didn’t happen, the person was too sensitive, or minimize the actions we’ve done.
We talk a lot as a society about confidence, self-esteem, and personal growth. But we must remember the importance of having a personal confidence which allows for real humility and accountability. Here is where we insert the idea of repentance. We read in Matthew 4:17, “From then on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” He follows this up in verse 19 with the call, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Together, we hear Jesus’s message calling on us to repent and turn to God, then follow him.
The word “repent” appears in some form or another roughly 60 times in the Bible. But it’s an idea carried across many faiths and religions. Judaism used the word in terms of the process of atoning for sin. Islam defines it as the act of leaving what God has prohibited and turning to what God has commanded. Buddhism talks about the shame over wrongdoing and fear of consequences. Ancient Hawaiian religion also mentions it as a process of reconciliation and prayer. But specifically in Christian faith, repentance is a part of Christ’s saving work within us.
The idea of repentance is not exclusive to the Christian faith, but it is an absolutely essential part of our ability to find God and follow Jesus. I fear the word has become a very loaded term. It’s been hijacked from an instruction and used as a weapon of anguish. I remember growing up and having the little tracts in church to hand out. There was one right in the middle—all black—with bold white lettering that said in all caps, “REPENT OR DIE!” and the words were surrounded by flames.
I searched all 60 verses that talk about repent, repentance, or repented. Not a single one uses repentance as scare tactic. Every single one uses the word repentance in connection with mercy, healing, forgiveness, and grace over consequences that stem from wrongdoing. The only times such worrisome things are mentioned is in a matter-of-fact way that when we don’t practice repentance, grace, and forgiveness, life is painful and suffering, and we are separated from God.
Instead of repentance being a tactic of fear and terror to force submission to God, let’s look at it in a new light. You should practice repentance, forgiveness, and following Christ because it is healing, and saving for your life and your soul. The disciples did not follow Christ because he conquered them or forced them into submission. They saw something powerful, Spirit-filled, and grace-centered. They saw a man, Jesus the Christ, who lived, preached, and taught what it means to live the Kingdom of God here on Earth.
Repentance for us is realizing, acknowledging and confessing that without faith we do what’s wrong. We often harm others with or words and actions. We are easily tempted by our selfish ambition. Repentance and turning to God allows us to leave these pathways of easy temptation behind and live as Christ’s love in the world. Following Christ brings with it the Holy Spirit which helps keep us living in the most Christ-like and life-giving way possible here on Earth.
A friend recently told me a story from his church. There was a guy who had attended for years. As his marriage was breaking up, the church criticized and spoke harshly about him during the process. She had always gone to another church. Unfortunately, he found out about the cruel and gossipy ways of the people he thought were friends. They commented on the fact the couple had gone to different churches, speculated that there was infidelity, and spread rumors about him as a husband. It was ugly, hurtful, and led him to leave them. He said to all who would listen, “I don’t need them and their hateful ways.”
Several months later, he was involved in a motorcycle accident and was hospitalized for weeks. During that time, the church, which had realized the error of their ways, came and helped feed him, sat with him, made dinners for him when he got home, picked up his medicines, took him to therapy, and filled the void of help and loneliness in his life. In the end, their love drew him back. Both church and the man had to learn to repent or confess and give up bad behavior, grudges, and their anger at one another. Both had to learn forgiveness and reconciliation that comes with real love and safe boundaries.
Repentance allows us as individuals and a collective church to acknowledge that we still often fail and fall short of perfection. We are always a work in progress. It also allows us to grow and find new and better ways of being Christ’s people here on earth. No one grows without experiencing mistakes and learning new and better ways of doing things. Living in faith means we work daily to give up those things that get in the way of our relationship and connection to God. That kind of work never finishes until we are one with God in eternity.
But we must also, if you will consider a reversal of a saying, preach what we practice. In a world filled with anger, grudges, selfish theology, social strife, criminal behavior, and all manner of bad things, we must continue to preach Jesus’s message to repent and turn to God, not as a way to humiliate people, guilt-trip them over their sins, or weaponize faith for a political or personal reason. We must preach it because grace and mercy cannot exist where repentance is not practiced. In all things we must turn from ourselves and our own messy ways, and let the Lord, or light and salvation lead and guide us in life. Then we can live in the house of the Lord and dwell on God’s perfections, as the Psalmist says.
The words, “I’m sorry,” unhampered by qualifications, excuses, explanations, or shifted blame are two of the most powerful words we have. But they mean absolutely nothing unless there is a true change in behavior. Jesus said, repent of your sins, turn to God, and follow him. May Jesus’s words find in us ears willing to hear and hearts willing to listen. Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/920994402246687