The Why and What of Repentance

Rev. Robert Traer

Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 18:20-32, Luke 5:27-32

Last Sunday in worship we read Exodus 20:1-17, which contains the Ten Commandments. In verse 5, God tells Moses that he is "a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation." Lest we think that this is standard Jewish teaching today, in the prophet Ezekiel we find a passage that revises the Law of Moses. Speaking through the prophet, God says, "A child shall not suffer for the iniquity of a parent." (v. 20)

Even more striking in the reading from Ezekiel is the teaching of forgiveness for those who repent: "if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live." (vs. 21-22) Like a loving parent, the LORD God calls on Israel to repent: "Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!" (v. 31)

This call to repentance marks the New Testament witness. If you don’t like hearing about repentance, you could restrict your gospel reading to the fourth gospel, because the gospel of John never uses the word. But the gospel of John speaks of being "born again," and if you don’t like talk about repentance you probably won’t like hearing that you need to be "born again."

The other three New Testament gospels begin with a call to repentance. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus launches his ministry with the announcement: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and have faith in the good news." (Mk. 1:14-15) The author of the gospel of Matthew has Jesus begin his ministry by simply proclaiming: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mt. 4:17) In the gospel of Matthew we find that Jesus is repeating the words of John the Baptist, who before the baptism of Jesus was preaching: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mt. 3:2) Similarly, the author of the gospel of Luke tells us that John the Baptist was "proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Lk. 3:3)

So, unless we read only the gospel of John, we must come to terms with the call to repentance that is center stage at the beginning of the first three gospels in the New Testament. We need to be reminded, however, that we hear these teachings about sin and repentance with minds that are shaped by contemporary teachings concerning mental health and social pathology. We may well be more comfortable going to a counselor for therapy and relying on the police and our military for security and justice, than going to church to repent for our sins.

Therefore, to understand what repentance means and why we are called, as Christians, to repent for our sin, I’ve asked Sarah Williams to join me in a brief dialogue.

Sarah: Many people dislike the word "sin," because it seems so negative. Shouldn’t we update the language of the church?

Bob: In a book entitled Whatever Became of Sin? psychiatrist Karl Menninger argues that "the disappearance of the word ‘sin’ involves a shift in the allocation of responsibility for evil." When we no longer see ourselves as sinners, we think what’s wrong in the world can be solved by therapy or punishment. So, we prescribe treatment for those who are mentally ill, and prison or violent reprisals for those who are identified as evil.

Sarah: Isn’t this just a contemporary way of talking about what Christians have meant by sin?

Bob: No. In scripture "sin" means "falling short of the mark," like an arrow that doesn’t make it to the target. Sin refers to an aspect of human experience that is universal. We all fall short of the ideals we have. We all fail to live up to the truths that we cherish. We all know what Paul means when he says he doesn’t do the good that he wants to do. (Romans 7:19)

Sarah: So, sin is a problem for everyone, whether they are neurotic, or evil, or healthy and good.

Bob: Sin is the experience we have in common with all people.

Sarah: You’re talking of "sin," but I thought "sins" were actions the church identified as wrong.

Bob: Churches have often talked like that, but in scripture "sin" is linked to "repentance." The point is not to condemn people for the wrong they do, but to offer new life through repentance.

Sarah: And what does that mean?

Bob: Literally, repentance means "turning and going a new way." Repentance involves acknowledging a mistake and then trying to remedy it.

Sarah: Isn’t this what happens in therapy? Doesn’t a counselor help you to see how you are living in a self-destructive way and what you might do to improve your wellbeing?

Bob: I hope so, but the church’s language has a different emphasis. When we speak of sin, we are talking about our responsibility for what’s wrong. In talking about neuroses, or dependency relationships, or dysfunctional behaviors, we may avoid our personal responsibility.

Sarah: But the emphasis on taking responsibility for what’s wrong seems to make people feel guilty, and guilt isn’t helpful. We have to let go of our guilt in order to improve our self-esteem and have a more positive attitude about life.

Bob: We do have to let go of our guilt, but to accomplish that we have to face it. This is what repentance is all about – acknowledging our sin, accepting that we are forgiven, and then doing what we can to make amends.

Sarah: What if you don’t feel forgiven? Don’t you get stuck in your sin, just feeling guilty?

Bob: That’s why the church has a responsibility to proclaim the gospel that in Christ Jesus we know the forgiving love of God. In worship we celebrate the good news that nothing can separate us from the love of God that we know in Christ. (Romans 8:39) And that’s why we begin Sunday worship by confessing our sin and announcing God’s assurance of pardon.

Sarah: So, the church calls us to confront our sins, because that’s the way that we can experience the forgiving love of God and let go of our guilt.

Bob: Precisely.

Sarah: Are you saying that the church should promote repentance as an alternative to mental health programs and therapy?

Bob: No. But I am saying that the church should talk about sin and should encourage repentance, because this is what we can do about what’s wrong. The church is called to confront wrongdoing with the assurance of forgiveness, for those who repent of their sin. The church is not a mental health program; it is a spiritual health program. The gospel calls us to be filled with faith, hope and love. Our goal is not just being happy with the way our lives are going.

Sarah: And what about evil in the world? How is repentance an answer to crime and terrorism?

Bob: Christian faith require us to face our complicity in evil, rather than simply attributing evil to those who are easily identified as evildoers. In faith, rather than judging others, we are called to ask how we have contributed to the circumstances in which others have done evil.

Sarah: You mean we might bear some responsibility for crime and terrorism?

Bob: That’s right. Crime in our cities is partly a reaction to our complicity in a society that values greed and materialistic life. And the terrorist attacks on America are partly a response to our indifference to the suffering and humiliation resulting from the expansion of American power and wealth in the last quarter of the twentieth century.

Sarah: Surely, criminals and terrorists should be held responsible for their actions.

Bob: Absolutely. But as American Christians, we are called to confess our sin — for depleting the earth’s resources for our own convenience, for ignoring the injustice suffered by so many millions of the earth’s peoples, and for not supporting justice through international law and global cooperation. We are called to confess our sin, to receive God’s forgiveness, and to repent by doing all we can to preserve the earth and to support the rule of law throughout the world.

Sarah: What does Karl Menninger say we should do about sin?

Bob: He calls on the church to preach its good news. "Cry comfort, cry repentance, cry hope," he urges. "Because recognition of our part in the world’s transgressions is the only remaining hope."

Sarah: This could be our mission. Through repentance, may we renew the witness of St. John’s.

Rev. Robert Traer
30 September 2001