"Repent!" gets a bad rap...

One of the most clear requirements of Jesus to us all is His chosen word: "repent".

His disciples, albeit after His crucifixion and resurrection got it. Hear Peter from Luke's recording his statement in the Book of Acts (17.30) "...God is now declaring to people that all people everywhere should repent..."

Whether professing Christ-follower, agnostic or atheist that term, the concept of repentance and plenty of it's association with condemnation, God's judgment, being ostracized as an "other", "them", an outsider and suffering both rejection and disdain by "holier than thou" self-righteous so-called Christians (using another word, -creeps-) is all part of the issue as I and most of us see it. But do we really see it at all?

At core, the Bible's New Testament Greek term means to think, think again/re-think! What truly educated and continuing student of values, truth and genuine research/study would condemn thinking, evaluating and a possible, even possibly essential change of mind and thus, heart? You're not thinking or you are stuck in park if you aren't willing to come to genuine humility on this -and I include myself in that evaluation!

See, Jesus in all four Gospels and via each of the four writers of those texts again and again calls people to move beyond their current thoughts, judgment and even interpretations of God's Word (Genesis to Revelation in our day). RE-THINK. He says the most important -commandments- are to love God with all our heart, MIND, soul and strength, not merely heart/soul/might but using our heads. To be intentional.

Careful and thorough thinking is often the hard work we shun preferring our own comfortable mental space rather than digging deeper, seeking truth regardless of how it may further shape our thinking, choices and ultimately our lives, the way we live and interact with and treat people.

The second most important -commandment- said Jesus, is "love your neighbor as yourself". Nobody does that regardless of who your neighbor happens to be on a bus, train, subway, plane, ship or street... unless they perhaps get to pick who their neighbor is. The only way we actually and seriously live out these directions of Jesus is by thinking, actually being mindful of both the Lord and our fellow human beings. Thought is so very core to every choice including that of interpreting our feelings/emotions and then acting on them.

Too many of us (myself included) don't think deep enough, we just sort of float, drift, buzz from one thing to the next in an average day and until or unless something like unexpected need, tragedy or surprise happens (be it personal or in our immediate neighborhood, people or interest we already care about) we may well sort of numbly go on with our life. But is life truly life without repentance? "Turning around", taking a different road, choosing a different direction? I suggest it is not.

Finally, repenting is THE road to grace-filled, loving, intimate relationship to God in Jesus Christ. There is no abdicating our need to repent but rather it is door to a deeper joy, peace and deep love of God for each of us... to "whosoever will". To repent is one of most basic, positive things we can ever do!

I believe "repent" and "repentance" often gets a bad rap because of our lack of humility, not moving forward by further educating ourselves -and this -not- merely by reading/listening/watching people who think like we already think!!!

Of course according to Jesus and the rest of both Testaments, repenting is an essential, a core point in both coming to God Himself as well as a continuing, growing relationship with Him. Further, it's core to receiving His forgiveness and absolutely foundational to having, maintaining or regaining right relationships with those we've wronged and/or have wronged us. Is it easy, always a breeze? No more than it is a one-off thing.

So, yes, I tell you what I have preached and what I tell myself and seek to do right through my time on this earth: "REPENT for the kingdom of God is at hand."

And as always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn