“Repent!” I have to acknowledge that I most often hate it when I hear the word. Often, it comes across as an arbitrary emotional appeal designed to by-pass common-sense and the intellect, an effort to harangue people through the manipulation of human guilt into jumping through various religious hoops. A certain (earned) reputation often accompanies those who use such language. Though some of my personal aversion to this terminology may be due to the caricature promulgated by those opposed to anything Christian, I can’t help but recall the countless times when I’ve been embarrassed by the idiosyncracies of those who incessantly cry, “Repent!” But, lest we allow our antipathy to fundamentalist caricatures to hinder our progress in (or toward) faith, we should proceed with more balance. Though “repent” may leave a bad taste in your mouth, the actual meaning of the concept is healthy and wise.
The Greek term for repent is metanoia, and it represents an idea that it quite prevalent in the New Testament. Basically, metanoia means “to turn.” It is used in a variety of contexts and implies both a “turning from” that which is harmful and spiritually damaging and a “turning to” that which is good and spiritually rejuvenating. When put that way, the notion of repentance sounds relevant, for we all need to be reminded to stay away from whatever endangers us and to stay near whatever is beneficial to us. This is what we tell our children, is it not? Likewise, we use such words when we’re trying to assist family members or friends who need to make wise choices. Repentance, then–the idea if not always the actual term–is something we are all aware of.
If we were to describe metanoia, it would include (though it wouldn’t be limited to) the following: turning from selfishness to selflessness, from arrogance to humility, from personal autonomy (“I can figure everything out on my own without the help of anyone.”) to reliance on that which is transcendent, from arrogant close mindedness to wise openness, from inappropriate behaviors to helpful and honorable ones, from dishonesty to integrity, from going you own way to following Jesus into the unknown.
Of course to provide these examples is to uncover our own inconsistencies, our own fickle tendencies. Therefore, or so it would seem, the metanoia spoken of here is not simply a once and done deal but rather an attitude that, once begun, continues throughout one’s life.+ And if that is the case, we are faced with the issue of what we are accountable to, or to whom, and this brings us squarely to Jesus and to his call.
Early in Jesus’ ministry, Jesus put it this way: “Follow Me.” He said it in a number of different ways and to a variety of people, but the basic message remained the same: “Follow Me.” At the end of the day metanoia is about acknowledging that he is worth following. It’s not about strange religious garb or weird personal habits. It’s not about living in a bubble, separated from reality. It’s not about some sort of monastic existence or abandoning one’s personality and gifts. Rather, it’s about allowing this carpenter’s son to shape and give purpose to your personality and provide direction in the use of your gifts. Indeed, it’s about recognizing that your gifts actually originate in him.
Metanoia, therefore, may not be such a bad thing after all. It may, in fact, be our highest calling. Repentance challenges us daily to live our lives with purpose and integrity, motivated and empowered by the One who governs our lives and gives us hope.
+ In one sense, repentance can be understood as a “once and for all” event, a turning away from that which leads us astray and a turning to the One for whom we were created. As such, it is the act that initiates the conversion process. However, repentance also has an ongoing character to it, for we are all prone to wander from God and his ways. In this sense, repentance is continual. The important thing, therefore, is not whether you can identify some specific time when you were initially converted, though some will, but that you make it your practice to follow the living God today.
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