repentance

Reason to Rejoice in Repentance

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“But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.”
(1 Samuel 2:25 ESV)

Eli’s sons were wicked men.  Though Priests, they neither served God nor man–they served themselves.  Using their position for their own pleasure, they defiled sacrifices and took liberties with the women working at the temple.  Eli warned them that their sin was not against man, but against God.  He reminded them that their was no one to mediate for them before God.  But they did not listen.  Verse 25 tells us why they didn’t listen, and reminds us of why repentance is reason for joy.

In the case of Eli’s sons, it was the Lord’s will to destroy them.  They had no opportunity to repent.  As I ponder that terrible reality, I consider that God did grant me repentance.  I’m no better than they were, but by His grace (and for His glory) He chose to extend to me what he kept from them.  So I rejoice in His grace to me, His grace that granted me repentance and gave to me salvation.

Cal Thomas on Revival & Glen Beck

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Revivals don’t ratify the earthly aspirations of humanity, including selfish political agendas. They are about glorifying God. Too many modern Christians have it backward. In a real revival the Lincoln Memorial event would have been a result, not an attempt to cause a revival. People would have assembled who had already repented in private. They would not have bemoaned a decline in American “morality,” but instead have fallen on their knees or faces and cried out in genuine repentance and humility.

via WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Genuine revival.

Christianity is very much about personal repentance.  When the Christian is more concerned with the sins of the ‘nation’ or Politicians than our own, personal sin, we become the people Jesus warned us about.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
(Matthew 7:3–5 ESV)

And Glenn Beck Shall Lead Them | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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At his rally last weekend on the Washington Mall, Fox News host Glenn Beck brought 240 clergy onstage. Harkening back to the Revolutionary War, Beck called the group a “Black Robe Regiment.” He said the clergy “all locked arms saying the principles of America need to be taught from the pulpit.”

via And Glenn Beck Shall Lead Them | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

As politically conservative as I am, I don’t thing the pulpit is the place for the ‘principles of America.’  Further, the tradition of Western Civilization which gave us the ‘principles of America’ came from Scripture–the Judeo Christian ethic.  Perhaps, if Mr. Beck and Co. desire a revival that leads to traditional public virtues, we need to preach repentance and disciple the repentant.

Christianity should alter the way we understand with and interact with the world around us.  That includes our politics.  However, preaching politics doesn’t renew minds nor transform lives.  Also, Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world–America was founded on Christian principles, but that does not make us Christ’s Kingdom.

Want to transform the moral fabric of society?  Then, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV)

Faith v. Works

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Sarah Cassidy is the sort of no-nonsense, capable woman you might expect to find as headmistress of a ­primary school. But Sarah doesn’t do children, and she doesn’t do husbands either.No. Sarah is 43, single and celibate — and determined to remain so. Each night she fastens a wire chain, known as a cilice, around her upper thigh . . .

. . . ‘It’s an easy way of knowing you’re doing penance,’ says Eileen, who lives in an Opus Dei centre in Ealing, West London. ‘I wear mine above my thigh. If you go swimming, you don’t want to leave a mark from where it has been.

via Why does Opus Dei member Sarah Cassidy attach a cilice to her leg every day? | Mail Online.

Yet,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV)

Either we’re saved BY grace FOR good works, or we are saved BY works.  It cannot be both ways.  While these women are extreme examples, perhaps, the reality is that most of us try to ‘do penance.’  We try to make up for our sin by doing good things.  If those good works outweigh the sin, we seem to believe, God will accept us.

But that is not the gospel.  The gospel acknowledges we cannot do enough to make up for our sin.  It demands, not penance, but repentance.  The atoning was done by Christ, once for all.  To think my self-inflicted suffering, or my good works, somehow atones for my sin is to make light of Christ’s work on the cross.

One takeaway

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As I wrote earlier, we cannot expect to understand every instance of suffering in our world.  Yet, with each tragedy there is one clear take away.

Luke 13:1-5

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Here Jesus deals with a similar tragedy–two in fact.  He uses both cases to make the same points.  The first point is simple:  those who experience calamity are not worse sinners than those who don’t.  To apply it to Haiti, we cannot say that Haitians are worse sinners than Dominicans, or even than us.

One point often overlooked in tragedies is our common guilt.  ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,’ Romans 3:23 reminds.  So, not one of us is innocent in God’s eyes.  Romans 6:23 adds, ‘The wages of sin is death.’  So, everyone who sins deserves nothing but death.  Now we understand Jesus.  His audience was just as deserving of calamity as those at Siloam.

The better question for tragedy is why God would ever prevent any tragedy or suffering?  Why, if we all deserve His just condemnation, would He not dish it out upon all?  The answer, of course, is grace.  Each moment we live is a moment of grace, a moment where we are not getting what we deserve, but receiving a wonderful gift.

Jesus second point is the real take away–repent.  Never one to miss an opportunity, Jesus seems to understand the frailty of life.  One moment you are going to work, the next you’re involved in a car accident and clinging to life, or worse.

Since this life is short, and there is much more to come, we are wise to reflect upon Jesus words.  Are you repenting from the sin for which God could justly condemn you?  Are you trusting in Christ’s perfect sacrifice as the only ground for God’s forgiveness?  Are you ready, right now, to face His Holy Judgment, if calamity should befall you?

Waiting for Jesus to Show Up | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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We shouldn’t scold ourselves for this. There’s no point in shaming ourselves because we don’t love God. To begin with, you can’t make yourself love someone or some activity. You either love or you don’t.

via Waiting for Jesus to Show Up | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

A great article on loving God.  Especially at Christmas we need to remember that love is not forced, it is a gift.  At the same time, we need to call our lovelessness what it is:  sin.

God commands us to love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5).  Though I cannot make myself love Him, yet I must repent of not loving Him.  This, I believe, is the first step to learning to love God:  recognizing my lack of love as sin.  Having done this, I can turn to Him who is Love, find forgiveness and His love begins growing within.

Modern-Day Lepers | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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Modern-Day Lepers | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

“I have heard it said that sex offenders are modern-day lepers,” he said. “That is probably pretty accurate. And we know that Jesus didn’t shun lepers. He loved them and healed them. He expects us to do the same.”

Seriously?  Sex offenders = lepers?  I don’t think so.  Read the whole thing.