|
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Monday, July 28, 2003 "To Repent is to Rethink" |
|
Frontline Devotion for Monday, July 28, 2003 by Fritz Foltz
One of the best sermons I ever heard was preached by Richard Niebuhr, one of my professors. He seemed to be thinking out loud, musing over and over that to repent is to rethink. He seemed to be soul searching, acknowledging that he took too much for granted, was far too satisfied with the way he had come to think about things. And so Jesus challenged him to stop and think about those things on which he built his life.
I suspect part of the reason I was so impressed was I had always thought of repentance as simply being sorry for something I did and asking God to forgive me for that sin. Repentance was heart-felt confession. Of course, that meant I had figured out everything and had simply slipped. The critical issue then was really intending not to do it again.
Mr. Niebuhr got to the root of the idea. To repent is to go further than simply feeling sorry or even not intending to do the sin again. To repent is to rethink, to look at not only my actions but also the presumptions behind them, making sure they agree with Jesus’ teachings. Only after rethinking my ideas can I be prepared to change. Thinking is the prelude to action. Rethinking is the prelude to changing my actions.
And of course, because Mr. Niebuhr liked Luther, he shook his head as he spoke of repenting daily. What a challenge, to rethink my basic positions and opinions every time I make a decision. Of course, we do not do that. In some ways, one of the wonderful qualities of the Christian lifestyle is that we do not have to go through a long, agonizing process ever time we act. At the same time, it is one of the most dangerous qualities, because we humans too easily confuse our own desires with Jesus’ will. The call to repentance is a call to stop regularly and make sure the assumptions that determine our actions are Christ’s assumptions.
Let us pray: Father, continually grant us your Spirit that we might have the courage to rethink our lives and bring them into line with your will. Bring the Kingdom that all people, especially the poorest of the poor, might know joy. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen
Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily.. They will also be posted to the web site if you want to direct others to our web site for more information. Sign up by clicking on the box below
All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry. Pastor Dave welcomes and appreciates feedback. pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org.