If Your Mind Doesn’t Change
Your Life Never Will
At one point in the early stages of American history, repentance was a word often heard in sermons, usually accompanied with lengthy arguments but also offered threateningly or with a demanding tone.
The arguments were essential. If sound, the threats weren’t always needed. But, as you can imagine, if you can’t make a sound argument and no one seems to listen, demands make it possible to get results.
That isn’t a well respected approach but it is true, threats can be effective in a pinch.
Tent revivals of the past, also called brush arbor or camp meetings, were known for this. There were many in the early stages of US history. George Whitefield and John Wesley were remarkable for their ability to preach in open air settings to thousands, and be heard clearly by all.
There was a great deal of emotion in Whitefield’s preaching but his sermons also included arguments woven together convincingly.
I’m not saying that you would agree with Whitefield on every point but his arguments, right or wrong, were clearly articulated and he did what Calvinists of his time were loathe to do; he ended his sermons with an invitation to get saved.
His inaccuracies can be forgiven. Only God is known to be without error (and Christians are known more for what they disagree on) but his ability to project and to make sensible arguments, if not always absolutely correct, were well known and respected by everyone during his time and ever since.
People were known to go far out of their way just to witness Whitefield’s speaking ability. There’s no surprise there. Whitefield studied and performed in theatre at a time in history when vocal projection was a must. It was in itself an attraction.
Attending one of his services in the 1700’s was like going to the movies today. It just so happened that his extraordinary abilities, that drew people in, were also used to preach the Gospel and repentance featured dominantly.
Whitefield understood that repentance is essential to any person’s coming to faith.
What Is Repentance
Repentance is nothing more and nothing less than a change of mind. A real, life effecting, lasting change of mind. Once this change occurs, it can’t be undone. There may be doubts, fears, and questions but there’s no going back.
Those who repent may have occasion and good reason to challenge the indoctrination they receive after repentance but the foundation laid by the mental adjustment won’t be effected. It’s that solid.
Fickle ups and downs are not repentance. That’s variableness and the Bible dismisses it (James 1:5-7). Planning to have a hamburger for lunch but instead having a hotdog is impulse not repentance.
Repentance involves the kind of change that produces a chemical readjustment of the brain. You’re not only convinced of the truth you’ve heard, you’re committed.
The Necessity Of Repentance
There is no question that repentance is necessary. Although there is no word in the Old Testament for repentance, the idea of turning from sinful ways which involves a change of mental focus is repeated and obvious.
The New Testament era, of course, began with an emphasis on repentance.
John the Baptist preached repentance (Mark 1:4) until he was put in prison and then Jesus took up the mantle (Mark 1:15). It was there from the start and, of course, Paul emphasized the repentance theme repeatedly.
The messenger changed; the message didn’t.
The Necessity Of Patience
The problem is people don’t always accept the call to repentance immediately and our impatience leads us to take a threatening tack.
Non-responsive hearers are often treated like the enemy when maybe they just need time to think and process. Instead of threats:
This may be your last chance to repent. Miss it and all is lost.
We should take every opportunity to offer reasoned arguments and encourage people to think.
Unfortunately, our expectations of immediate results can’t be justified no matter how sincere our concern. Repentance is personal and requires deliberate consideration (it’s entirely mental). Deliberation takes time. It can’t be rushed.
Embracing Christ takes only a moment but the thought processes (repentance) that lead to salvation can take years for some.
It is necessary for people to repent but it is also necessary for us who encourage repentance to patiently weave arguments that lead to that desired end.
Sometimes we say things. Sometimes we say nothing. Sometimes we admit our inability to answer a question. But at all times we respect those making considerations about their responses to Christ.
The process takes time. An insecure person can’t manage that.
Scaring or dominating people may be effective but it isn’t the best way to achieve results.
Repentance Isn’t Emotional
Some people do express intense emotional responses at the moment of repentance but this is a secondary effect. It isn’t required for repentance and it isn’t proof that one has repented.
The people who live horrible lives, either by choice or influence, may become quite emotional after repentance but that is an aftereffect. That emotion is a response to deliverance, not repentance.
Others, whose lives are by comparison disciplined and untainted by questionable activities, may show no emotion at the point of repentance, although the salvation is just as real to them as anyone.
Repentance Is A Life Long Process
God doesn’t save us just to leave us as we were.
The first step of repentance, leading to salvation, is followed by repeated steps of repentance afterward.
Your entire nature is changed at salvation, but not your complete understanding of God’s truth or your skills for applying those truths to life. There may be many old ideas that need reshaping.
The first thing we do after salvation is learn. The marvelous details of God’s truth aren’t automatically infused at the moment of salvation any more than grade school teachers pour knowledge into our heads.
The Bible mentions this:
Make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9)
The nearsightedness Peter mentions is not so much ocular as it is mental. Attitude can be a big problem. The only correction for this is repentance, a change of mind. The inability to grow is often an inability to see a different perspective.
That means the ideas impressed on you from your youth upward must be revisited and challenged throughout life.
John Newton, who wrote the enduring hymn Amazing Grace, though an active slaver himself, renounced slavery several years after his conversion. It was an additional act of repentance.
Obstacles To Repentance
Ignorance and misinformation cause us many troubles.
Truth may be as solid as a rock, but no person has a corner on truth. We find it by searching. Others may teach what they understand to be truth and do so convincingly, but they may not always be right. Sincere, yes. Right? Maybe not.
Listen to others. Be gracious but always retain your personal right to think differently. You are responsible for what you believe, not what they believe.
And when the truth you’ve been taught is found to be wrong, repent.
But misinformation is only part of the problem.
Secondary acts of repentance will lead to changes that others won’t readily accept. Comments like:
You’ve changed!
Offered in an accusing way are not uncommon.
The reality, though, is we’re supposed to change. It’s what we were made for. It’s the one thing we can do that neither God nor anything else in creation can do.
Embrace it. Engage it. Make it an important part of your life. You were created for change.
There’s no shame in deliberately and cautiously questioning what you’ve been taught and deciding differently when necessary. Your manner can be disrespectful, and we should avoid that if possible, but change, done properly, is not.
Openness, Which Requires Work, Induces Repentance
We all have a responsibility to explain ourselves and we can’t do that without making an argument. But making and assessing arguments is work. It’s the kind of work we avoid.
We look for ways to shut off our minds. Watching TV, reading entertaining novels, even mundane, routine excersize routines can do the trick. Exercising one’s mind only happens when you try to figure things out.
That is what leads to repentance.
You may not feel suited to making or analyzing arguments and your first attempts at doing so will likely not ring any bells but the more you try, the better you’ll get. That’s how life works.
THINK!AboutIt
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