Somewhere along the line, "repent" became a violent word. Rather than seeing repentance as a loving invitation from a loving God, it has become "fighting words." I think it might be the signs and the witness of the people holding the signs: many are angry, mean and literally spitting out R-E-P-E-N-T!!!
So many people are turned off or turned away. Over time this once inocuous word in this modern climate and context of hate and violence has come to mean something else. It's been misused and maligned. And
when this process happens over and over again, the word's original meaning changes. How ironic because in Greek, the New Testament's original language, the word repent is 'metanoeo' meaning, to change one's mind'.
Have you ever "changed your mind" about a person, a food, an event? Sure... many of us have. Life is always changing....and we are always changing. And if we continue to grow in our love and intimacy of Jesus Christ then we will be continue to change- repent and be changed. It's just that word. The word R-E-P-E-N-T is not been an invitation to love and be love; to forgive and new beginnings. Honeslty, I rarely use the word although I witness life changing moments all the time. What about you....do you use that word?
During Lent, may we all be open to the ways in which the Holy Spirit may invite us to new life and to change our hearts and minds...with or without the word.
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