YouTube: Repentance: A Change of Mind
Enshrined in the philosophy of Christian fundamentalism is the belief that all people are guilty of sin. This belief is reinforced by a passage in Romans: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). The remedy for this sin is repentance, defined from one camp as the expression of regret or remorse for one’s wrongdoing or sin. According to this perspective, if you do not repent, you will go to hell.
In whatever way we might define it, I’m sure it’s true that every person has fallen short of the glory of God. Do we always observe the golden rule or pray for the good of those who would do us harm?
A simpler, less abrasive definition for repent is to change one’s mind. A change of mind, especially when it concerns spiritual matters, is never accompanied by remorse or regret. Quite the opposite, spiritual enlightenment evokes joy for the freedom it inspires. Considering the theological norms of his time, can’t we envision the enthusiasm that must have swept through Meister Eckhart’s congregation when the Christian mystic introduced in a sermon this significant change of mind?
“I never give thanks to God for loving me, because He can’t help himself; whether He would or not, it is His nature to.”
Changes in our direction in life are normally preceded by a change of mind. We conclude that some habit or part of our lifestyle is no longer working, so we begin thinking in new directions. The last thing we want to do is add the weight of regret or remorse for self-destructive choices that we once made. What if we realize that we made the choice to incarnate in a physical body that guarantees falling short of the glory of God? Do we spend our earthly life affirming our human wretchedness, or do we change the way we think about this whole setup? The Psalmist certainly encouraged the latter:
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there! (Psalms 139:7-8)
I’m sure my days of making unenlightened choices are not yet over. But I’m equally sure that the God who cannot help but love me will see me safely through this journey, regardless of where I make my bed.
J Douglas Bottorff 