Hey my friends,

I want to do something a little different these next few weeks. I am on vacation with my family for the next two weeks, so I want to think with you about a topic that has been on my mind for awhile now. I'd love to hear your thoughts along the way and talk with you more once I get back from vacation.

What would collective repentance look like?

I have noticed a theme all throughout the Bible. The first people God calls to repentance is always, always God's people.

It isn't the unbelievers or those from other religions, it is always God's people who are called to repentance.

From the prophets to the people of Israel to John the baptist calling for the same, to Jesus calling for repentance from those who followed him, it is always God's people who are first called to "repent."

The Greek word for repentance in scripture is μετάνοια, (met-an'-oy-ah), which literally means to "change of mind."

Here's my thought: how much of the issues in our culture have come from an unwillingness from us Christians to repent or even change our mind about something?

How much of the problems in our culture stem from a Christian unwillingness to even think differently about something?

I can't help but think of all the periods in history, like when the earth was discovered to not be flat or that it was not the center of the universe, where so much havoc was created by the church's unwillingness to "repent."

So often, the church treats repentance as a sole task of "the world," rather than the first task of Christians.

This theme all throughout scripture tells me that a trademark of a people who are listening to God is reveled by a willingness to be the first to repent.

I just can't help but imagine what our culture would look like if God's people answered God's call to repentance from the host of things besetting our church and our culture. Imagine if we Christians just started asking how to collectively repent from political idolatry, sustaining cultures of abuse, and propping up a predatory economy that makes the rich richer and keeps the poor poor?

What if we as God's people saw repentance as first and foremost our collective responsibility as we look at the problems of our world?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic! I look forward to hearing from you along the way.

Sincerely,

Ben