"What's Happened To Repentance?"

  I have often wondered what has become of repentance? It seems to be slowly fading into the background while embracing everyone no matter what they have said or done. Repentance is a response of the heart turning from sin to righteousness. It is the very fiber and substance of Christianity! There is nothing in Christianity that is valid without repentance. Baptism is not baptism without repentance, it's just getting wet! Love is not love without repentance, it's just a feeling. Worship is not worship without repentance but empty lip service. Fellowship is not fellowship without repentance but a social club of friends. There is nothing more important in our relationship with the Lord than repentance!

  That being true, why has repentance become so neglected? How come the Lord's church is fighting itself because sin abounds and little repentance? People get worked into a huff and leave a local congregation. Suddenly one day, they just show up and want things to pick up right where they where before they left. Relationships were strained and the belief is there should be complete acceptance without repentance. What has happened to repentance?

  In the OT, priests were instructed to call people to repentance but they failed in this responsibility at times.  The Lord through Malachi the prophet reminded the priests saying about Levi, their tribal father, that he walked before God with true instruction, uprightness and turned many back (repentance) from sin (Mal. 2:6).

  James speaks to the church: "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."  (Jam. 5:19-20) That's the aim. We should not be catering or appealing to people that have wandered away without calling for repentance. We need to help them "turn away" and "turn them back". We cannot ignore sin and sinful practices. Without repentance, people who once named the Lord as their sin bearer, will lose the battle of sin and be lost forever. People advance their sin, their sinful attitudes and are never called to repent of their past sins or sinful attitudes. Doesn't it make you wonder what has happened to repentance?