The Need for Repentance

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 NIV)

It occurs almost like clockwork. A catastrophic event happens and talk of God’s wrath against sinful man emerges.  And so, in the summer of major hurricanes, such talk is in vogue once again. Back in 2004, Franklin Graham was roundly derided for his comments that Hurricane Katrina’s visit to New Orleans was the Lord’s retribution for the sin of the city.  Televangelist Pat Robertson is also well known for attributing natural events to God’s hand.  Naturally, most recoil at blaming such destruction and the loss of life on the Lord’s wrath.  

The argument goes that a loving God would not do such things and those who say and/or believe such things are hypocrites because of their own sin.  It wasn’t much different in the 1st Century.  It was a widely held belief that bad things happen to bad people and good people were spared the cruelties of life because of their goodness. Thus, as He walked the streets of villages in Judea, Jesus heard this viewpoint when tragedy struck, such as the Galileans being slaughtered by the Romans or the tower of Siloam collapsing and killing 18 people. They were assuming the people got their just desserts for living sinfully. And like modern-day critics of such assumptions, Jesus was quick to correct them, but with a twist.

The critics of today lambast any talk of connecting anyone’s lifestyle with tragic events.  Any talk of “they deserved it” is quickly shot down, just as Jesus did to the Jews of His day.  But rather than just merely rebuke them, He reminded them of the need for repentance in everyone’s life.  That is something never uttered by today’s critics of the idea of divine retribution.  The prevailing attitude today is anyone should be able to live as he/she wants without consequence and their lifestyles are not to be judged as wrong.  Talk of repentance is out of vogue and has been replaced by the idea that God is benevolent and loves us regardless of how we live.  It is a half-truth.  

Indeed, God loves us unconditionally, in the sense that His love for us does not depend on how we are living.  But, and it is a big BUT, Jesus’ call to repentance cannot not be conveniently ignored.

Repentance is, by definition, turning away from sin and heading in the direction of righteous living.  One cannot assume if he lives as he pleases, he will be just fine.  On the contrary, Jesus says quite strongly, “He will perish.”

Today, recognize your need for repentance.  It is not just for the “bad” people, and it is surely not out of vogue. The Lord demands it.  You and I would do well to obey Him.

© Jim Musser 2017