Turn all the way

I’ve been doing some thinking about repentance recently. For many years I have simply defined repentance as “turning to God from idols” citing these words in 1Thessalonians 1v9:

“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”

I love the way that this verse puts the emphasis on who we are to turn to rather than what we should turn from. Obviously true repentance includes turning away from sin and idolatry, but it is God who saves us from those things, so the order matters. However, this verse goes on to say that we are turn to God from idols to serve that same God who has saved us, and this has got me convinced that there is a third kind of ‘turn’ that should mark the life of a truly repentant Christian, namely the turning back of evil. Let me explain what I mean…

In Isaiah chapter 1 God has strong words for his chosen people:

“Hear the word of the LORD,

you rulers of Sodom!

Give ear to the teaching of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!

“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?

says the LORD;

I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

and the fat of well-fed beasts;

I do not delight in the blood of bulls,

or of lambs, or of goats.

“When you come to appear before me,

who has required of you

this trampling of my courts?

Bring no more vain offerings;

incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—

I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

Your new moons and your appointed feasts

my soul hates;

they have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even though you make many prayers,

I will not listen;

your hands are full of blood.

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow’s cause.”

– Isaiah 1:10-17

Let me summarise what I see happening here – God is crystal clear in telling his people that their religious rituals and observances – their feasts, sacrifices and many prayers mean nothing to him. Why? Is it because worship means nothing to him? Absolutely not! God is gloriously merciful and lives of worship are absolutely the appropriate response to his grace to us. But in these verses God tells his people that their worship is shallow, insufficient and unwelcome because despite all their religious activity they are collectively guilty of turning a blind eye to injustice. Did you catch those final words: “cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause…”

In other words, those who have been saved from evil must be part of turning back that same evil. God’s people should therefore be marked by a passion for justice. We should be actively involved in correcting oppression and defending the cause of the fatherless and the widow (Bible-speak for the most vulnerable people in society).

Isaiah says later in chapter 58v6-8:

“Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.”

There is no doubt about it – the people of God must be a people of justice. Indeed, we guilty ones who have been kissed by heaven’s peace and perfect justice* at the cross have a responsibility to put God’s love and justice on full display for all the world to see. Those who have ‘washed themselves clean’ in the blood of Christ should be willing to get their hands dirty in dealing with the muck of the world all around them. Or to put it another way:

True repentance involves turning to God, turning from idols AND turning back evil.

May God help us to turn all the way!

* referencing lyrics taken from the hymn ‘Here is love’ by William Rees.