Repentance Isn't Just For Me (it's for US)

For many of us, our Christian faith has been highly influenced by American culture when it comes to the idea of repentance. Even as we repurpose the word ‘repentance’ to mean ‘a return to love’ so many of us have thought about this as only an individual thing. And of course it is an individual thing - but not exclusively so.

Time and time again in Scripture, God’s people together turn back to love. They recognize that the brokenness in their community, whether that’s a family, a tribe or a nation, is bigger than just one person. What that can means is that even if the specific sin we’re talking about is not MINE that I can and should still repent of it when I’m part of the group that typically does the sinning.

As Brenna pointed out on Sunday, even the donkeys and cows were invited to repent for the violence and injustice done by the Ninevites (Jonah 3:6—7) and it’s not like the animals were out there sinning! But for sure they would have been involved in the consequences had Ninevah been overthrown!

So listen in to this prayer for coporate repentance and see if you can join in. The context is the faith leader Nehemiah is owning how poorly his people have handled things and he’s owning it. What can you own today for your family? Your people? Your nation?

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,  let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ - Nehemiah 1:5—9