NationStates Jolt Archive


views on repentance (christianity)

Pure Metal
02-02-2005, 03:23
ok, repentance is what some christians do in a funky little booth with a priest, others just repent to god through prayer. do all christians repent in some form or another?
that's not my main question though. throughout my life, the most devoutly and outwardly vocal christians i have known have actually been quite horrible people. they were incredibly greedy, decietful, narrow-minded and double-crossing - not to mention thiefs. now this behaviour and the fact they are christians may be a coincidence, but it seemed they used the notion of repenting their sins to get away with doing whatever they wanted. an attitude of 'do whatever you want in the week - lie, cheat, sin - because on Sunday everything'll be ok again one you repent'.

anybody else reckon that repentance is a pretty neat way of getting away with things? is this not the point of repentance - so you can sin during the week but still have a shiny-clean soul after sunday? anyone else encountered christians using repentance to their advantage in their experiences? i don't have a problem with christianity, FYI, but just this particular part of the organised religion.
(not intended flamebait btw :) )
RhynoD
02-02-2005, 03:46
1) You sure those people were Christians?
2) People lie about being Christians.
3) Christians are sinful just like everyone else.
4) Yes, some "Christians" think that saying you're sorry makes everything OK, so you can do whatever you want: See the first three.
5) That's not how Christianity works. If they're doing that, they're wrong. The point of repentence is to actually be sorry for what you've done and not do it again. You inevitably will do it again, because people are fallen and they do things that they're not supposed to.
6) Saying sorry only works if you're actually sorry. God's not going to forgive you if you're just using it as an excuse to do it again. As obvious as it sounds: If you're not sorry, you're not sorry. Repentence implies that you are.
7) Some people, generally refered to as "criminally insane" have the mindset of Rasputin: "I sin more so that I may earn more forgiveness." See, again, the first three.
Pure Science
02-02-2005, 03:50
throughout my life, the most devoutly and outwardly vocal christians i have known have actually been quite horrible people. they were incredibly greedy, decietful, narrow-minded and double-crossing - not to mention thiefs. now this behaviour and the fact they are christians may be a coincidence, but it seemed they used the notion of repenting their sins to get away with doing whatever they wanted. an attitude of 'do whatever you want in the week - lie, cheat, sin - because on Sunday everything'll be ok again one you repent'.

I expect that does happen, but I think that a small minority go further and justify their unpleasant actions with religion.
Gnostikos
02-02-2005, 05:38
The only penance I partake of is when I degrade myself of cowardliness or stupidity. And it rarely makes me feel better.
BLARGistania
02-02-2005, 05:40
meh. Jesus died so our sins are forgiven. Why do we still have sin again?
Gnostikos
02-02-2005, 06:53
Jesus died so our sins are forgiven. Why do we still have sin again?
Because life is so boring without sin!
UpwardThrust
02-02-2005, 08:00
I am going to video tape my death bed repentance that way if I get into a fiery death that is so quick I don’t have a chance I will still be covered
Iraqestonia
02-02-2005, 08:03
BART: "I figure I'll just sin for my whole life and repent on my deathbed."
PREACHER: "Wow...that's a good angle. But it's not God's angle!"
Scott Allen
02-02-2005, 08:17
His mercy is new each day.

If you love Him, you'll hang nail Him to the cross the least amount of times as you can.
Robbopolis
02-02-2005, 08:20
ok, repentance is what some christians do in a funky little booth with a priest, others just repent to god through prayer. do all christians repent in some form or another?
that's not my main question though. throughout my life, the most devoutly and outwardly vocal christians i have known have actually been quite horrible people. they were incredibly greedy, decietful, narrow-minded and double-crossing - not to mention thiefs. now this behaviour and the fact they are christians may be a coincidence, but it seemed they used the notion of repenting their sins to get away with doing whatever they wanted. an attitude of 'do whatever you want in the week - lie, cheat, sin - because on Sunday everything'll be ok again one you repent'.

anybody else reckon that repentance is a pretty neat way of getting away with things? is this not the point of repentance - so you can sin during the week but still have a shiny-clean soul after sunday? anyone else encountered christians using repentance to their advantage in their experiences? i don't have a problem with christianity, FYI, but just this particular part of the organised religion.
(not intended flamebait btw :) )

Unfortunately, guys like this give the rest of us Christians a bad name. Then again, I'm sure that every major group has folks like that. So the point is that people aren't perfect. Even after becoming Chrstians, some people have no interest in changing their lives, even though they should. It's stupid, but some people are just a pain. Welcome to earth.
Pagatude
02-02-2005, 18:04
I think the concept of repentance is misinterpreted and abused by a large portion of Christians, at least in my part of the US. I see a lot of people who interpret it the way Pure Metal described it--as a way to apologize for all the intentional crap you've done and caused over the last week. Of course, this is probably skewed by my being in college, and seeing what my fellow students do. In any case, that isn't how it's supposed to work!

My 2-dollar tag line has always been that religion should make you feel better about yourself and your place in the world. If yours doesn't, you're doing something wrong. I can't imagine how the above lifestyle can make you feel spiritually fullfilled. I can, however, see how genuine repentence and confession to your God can make you feel better about things. Not for me personally, but I can see how others may feel that way.

My personal faith doesn't leave room for voluntary repentance...I see it as unneccessary. The gods have already seen what I did, and Karma will catch up with me, good or bad.