And . . . What a Lifestyle!
When I first began talking about metanoia in Lutheran circles, the reaction was guarded. Even though metanoia was the key to Luther’s struggle with pennance that lead him to write his Ninety-five Theses and post them on the door at Wittenberg—an action that became the hinge-pin of the Reformation. In truth, my study of Luther while at college made me a Luther’s Lutheran, far more ecumenical and far less influenced by the Danish ethnic culture of my local Lutheran Church. Heaven forbid, an ecumenical Lutheran! “What do you mean, Luther believed total immersion was a better method of baptism? What do you mean, that Luther believed baptism was a life-long experience? What do you mean, you’re not talking about works? What do you mean, Luther wasn’t always right? What do you mean, we’re often living in a state of ‘half-grace?’” The questions were amazing and what I was saying seemed just too radical! But my challenge to each of you to live with repentance as a lifestyle isn’t a call to radicalism.

It’s simply a call to begin an introspective look at a great attitude for life in Christ.

To “walk in repentance” is to walk in the knowledge of our human frailty—with a bonus! What’s your personal belief system centered on? Is it grace, the Holy Spirit, water baptism (sprinkled or immersed), baptism by fire, tongues? Repentance is central to Jesus’ teaching and entering His Kingdom. The bonus is in the equipping nature of repentance itself—for it leads to the gift of grace, faith and belief through an attitude that allows the equipping action of the Holy Spirit. It isn’t foreign to any Christian belief system, instead it is an attitude essential to each.

As I walk in repentance I’m not called to recurring guilt and regret because of my human frailty, nor is repentance an experience that happened at only one moment of my life. Yes, the first time can often be a big step, a huge action. Instead, continuing to walk in repentance has simply caused me to spend a great deal of my life on my knees, where I trust the Lord to bring about recurring change and His equipping Holy Spirit. That recurring change brought about by the Holy Spirit, is the fruit that John was calling for—and in that fruit is Kingdom living.

The message of Metanoia Ministries and my challenge to each of you is that you “walk in your repentance.” You’ll be surprised at the gifts you’ll find!

—Jim Elder, Metanoia Ministries