Repent, for the Kingdom has Arrived – Matthew 4:17-23
The words that begin the ministry of Jesus are “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Repentance has come to mean something like be more spiritual, clean up your act, or a moral revival. While repentance may include those things – they are an incomplete depiction of repentance. As Jesus used it, “repent” is to change your mind or to rethink–– it is a rethinking that has a profound impact on your life and who you are.
ON DECONSTRUCTION
deconstruction | de·con·struc·tion
1: “the taking apart an idea, practice, tradition, belief, or system into smaller components– in order to examine their foundation, truthfulness, usefulness, and impact.” (Via the Sophia Society)
Unhelpful deconstruction uses the norms of culture, not the teaching of Jesus, to examine the church and Christian practice.
Healthy Deconstruction uses the teachings of Jesus to critique and call the church back to allegiance and faithfulness.
If your heart still aches for the people of God to live in the way of Jesus, to reveal his love, character, and justice to the world – you are likely in the midst of healthy deconstruction.
Instead of using deconstruction the term found on the lips of Jesus is repent.
ON REPENTANCE
Μετανοέω | metanoeō | translated “repent”
Verb, perfect, active, imperative, 2nd person.
1: You rethink everything
“Repentance, as Jesus used it, did not mean that you get down and beat your head on the floor. And when you’re done, you’d better do it a few more times to make sure you fully repented. Metanoia [repentance] means to think about your thinking. In that context it requires us to ask ourselves who is currently king or queen in our lives. If we’re honest, we will answer, “me.”
– Dallas Willard, Intentionality of the Heart.
Matthew gives an example of the first disciples turning away from their occupation in order to follow him:
"18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he [Jesus\ saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. " – Matthew 4:18-22 ESV
ON THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
The Kingdom of Heaven | Also called the Kingdom of God in Luke and Mark
1: “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.“ (Matthew 6:10 ESV)
2: God’s transcendent royalty beginning to be exercised here and now.
When we think of Jesus and his Gospel we should think of the Kingdom of God. “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…”
“24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” –Matthew 4:24–25 (ESV)
“3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” – Revelation 21:3–5 (ESV)
The good news of the Kingdom doesn’t stop at personal transformation, it is the complete renewal of all Creation.
4 things to keep in mind as we begin practicing repentance.
1. Simply admit to the possibility of having wrong ideas
2. Commit to exploring
3. Embrace the mystery of contradiction.
4. Start small
