A Call to Repentance is a Call to Action
It says in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, “Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked for His (God) protection and care with complete abandon.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2001, Pg. 59)
The truth is, I love half measures. I don’t mind admitting when I’m wrong so long as I can do it my way within my comfort zone. What that usually means is that I acknowledge my sin internally, ask God for forgiveness privately, and move on with my day. But the idea of facing someone I’ve hurt, posting an apology publicly, or having to repay in someway, that is where I struggle.
Why?
I think it boils down to my pride. God knows every bit of me, He knows all my weaknesses, insecurities, and failures. By His infinite mercy, I am still loved and forgiven.
But what about those around me? My sinful nature wants to creep in and convince me that I still need to “look good” around others, carrying the illusion that I don’t screw up. But if I am unwilling to be honest with my neighbors, I am most likely not being honest with God.
God doesn’t expect perfection from us, but make no mistake, He doesn’t bless half measures.
“Then Jesus said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.’”
The joy of salvation Jesus offers moves us to a state of radical repentance that leads someone like Zacchaeus giving reparations to those he robbed. (Luke 19:1-10) What I take for granted about this remarkable story isn’t just the financial sacrifice Zacchaeus is making by giving back so much money with interest. It’s also the implication of a man facing those he hurt.
For me, I would’ve been most hesitant to look someone in the eye, a victim of my power who I took advantage of, apologize sincerely, and hand them their money back with some of my own. In my most selfish state of mind, I would look for a half measure. Maybe after eating with Jesus, I would be convicted, but still look for the easy way out. Maybe I would swear off taking money from anyone else going forward, but not necessarily confess doing it previously. If I was going to payback my victims, I would do it by mail.
But Zacchaeus didn’t take the half measure. He tasted and saw that the Lord was good, he was convicted of his horrible sin, and repented.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
While the passage from James 2 tends to get discussed the most, it’s worth pointing out that the Epistle of James preaches the “faith without works is dead” message from beginning to end. James drives home this point in multiple sections of his letter.
James 4 is arguably his harshest moment in the letter, calling for his audience to repent from their sin, humble themselves before God and submit to Him. Like faith, repentance is a matter of the heart. But also like faith, repentance that doesn’t lead to action is insincere.
“What is required of them is a repentance from both this external behavior (wash your hands) and this internal behavior (purify your hearts).”
A full measured repentance is harder, but it also brings full relief. It brings full release from the bondage of guilt. It brings fuller healing.
Thank God we have a Savior who doesn’t bless half measures.
Bibliography
Alcoholics Anonymous. (2001). Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Moo, D. (2015). Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: James. Downers Grove, IL. InterVarsity Press Academic.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.