Repentance for Transformation (not social control) by Tom English Real Clear Values

Repentance isn't about external control; it's about internal change.

I was asked to give a talk at church on the topic, "Repentance is a mighty change of heart and mind", which I gave on Sunday 29th January 2023.

It isn't usual to record a talk that you give in a church meeting, but I felt prompted to do so beforehand. From the feedback I received from members of the congregation afterwards, I felt to share the recording on this podcast for others to listen to.

Repentance is something that I think about a lot, particularly as a means of personal transformation in so many different contexts, spiritual and secular. Yet, unfortunately, the word repentance has a branding problem, conjuring up all manner of images of social control and externally induced guilt and shame. (Shame can be a valuable internal stimulus for change, however, as I discuss in the talk.)

Repentance is driven by three fundamentals:

1. Identity – who you are and who you want to become;

2. Vision – where you want to go and what you want to obtain;

3. Love – there is nothing more transformational than the power of love.

For many listening who come from a non-religious background some of the terminology and concepts in the talk may seem strange, but the principle that underpins repentance is universal and isn't limited to a single denomination or belief-system. As a principle of transformation, repentance is like a key that will never rust.

I hope you gain something from listening to the talk.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments: tom@3stewardships.com.