NO REPENTANCE
Have you ever done something and been incredibly sorry for it later? It’s called being convicted by your conscience of the act which you did, knowing it was improper or wrong. Because of the feelings that invokes it makes you want to make it right by saying you’re sorry or to seek repentance. This is character that was instilled in us in our childhood by our parents. To know right from wrong, or to live by the golden rule treating others as you would want to be treated yourself.
One of the things we notice in today’s society is there is no conviction or guilty feeling of anything that is done. The attitude of oh well is what the young people of society have adopted as their mantra these days. They seem to think that it really wasn’t that bad, and therefore they should have nothing to be sorry for. This lack of conviction or empathy has a way of affecting society in a harmful way, in that their moral compass has lost its needle. Their anything goes attitude spills over into every aspect of their life. While I am a firm believer of encouragement and bringing out the best in people, I’ve also taught my children to take responsibility for their actions. If there were an altercation between children they would have to say they were sorry to each other. This helped them identify with the concepts of conviction and repentance.
We can’t help but wonder why anyone of todays society would enter a school building and open fire on helpless children. We are astounded that there is no empathy or feelings of guilt or conviction felt by the perpetrator. Some of the people in today’s society have their own standards of justice in that they are the judge the jury and the law enforcement in their own right. They have the misguided idea that they are doing society a great favor by taking justice into their own hands.
On the market these days is a new synthetic marijuana which is killing people, and trust me the people marketing this don’t have any guilt or conviction about the murders they’re committing to anyone who buys it. Because there’s no conviction or consciousness of guilt there is no repentance in their vocabulary. They have the attitude, ‘if they’re stupid enough to use it they deserve what’s coming to them,’ making repentance for their action the last thing on their mind.
I could take this time right now to waxed poetic how it’s all the violent video games and the sleazy TV shows they have on television and the questionable movies they have the theaters is where the fault lays, but the truth of the matter is the fault is the home life. After all who allows them to play the games, watch the television, and see these questionable movies? I think if there’s any conviction, consciousness, or feeling of guilt it should be laid at our own feet, thus we should be seeking repentance because of our own actions, or lack thereof, in this matter.
As is parents we need to take a look deep within ourselves and then asked the question; “are we allowing the television to baby sit our children because were too busy?” Do we actually know what they’re watching on the video games or at the movies? Listen up people it’s our job to know and protect our children from becoming desensitized to the world and its problems. We must teach our children empathy for others and guilt for things they do that they should not do, and to ask forgiveness or repentance for such actions. These are the foundation stones for building good character for their future.
As writers we need to be conscious of what we write and how it will affect others. I would like to think if we would ever put a work out there that caused harm to anyone that we would feel guilty about it and seek repentance and/or recompense for it. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 3:19
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
II Peter 3:9
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38