"looking or acting repentant"
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I think if someone is doing something radically out of line with the teachings of the Bible, and claiming to be a Christian, they maybe don't know the expectations written in God's Word, or they are choosing to ignore it. Whether we are the people to call this person out is another matter.
Perhaps their pastor is the best person to approach, unless some kind of danger or abuse is involved, in which case, I would call the police. If it is sin, then pray about it. If this is a new Christian, then they need to be approached gently, with understanding that the Christian walk is a journey and a process, and although we are perfect positionally in Christ, we are not perfect while we live on this earth.
I do believe that in the end, true repentance is between that person and God. But as fellow Christians, we can certainly help our brothers and sisters, so long as it is done in love, and not with pride or condescension.
Perhaps their pastor is the best person to approach, unless some kind of danger or abuse is involved, in which case, I would call the police. If it is sin, then pray about it. If this is a new Christian, then they need to be approached gently, with understanding that the Christian walk is a journey and a process, and although we are perfect positionally in Christ, we are not perfect while we live on this earth.
I do believe that in the end, true repentance is between that person and God. But as fellow Christians, we can certainly help our brothers and sisters, so long as it is done in love, and not with pride or condescension.
K
While Jesus does witness the repenting heart - He also discerns the hypocritical heart. There's plenty of scripture of Christ admonishing sanctimony, calling hypocrites snakes and wolves in sheep's clothing, and whitewashed tombs. More importantly though, it's possible that this "gift" of discernment spreads to the mortal. There's the example of John the Baptist when he refused to gives some people a pass telling them they needed to produce "fruits worthy of repentance" in Luke 3:8. I think that those with this "gift" are sometimes (like John) convicted by the Holy Spirit to identify or point out the determination they made and to admonish the guilty. I also believe this gift of discernment is an ability sparingly given by God, while the resulting admonishment is generously given by many.
God is omnipotent and omniscient. He knows all, sees and hears all. Ultimately, only he can determine who is truly repentant or just acting the part. As kenthomas said, God can discern a hypocritical heart. I believe if we see someone doing wrong and acting unrepentantly, then we should at least encourage them to repent. Whether they do or not is up to them, and only God can give the final judgement upon them.
In the context of community where people have made a choice to live with others and be accountable I believe its totally fine for individuals to come along side others and hold a mirror for others to self reflect and be given feedback on their choices and behaviour. However its important that a space is created where that's a norm of the culture and where people are willing and open. Its all part of healthy community living.
If you don't know a person and don't have the kind of relationship where a strong bridge is built then your advice or rebuke may fall on deaf ears. When it comes down to it its Gods job, he is the judge and knows our hearts but clearly he raises prophets to stand and be his voice letting people know they need to reflect on their lives and turn back to God and repent. Corporately and individually this can be confronting but isn't that what repentance is all about, being confronted by ones brokenness (like David was when he realized the impact of his seduction of Bathsheba) and turning away from it and experiencing freedom and pain at the same time but walking away a different person.
Gods job but sometimes he will use others to hold a massive mirror before us
If you don't know a person and don't have the kind of relationship where a strong bridge is built then your advice or rebuke may fall on deaf ears. When it comes down to it its Gods job, he is the judge and knows our hearts but clearly he raises prophets to stand and be his voice letting people know they need to reflect on their lives and turn back to God and repent. Corporately and individually this can be confronting but isn't that what repentance is all about, being confronted by ones brokenness (like David was when he realized the impact of his seduction of Bathsheba) and turning away from it and experiencing freedom and pain at the same time but walking away a different person.
Gods job but sometimes he will use others to hold a massive mirror before us
My friend,
An alcoholic can repent for his sin but the cure may take a while. Only God knows the struggle, the frustration and the bitterness of the alcoholic.
Repentance means to cry for your sins (the cry can also be interior, seen only by God) and the fruit worthy of repentance is the changing of the mind (meta-noia).
I don't believe that there are people who fake their repentance. I believe there are people who do not know what it means to repent. An example of this would be the christian who is proud to be homosexual as opposed to the christian who struggles with homosexuality.
An alcoholic can repent for his sin but the cure may take a while. Only God knows the struggle, the frustration and the bitterness of the alcoholic.
Repentance means to cry for your sins (the cry can also be interior, seen only by God) and the fruit worthy of repentance is the changing of the mind (meta-noia).
I don't believe that there are people who fake their repentance. I believe there are people who do not know what it means to repent. An example of this would be the christian who is proud to be homosexual as opposed to the christian who struggles with homosexuality.
1 Corinthians 5:1, 4-5, 7 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
AND THEN...
2 Corinthians 2:4-8 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
[Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
AND THEN...
2 Corinthians 2:4-8 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
[Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
O
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oh, they do suffer, one way or another, God is not mocked.
if you sin in ignorance by what ever means of self-justification
and are NOT convicted, this is a whole different area of your walk
than it is if you do so wilfully
but if you sin and ARE convicted and keep going on the same path,
and count the blood of the Covenant as a common thing,
then you are in deep you know what, and WILL pay...
oh, they do suffer, one way or another, God is not mocked.
if you sin in ignorance by what ever means of self-justification
and are NOT convicted, this is a whole different area of your walk
than it is if you do so wilfully
but if you sin and ARE convicted and keep going on the same path,
and count the blood of the Covenant as a common thing,
then you are in deep you know what, and WILL pay...
Someone can "do" and "say" all the right things and appear repentant -without truly being repentant. Proof of being able to deceive is everywhere. Has anyone ever heard of full fledged degreed (seminary educated) pastors who at sometime realize they have not given their hearts and lives to Christ? I have. If you can look like a pastor, talk like a pastor, have the credentials and job of a pastor and then find out they admit that they haven't been saved/given their lives to Christ/been born again (whatever you want to call it), then you can believe there are deceivers out there.
Metanoia is not looking or acting, It is a Change of Mind
The word used for repentance, as a human act in salvation, is metanoia, a change of mind. Metanoia is neither being sorry, nor turning over a new leaf.
The metamelomai repenting does have sorrow; this Judas did before He hanged himself; it saves no one. Judas surely looked sorry when he threw back the pieces of silver.
The only repentance which saves is a change of mind from not-believing to believing in the Savior, trusting Him. This conclusion follows from the fact that so many, many times, salvation is offered just for believing/faith:
Sirs what must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.
The only must-I-do is believe; that is, trust in the Savior.
It is wrong to conceive of repentance as a list of steps in how to be saved.
The word used for repentance, as a human act in salvation, is metanoia, a change of mind. Metanoia is neither being sorry, nor turning over a new leaf.
The metamelomai repenting does have sorrow; this Judas did before He hanged himself; it saves no one. Judas surely looked sorry when he threw back the pieces of silver.
The only repentance which saves is a change of mind from not-believing to believing in the Savior, trusting Him. This conclusion follows from the fact that so many, many times, salvation is offered just for believing/faith:
Sirs what must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.
The only must-I-do is believe; that is, trust in the Savior.
It is wrong to conceive of repentance as a list of steps in how to be saved.
Hello - Actually nothing happened to me personally. I was in a conversation with a group of people and one person made a comment about how he had never came across any Christians who had divorced and then married (other people) for a second time who appeared "properly repentant". This guy claimed that he could determine whether a fellow Christian had repented for their misdeeds (in this case a divorce) by their actions and words.
I don;t believe it is our job to determine if our fellow Christians feel sorrowful enough or have asked forgiveness for their past "misdeeds" or sins. That discourse happens between the individual and God. It can be facilitated by another person.
Snark alert! Whatever "properly repentant" is anyway. Is there a chart somewhere in the Bible for us to reference so we can determine if someone in our circle has asked for forgiveness in the correct way/has done the proper penance? Snark alert!
I like to get other people's views on issues - it helps me figure out if I am on the right track or not.
I don;t believe it is our job to determine if our fellow Christians feel sorrowful enough or have asked forgiveness for their past "misdeeds" or sins. That discourse happens between the individual and God. It can be facilitated by another person.
Snark alert! Whatever "properly repentant" is anyway. Is there a chart somewhere in the Bible for us to reference so we can determine if someone in our circle has asked for forgiveness in the correct way/has done the proper penance? Snark alert!
I like to get other people's views on issues - it helps me figure out if I am on the right track or not.