Hudson Taylor, founder of the Inland China Mission, understood that a repenting man was a healthy man, and a repenting church would be a strong church. Yet we shy from repentance because it will always be preceded with some measure of correction.
He would greet people in an unusual manner. When he would come across a colleague, he’d say, “Have you repented yet today?” I am sure it caught many by surprise and left a few bewildered.
He may have learned that from Paul when he encountered the Cretans. Look with me at Titus 1:12:
“…one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.”
I laugh every time I come across this verse.
July 13th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Thanks for this post/article, Wayne! Spoke a really intense word to me… I preached on brokenness a couple of weeks ago, and then on anger the week after that - and I realized that 1) God wasn’t finished breaking me, because 2) I’m a very angry person sometimes! (at least, when I’m behind the wheel of a car)
But, you’re right… we take repentance too lightly… may we learn from the example of Hudson Taylor!
Thanks for sharing,
D PLUM