The Power of a Single Word

While driving across and around North Carolina on our tour through family, we passed a series of religious billboards in the eastern part of the state. The theme was pretty clear—turn or burn! Jesus is watching, and he is not happy, so before getting smitten out of existence, change your ways! 

It suddenly struck us, What would happen if you changed one word? What would happen if REPENT were turned to REJOICE?

I would never argue that we human beings are evolved beyond the need for repentance. No one is perfect. No hits the mark every time. And all of us have done unto our neighbors before they did unto us, thank you very much! No, all of us need to turn around, change direction, and reorient our lives—the original meaning of the word repent in scripture. 

But…

All too often, we use fear as a manipulator. We order someone to change or else! Rarely does that reorient anyone in any lasting fashion. Someone might momentarily stop doing something or begin doing something because they fear the repercussions if they don’t. But it doesn’t take long before the fear passes, old habits resurrect, and we are right back where we began. 

Sadly, this manipulation has become a religious practice. And with the same results—someone might momentarily change out of momentary terror of judgment, but it doesn’t take long before they realize that impending doom really isn’t that impending, or they suddenly realize that the person terrorizing them has feet of clay, caught in their own hypocrisy. 

As Paul would say, let us consider a more excellent way.

Turn repent into rejoice. 

Jesus is a savior whose salvation is rooted in acceptance, affirmation, reconciliation, wholeness, healing, and feeding. Jesus redeemed by emptying himself so all the world could be full. Jesus redeemed by announcing from the cross, not fire and brimstone to wipe out the crowd calling for crucifixion, taunting him, and making a mockery of God and God’s work, but by intoning, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

We can live into this example. The word Christian carries dark overtones for the 80% of our neighbors with no religious affiliation whatsoever. They are used to the “turn or burn” manifestos and declarations, choosing to tune out instead of turning in to see who we are. They assume we are narrow, judgmental, hypocritical, and unwelcoming. So, we need to reclaim our identity as the people who live the selfless love of Jesus who also welcome, affirm, heal, nourish, and help our fellow travelers trying to be human in our time and place. In making rejoice our first word, we emphasize redemption in all its gracious glory.

Want to try it with me?