"Repentance process"

[Vort]

A useful phrase, designed to highlight the fact that repentance is not merely an event -- suddenly you receive grace and are forgiven -- but a process of becoming, and one that involves significant time and effort?

Or a trite term that makes the deeply spiritual and life-changing effort of bringing one's being into conformance with God and his laws into a rote, even robotic, checklist of steps to complete, like hooking up the water supply to your toilet?

I know the wording was used originally to signify the first description, but to my ears, it usually comes across as the second.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Vort

[Tyler90AZ]

Made a few wrongs right, planted a desire in my heart to serve Jesus Christ, then I repented and felt the joy Alma described. I didn't feel like I had to mark a checklist; that would have been less spiritual.

[Vort]

I think you misunderstand me, Tyler. I am not talking about the repentance process. I am talking about the term "repentance process".

And I cannot believe I misspelled "repentance". Ugh.

[Seminarysnoozer]

I think you misunderstand me, Tyler. I am not talking about the repentance process. I am talking about the term "repentance process".

And I cannot believe I misspelled "repentance". Ugh.

Better repent about that, lol.

I think King Benjamin talks about that, that it has to be done continually and that is a part of what it means to have a "mighty change", to continually turn from evil.

[pam]

And I cannot believe I misspelled "repentance". Ugh.

I fixed it for you. :)

[Dravin]

A useful phrase, designed to highlight the fact that repentance is not merely an event -- suddenly you receive grace and are forgiven -- but a process of becoming, and one that involves significant time and effort?

Or a trite term that makes the deeply spiritual and life-changing effort of bringing one's being into conformance with God and his laws into a rote, even robotic, checklist of steps to complete, like hooking up the water supply to your toilet?

Probably depends on who is using it, it probably reflects their understanding of how repentance works. Someone who understands it is about becoming and changing uses it to signify such. When used by someone who understands repentance as a checklist they mean it to signify such.

[RipplecutBuddha]

There are a lot of phrases like this in our LDS culture that can come across as diminishing the spiritual implications of what happens/needs to happn. At the same time, I find that it's all in how one approaches the issue personally.

Repentance process can seem like a checklist, and I've been guilty of it in the past. When my spirituality is higher, however, it seems more like what it is intended to convey, and that is the ongoing effort of the individual to overcome sins and weaknesses. Sometimes I'm using the repentance process more often than others, but it always is a part of my self-evaluation.

[Guest]

What verbiage would you prefer?

[Vort]

What verbiage would you prefer?

Don't have anything specific in mind. I think the term is probably overused and we might do better to forego the term altogether in most instances.

Instead of, "Have you completed the repentance process?", we could mind our own business. :) But if we had actual cause to act (e.g. someone raises a question on an internet discussion list), how about, "Are you working with your bishop on this issue?" Instead of, "Those who sin need to begin the repentance process," we could simply say, "Those who sin need to repent." Instead of, "The repentance process consists of six steps, each of which begins with the letter 'R'," we could try to provide a somewhat more holistic and spiritual description of repentance.

People are at different levels of spiritual understanding and sophistication. I have no doubt that speaking of "the repentance process" has been useful to some. That's great. It just seems too mechanical and emotionless to my ears.

[HEthePrimate]

A useful phrase, designed to highlight the fact that repentance is not merely an event -- suddenly you receive grace and are forgiven -- but a process of becoming, and one that involves significant time and effort?

Or a trite term that makes the deeply spiritual and life-changing effort of bringing one's being into conformance with God and his laws into a rote, even robotic, checklist of steps to complete, like hooking up the water supply to your toilet?

I know the wording was used originally to signify the first description, but to my ears, it usually comes across as the second.

It's different things to different people. I don't mind the expression itself, but if applied the way you describe in the second paragraph, it can be problematic.

I suppose it's easier in some ways to take the "checklist approach," as it doesn't require as much thought, but like you say, it can seem pretty mechanical, or even insincere. Personally, I like lists. Not as something to thoughtlessly work my way through, marking each one off as I accomplish it, but more like a toolbox, giving me different options to use as needed. But yeah, one runs the risk of taking things too literally that way.

To me, repentance feels more like an opera than a wood shop project, if you know what I mean.

Edited April 21, 2012 by HEthePrimate