A New Perspective on Repentance

Okay, I'm probably stirring a veritable hornet's nest with this one, but here goes...

For a little while now I've been pondering the role of repentance in the life of the Christian.  Most people are aware of the raging debate in Christendom about 1 John 1:9 and whether or not a Christian should confess their sin or not - some say that verse is written to non-believers, others disagree.  I'm well aware of that and I've been there: I've been in that place whereby I've trembled in my boots every time I say a cuss word, or something, and wonder if I'm out of fellowship with God.  I'm over that now and I've been set free.  But I'd just like to possibly bring a new perspective on this much debated topic of repentance.

The Greek word for "repentance" literally means "a change of mind".  This makes no mention of verbal  confession of sins to God.  Anyway, most Christians know when they've sinned and don't need to remind themselves, and God, of it.  So what role could repentance play in the life of the Christian?  Have you ever experience those moments when you were completely unaware of something, when suddenly, you become very aware of it?  Perhaps you were treating someone in your life very disrespectfully, when all of a sudden you are struck with just how much of a self-righteous ass you have been.  In that moment, you are like thinking, "Oh no, what on earth have I been thinking?"

Another thing that comes into play is what I call the "ticking time-bomb analogy": you're getting on merrily with your life when all of a sudden, something you've been doing or something you've been putting off, suddenly explodes in your face.  Perhaps you've been mistreating your wife and now she's had enough.  It's as if there's nothing you can do in that moment to compensate for all those years of ignorance and neglect.  I think that's it: it's about awakening from a state of deep-seated ignorance.  This in in stark contrast from lighting-up a cigarette and going through some half-hearted ritual about how you know it's bad and your sorry to God about it and so on.

For me, I believe that repentance is a change of mind, attitude and awareness.  It's like something suddenly dawns on you.  It could be various different circumstances which are "brewing" in the background and all of a sudden it just comes to a head and falls down on you like a ton of bricks.  So if this is repentance, what are we all fretting about?  Because we know that this concept exists and is in full force in our lives.  I suppose what is debatable is whether we confess our new found awareness to God.  But in this situation I see God as the invisible, but ever-present "third-person" who is available for us to talk to and mull things over.

I suppose God does not have to be our confidante - it could be a close friend, spouse, neighbour, the cat, the dog, the aspidistra or the brick wall - perhaps the difference is that God is ever-present, real, willing to listen and willing to give feedback through impressions and feelings?  This is very different to the angry God, whip in hand, ready to pounce on us because we did not read the Bible as much as we should have last week.

So, having said all of this, I'm all in favour of repentance.  Repentance is important to moving beyond a sticking point in our lives, an attitude that held us back.  Perhaps you repent of being angry towards your ex-wife and the alimony you have to pay?  Repentance is a good thing if it sets you free from the burden of getting upset about that situation?

What are your views on repentance?  Particularly in light of the alternative view of it that I've hinted towards in the above text?