Anabaptism at 500: Renewal Through Repentance
Scriptures: Psalm 51; Mark 1:14–15; 1 Corinthians 5:1–5; 2 Corinthians 2:5–11; 2 Corinthians 7:8–11
Pastor Calvary deJong
Introduction: When You Are the Villain
We love to picture ourselves as the hero in our own story. As the one who perseveres through hardship or shows kindness at just the right moment. But if we are honest, each of us is also capable of playing the villain in our own story. I learned that lesson in Grade 9 gym class when I was too competitive in volleyball and used my words to cut down a classmate, and was sent down to the principal’s office. Afterwards, my dad marched me over to the girl’s house along with flowers and a card with a handwritten apology. That was a memorable experience that I will never forget! It taught me something: repentance is more than embarrassment or fear of punishment. It is a turning of the heart, and the Bible calls that turning repentance.
As we continue our series Anabaptism at 500, we ask: What does repentance mean for us today? For the institutional church during the days of the Reformation? And how does this ancient practice remain the heartbeat of personal renewal and communal life?
Lessons From History: Institutional Repentance in the Reformation
By the sixteenth century, the church in Europe was in desperate need of repentance. Indulgence preachers promised forgiveness in exchange for donations. Many Catholic priests were poorly trained, and others were openly corrupt. Ordinary believers were shut out from Scripture, which was narrowly available in Latin. The very church that was supposed to call the world to repentance itself needed to repent. As a result, three responses to these very challenging circumstances emerged:
- The Magisterial Reformers (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli) insisted the church must be reformed by the Word of God. They broke from the Catholic church, declaring ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda—“the church reformed, always in need of reformation.”
- The Counter-Reformation sought renewal within Catholicism. At the Council of Trent (1545–1563), abuses by the Catholic clergy were confronted, priestly education strengthened, and some reforms enacted, though much of the ecclesial structure remained unchanged.
- The Radical Reformers, the Anabaptists, pressed further. Repentance could not remain a decree on paper or remain a matter of state religion. It had to be embodied in the life of the believer and the witness of the community. Baptism followed confession of faith, discipleship meant reconciliation with others, mutual accountability, and restitution where harm had been done. Menno Simons called it “a penitence possessed of power and works.” For Anabaptists, repentance was never just institutional reform. It was the visible reality of people turning toward Christ together in obedience and love.
Biblical Foundations of Repentance
- David’s Cry for Mercy (Psalm 51)
Exposed by Nathan after his adultery with Bathsheba, David confessed, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.” He admitted his guilt before God, pleaded to be washed and cleansed, and prayed, “Create in me a pure heart.” Repentance is not cosmetic—it is a prayer for deep transformation. - Jesus’ Call (Mark 1:14–15; Luke 15:11–32)
Jesus announced, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” In other words, repentance is the sane response to God’s nearness. When criticized for eating with sinners, Jesus said He came not for the healthy but for the sick, and he told of a father running to welcome a prodigal son. Repentance is not merely an invitation to forgiveness but the way to joy. - The Corinthian Example (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2; 7)
The Corinthian church tolerated a shocking sin—a man sleeping with his father’s wife. Paul rebuked them for this because sin spreads, weakens the witness of the Church, and therefore must be confronted. Yet by the time of 2 Corinthians, the offender had repented. Thus, Paul writes back now, urging the Corinthian church to forgive the wayward brother and reaffirm their love for him, lest sorrow overwhelm him. Paul taught them to distinguish worldly sorrow (grief at being caught, regret without change) from godly sorrow (grief that leads to repentance, life, and restoration).
Application: Repentance as a Way of Life
Repentance is not something we graduate from once we “become a Christian.” It is both the beginning of faith and the daily practice of discipleship. It is how we sustain our walk with Christ. In my own life, my first apology to a classmate was motivated more by a desire to avoid further discipline than by genuine sorrow. But later, when I realized the hypocrisy of mocking a classmate at school while leading worship on guitar at my church’s youth group, godly sorrow pierced my heart. That moment led not just to changed behaviour but to inner transformation—and that is the sincere repentance God desires.
The same is true for our church communities. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Life Together, reminds us that true Christian fellowship is not the absence of differences or conflict but the ongoing practice of repentance and forgiveness in the context of community. Without it, relationships become brittle and churches divide. But with it, the church becomes a family where prodigals are welcomed home. Repentance is not punishment—it is the way home. It is how joy returns, and it is the path of renewal for our lives, our relationships, and the future of our church.
Questions for Reflection & Action
- Where am I tempted to explain away my failures instead of naming them before God?
- Am I experiencing worldly sorrow (fear, shame, regret) or godly sorrow (true heart-change)?
- What would it look like for our church to be marked by repentance and restoration, not just tolerance or avoidance?
Prayer of Response
Merciful God,
Forgive us where our hearts wander and our actions fall short.
Wash us, renew us, and create in us clean hearts.
Thank You that in Christ, repentance leads not to shame but to joy.
Teach us to live not in worldly sorrow, but in godly sorrow that produces life.
Make our church a community where forgiveness flows, where repentance is welcomed, and where prodigals find a home at Your table.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.