Growing up rooted in Norwegian Lutheran piety, I always understood repentance as “I have sinned, but I can do better.” Phillip Yancey, in his book What’s So Amazing About Grace, taught me grace that means true repentance must rely wholly on God through Jesus Christ to be able to turn me away from my sin. The true power of grace says “I have sinned, and I can’t do better. But God can.”
When I think of turning away from sin, I think of the “Canticle of Turning” (ELW 723). I love how it captures the action of repentance in a beautiful way as it proclaims not how we can heal this broken world, but instead, it proclaims the actions that God is doing to bring about this turning.
“Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast;
God’s mercy must deliver us from the conquerors crushing grasp.”
This hymn is based on the Magnificat from Luke 1 where Mary sings and shouts the good news that she will become the mother of God’s son. More than a song of praise and humility for God’s redeeming act, Mary is repenting on behalf of the world. God’s people have sinned, turned away from God and they can’t do better. God comes to turn the world around through the gift of Jesus and his salvific act. Mary is repenting on behalf of all of us by proclaiming “we can’t do better. But God can.” In Jesus, God is turning the world around.
Paul K. Erbes
Vice President for Development
Wartburg Theological Seminary
