Is Repentance simply Repression?

Question

When sinners repent, do they simply repress the unacceptable aspects of self? Or do they actually change once and for all? What has been your experience with born again-ness as the solution for the problem? Did you find it unrealistic? Does Psychology offer more prctical solutions?

Answer 1

Repentance goes beyond repression.
Instead of "fighting"(repressing) against your own worse proclivities, you "relax" in the knowledge that you can't be tempted ever again.

I have a philosophical problem with the "born again" theme. It is too much like a faddish, fashion accessory for the soul. Never met a born again-er that I could trust. I don't think they understand and opt for smoke and mirrors.

Personally, I can use all the help I can get. Faith and knowledge make an indomitable marriage within me.

Answer 2

Going to confession is probably not some gigantic turning point in your life at which point you overcome all sin! It's a way of telling God and--perhaps even more importantly--telling yourself that you know that your actions are morally wrong, and that you feel guilt over them. Of course, the sinner will try to never repeat that sin, but if every sin ever confessed was never committed again, our world would be a lot less complicated! So yes, it is unrealistic to expect some gigantic moral transition after confession, but it's still an awesome experience that should help you to... slowly... become a better person.

Answer 3

While many repenting sinners are doing it for show, or trying to get out of paying for some crime . . .
True repentance is genuine recognition of some bad they have done and sorrow for hurting someone.
Repression is when someone has done bad to you and you can't process it (like when a kid has a parent who engages in incest - they can't process that a parent would do something so horrible)
So they repress the experience (develop a mental / memory block)

Answer 4

No, it's the opposite of repression. Repression would mean one was unaware of parts of oneself that they simply don't admit are there.
Repentance would involve openly admitting that parts of one's behavior are not okay.
Do people change once and for all after simply repenting? That has not been my own personal experience and I have noticed that others typically struggle with an issue and come back to repentance many times. I believe repentance opens me up to accepting help from God and others.
I find the same process of repentance active in the 12 step movement (AA,NA,etc). Step one is "We admitted we were powerless over ____ and that our lives had become unmanageable".
Step 2 is "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity".
Step 3: "Made a decision to turn our lives and our will over to the care of God as we understood him".
I find repentance to be very practical and would agree with the responders who would say that one needs to back it up with practical changes. I could repent of being a drunk, for instance. But unless I change from my drinking buddies, quit hiding my stash of alcohol and quit hanging out at a bar - repentance is futile until I am willing to change. (You could fill in any other vice for that matter).
I find reliance on God to be a critical help in making changes in my life and that those who want to change and rely solely on psychology have a harder time, but change is certainly not impossible.

Answer 5

Repentance is not a once-and-for-all solution. There needs to be followup reinforcements and punishments, and there needs to be new sublimations offered for the repressed material.

Answer 6

The prefix "re" signifies: to go back or return. The root word "pent" signifies: the highest place (i.e.- the penthouse of a building).

In the Bible, repentance refers to us returning to the place of God's highest intention for good in our lives. That place is in Christ. Christianity is a life of repentance. Through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we are realizing, and returning to, the place which God intended for us to live (in Christ)- before Adam sinned, before there was a devil, and before the very foundation of the World.

Repentance is not just FROM. Repentance is also UNTO God's eternal purpose for our lives by, in, and through His Son Jesus Christ.

Being born again is a spiritual reality. The goodness of God brings us to this initial repentance unto what God has freely provided for us in Christ. The initial born again experience is unto justification and initial sanctification. Subsequent repentance comes from the goodness of God leading us in progressive sanctification (being changed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Jesus Christ).