Pseudo Repentance

#5 February 1, 2010

Part 1

What do all of the following individuals have in common?

A. Pete Rose

B. John Edwards

C. Mark McGuire

D. Mark Sanford

E. Bill Clinton

The answer? Pseudo-Repentance.

Pete Rose suddenly, after years of denial, confessed to betting on Baseball.

John Edwards, suddenly after a year or more of denial, suddenly confessed to being the father of a little girl born to one of his Campaign Staff.

Mark McGuire, after years of denial, confessed to using Steroids while hitting 70 Home Runs in one season.

Mark Sanford, after vigorous denial and a ruse about 'hiking the Appalachian Trail', confessed to an adulterous affair with his Argentine 'soul mate'.

Bill Clinton, after shaking his finger at America and vigorously denying any sexual activity with a White House Intern by saying, 'I did not have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinski', was forced to come clean. The Blue Dress!! It had NOT been cleaned.

Part 2

Pete - came clean because he thought this confession would suddenly propel him into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

John - came clean because he read the galley copy of a soon to be published book that documented his being the father of that little girl.

Mark - came clean because he wanted a position with the St. Louis Cardinals organization as a batting instructor.

Mark - came clean because a diligent reporter confronted him in the Atlanta airport with a stack of very explicit emails exchanged with his Argentine paramour.

Bill - came clean because the DNA on the now infamous 'Blue Dress' gave him no other recourse. That dress has NOT been cleaned!

Genuine Repentance is motivated by a pure and simple desire to be clean before God. It matters not who knows what. It matters not what evidence may exist or not exist concerning the matter at hand. Jerry Bridges, in his wonderful title The Pursuit of Holiness, gives an account of 'coming clean' on an issue that virtually no one knew about except God Himself. That my dear reader is genuine repentance. Coming clean just for the sole purpose of being clean before a Holy God.

Hall of Fame - Being President - Professional Baseball Coach - Governor of SC - 2 Term President; those things matter nothing without holiness.

It should not surprise us that we sin. We are sinners. The crucial dynamic is, as the editorialist said to Tiger Woods, it is what you do next that matters most. Be motivated by pure and simple honesty. Tell the Truth and let the chips fall where they may. Clean hands and a Pure Heart. Now that is the way to live!!