Repentance means to turn around, do an about-face and go in the other direction. What does repentance look like? That’s what John the Baptist’s audience was asking. He did not give them the classic evangelical response. He said give away your extra coat. Share your food. Be generous. Stop being greedy. No extortion. No oppressing people. Be content. The kingdoms of this world are driven by greed, domination, control; they are all designed for the upper to be served by the lower. The Kingdom of God is meant to erase the higher and lower by making servants out of all of us.
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:10–14 ESV)
{From “Sonlight for the Soul”, by H. Lamar Smith)
