Whatever Happened to Contrition?

I have heard it said that contrition is a feeling easier felt than defined.  However, years of experience and observation have lead me to believe that contrition is not only hard to define, but hard to feel.  Dictionary.com says that contrition, in a theological sense, means "sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfections (perfect contrition), or from some inferior motive, as fear of divine punishment (imperfect contrition)."  That definition is a good working definition.  To be contrite, one must feel sorrow over and hatred for the sin in their life, and desire, out of a love of God, to rid themselves of it.

Thinking of contrition as a state of sorrow for and hatred of sin, is it any wonder that David says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Ps. 51:17, ESV).  But why not?  Why doesn't God despise a broken and contrite heart?  Simple, God give grace to the humble, but opposes the proud (see Jas. 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:5, Prov. 3:34). While it should amaze us, it shouldn't surprise us, when the Lord says, "Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite'" (Isa. 57:15, ESV).  The Lord also says, "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word" (Isa. 66:2b, ESV).

These verses raise the question, "If the Lord looks to the one who is humble and contrite, dwells with the one who is humble and contrite, and does not despise the one who is humble and contrite, why don't we experience more contrition?".  Why don't we nurse the feelings of godly sorrow that work repentance in our life?  Why are we so quick to quench the convicting work of the Spirit, when he points our sin in our lives?

When we push these feelings of contrition away, we are pushing ourselves farther away from Christ.  If the Lord opposes the proud, then logically, pride places us opposite of God.  If God dwells with "a contrite and lowly spirit," then logically, he doesn't dwell with the proud of heart.  This is why Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3).  The poor in spirit are those people who are humble and contrite.

If we are meant to dwell in a spirit of contrition before the Lord, why isn't contrition more apparent within the church among God's people?  How is it that the hammer of God's Word can fall on our sin-hardened hearts, and not break them into millions of pieces?  Let's look at a few possibilities:

1.  God's Word isn't powerful enough to do the job.  Hebrews tells us, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12, ESV). We know that the word is perfect, converting the soul (see Ps. 19:7).  We know that the Word cannot go out and return void, but must fulfill its purpose (Isa. 55:11).  Beyond the biblical testimony, most of us know of at least one person whose life has been radically changed by trusting in Christ.  These changed individuals, including ourselves, are corroborating evidences to the truthfulness of Scripture.  Therefore, we dismiss this possibility because it contradicts Scripture and fails to account for the lives transformed by God's Word.

2.  God's finished with those who have long heard, but disobeyed his Word.  This is a terrifying option.  Is it possible that contrition is so rarely experienced in many professing believers lives, because God has left them to their rebellion?  Does God abandon people to their sin?  The Lord said to Isaiah, "Go, and say to this people: 'Keep hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed" (Isa. 6:9-10, ESV).  Of his ministry, Jesus said, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that 'they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven'' (Mark 4:11-12, ESV).  Does God cut people off?  Yes.  Even after Christ? Especially after Christ. The author of Hebrews reminds us: 

For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him in contempt (Heb. 6:4-6).

 3. God will not do the work for us.  God not only appoints the ends, but the means as well.  Paul states, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12-13, ESV).  He has given everything we need for godliness, but he expects us to build upon it (2 Pet. 1:3-11).  We can be confident that in Christ our labor is not in vain, but a necessary element of our sanctification and growth.

My mind bounces back between option two and three.  When I think about option two, I shudder.  Deep inside I feel a cry rising up--"Dear God, don't let this be the reason!"  If option two is the reason, then contrition is not possible, and neither is the accompanying repentance.  We are doomed.  For some this option may be reality.

But most likely, the lack of contrition within the church today is due to spiritual laziness.  We don't want to do the hard work of cultivating humility and contrition.  We don't want to learn about a holy God who requires that we be holy, as he is holy.  We don't want to do the hard work of reading, studying, and memorizing the Scripture.  We don't want to take the time to think deeply about the truths of God.  We don't want to cultivate a prayer life that requires intimacy with God and our neighbors, because then we might actually sow in tears.  We don't want to do the hard work of putting off sin, dying to self, and esteeming others as better than ourselves.  We are spiritually undisciplined, yet expect the Lord to zap us into holiness.  He will work the desire in our heart and give us the strength we need, but he expects us to devote all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength to see it through.

Why do you think contrition is rare in church life today?  How do you cultivate contrition in your life? I would really love to hear from you.