When we hear or see the word "Repent", quickly our mind associates it with Church, Religion and/or to be more specific, Christianity. That is the very reason why most of us (PNGeans) react and put up defensive walls when we hear this word spoken to us. This can simply be explained by the lack of proper understanding as to the real meaning of the word itself.
First of all, let me put your mind at ease by detaching the word from its religious connotation. The word "Repent" or "Repentance" is NOT a Religious term. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most dynamic mechanism for personal development and growth and personal fulfillment. Another illusion that needs to be pointed out and made clear to you is that the Bible itself is NOT a Religious book also. The Bible is one of history's most greatest, divinely inspired Book about personal & spiritual development that has ever been written and out of which every other personal development books stems from. What does the word mean? you may ask. The word appears several times in the Old Testament and several times in the new Testament.. In the Old Testament, the word "repentance" is translated from the Hebrew word "SHUBE", which means to turn back... from a way that will lead to destruction...back to the part that leads to happiness and joy, of which you were initially on before you turned astray. In the New Testament, the Greek word "METANEOEO" was used but still maintained the concept of its meaning as with its Hebrew counterpart, "SHUBE" of which it was translated from. Without going into detailed specifics, "METANEOEO" translated into English simply means A COMPLETE CHANGE OF THINKING. So simply put, the word REPENT or REPENTANCE means to change the way you have been accustomed to think. Paul so eloquently defined the meaning of repentance in Romans Chapter 12, Verse 2: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
So What does this have to do with Change?
It has everything to do with change. In the very word lies the Secret, the ultimate KEY to change. The Mind has to be consciously ridded off of its negative and destructive thought patterns and "reprogrammed" with life transforming thought patterns so that it will lead to an outward expression of happiness, joy, fulfillment, prosperity and living life to it fullest as it was originally intended to be.
And so I end here with a message to all my PNGean fellowmen and women: Our current mass ATTITUDE or mass MINDSET are of poverty and lack and victimization. These mindsets are very destructive and the reason behind the "hiccups" in our onward progress into civilized prosperity and abundance to be experienced in every area of our lives.
Remember... DARE TO THINK DIFFERENT!!
