The Power of Representational Repentance
Can we repent for the “sins of our fathers”?
By Paddy Monaghan
(From the July - September 2021 issue of VOX)
We are no strangers to the stain of systemic injustice and abuse in Ireland. From the evils of conquest and eviction to the violence of sectarianism and the horrific legacy of abuse and cover up in our churches and institutions, there is much to lament in our history. But as Christians who are not directly responsible for past sins, how should we respond? Is it possible to repent for the sins of a nation, a church or a family? Here Paddy Monaghan explores ‘representational repentance’ from Scripture, from examples around the world and from his own experience.
To intercede through Representational Repentance (RR) is to identify with a particular corporate sin and represent the perpetrators (or victims) by repenting of that particular sin.
“There was an admission of guilt on the part of church authorities who pleaded forgiveness ‘for the deaf ear, the blind eye and the hard heart’.”
In February 2011, I had the privilege of helping to organise and participate in a Liturgy of Lament and Repentance in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral. Described by the Irish times as a “powerful and authentic event” it brought together victims of clerical child sex abuse. There was an admission of guilt on the part of church authorities who pleaded forgiveness “for the deaf ear, the blind eye and the hard heart” presented to the abused, as spoken by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in words prepared by victims themselves.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston and leader of the apostolic visitation sent to investigate the Dublin archdiocese, asked forgiveness on behalf of Pope Frances, “for the sexual abuse of children perpetrated by priests and the past failures of the church’s hierarchy, here and in Rome.”
During the Troubles, I also attended, along with an evangelical Catholic friend, a good number of RUC funerals in Northern Ireland, making a point each time of apologising to Dr. Ian Paisley for the tragedy perpetrated by people from a Catholic background. Being there as evangelical Catholics, we were warmly welcomed into the local orange hall afterwards for tea and sandwiches.
Many RR Initiatives
In the last 40 years there have been a number of RR initiatives in racial reconciliation gatherings in the US. There have also been many Prayer Journeys involving RR, such as the YWAM prayer walk, led by Lynn Green, from Western Europe to Jerusalem, commemorating the 900th anniversary of the First Crusade. In 2000, Pope John Paul 2 held a RR service in Rome, confessing the sins of Roman Catholic Church for the treatment of Jews and women, over the centuries.
An evangelical Catholic Leader, Pavol Strezo pioneered RR in Slovakia. He discovered in his home city a Jewish woman who was only two years old when her father was taken to the death-camp. 250 Jewish citizens of this city had been deported and killed in Nazi death camps. On discovering that nobody had ever said sorry to her, Pavol went to the mayor, who agreed to organise a meeting of reconciliation. A breakthrough ensued in the relationship between Jews and non-Jews and led to 16 other cities in Slovakia taking similar initiatives. A national RR event is now being planned for next September involving many churches there. Praise the Lord!
Two Objections to Representational Repentance
Are we not only responsible for our own sins? How can we repent for sins we did not commit? The purpose of the confession of past sins is the ‘purification of memory.’ As Elie Wiesel, the Jewish writer, has said, “While no man is responsible for what his ancestors have done, he is responsible for what he does with that memory”.
Some Christians treat this area too flippantly and glibly repent on behalf of the nation.
Jesus Our Main Model
The gospel of Matthew presents the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan as His identification with sinners and the prefiguring of His death on the cross. Jesus so identifies with sinners that He takes the consequences of all sin upon Himself.
Other great biblical examples are Nehemiah and Daniel. In chapter 9 of both books, we find a long confession of the sins of the fathers, accompanied by a confession of the sins of their own generation. The person making the confession identifies with his ancestors. The “we” refers to the present and to the past. Our ancestors committed these sins, our people turned away from the Lord.
Five Elements of Representational Repentance
Research: In confessing the sins of the past, we must not make false historical claims, particularly when both sides of an historical conflict are represented. Both sides must be able to say “Amen” to the prayer.
Confession: The true confession of past sin involves saying, “This happened in the past and it was evil.” It is essential to avoid judgment of particular people.
Identification: We move from “they” to “we”, following the example of Nehemiah and Daniel: “We and our fathers have sinned.” We acknowledge the spiritual link between our generation and those of the past.
“Such heart grieving requires a seeking of the Lord, allowing the Holy Spirit to show us the real horror of the sin before God.”
Lamentation: A key principle is that effective RR requires a sorrow for sin as deep as the emotional and personal involvement of the perpetrators. The Pro Cathedral Liturgy mentioned above started with both senior prelates lying flat on the ground. It ended with their washing the feet of eight clerical abuse victims. Such heart grieving requires a seeking of the Lord, allowing the Holy Spirit to show us the real horror of the sin before God.
Forgiveness: Forgiveness must always be asked first of God, because all sin is an offence against Him. If any party would be offended or embarrassed by a request for forgiveness, then it should not be included. Sometimes descendants of people sinned against in the past may not feel that they have the right or capacity to grant forgiveness. We should be sensitive to the depth of the past suffering.
Fr. Peter Hocken writes, “We have certainly inherited the treasure of God’s Word and the riches of Christian worship and devotion… But we have also inherited the weaknesses and blind spots of our fathers. We have taken on their prejudices and hostilities towards other Christians, their false oppositions and distorted emphasises, their over-simplifications.”
As “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16), I believe that Holy Spirit-led representational repentance can unlock a massive wave of evangelism and reconciliation, here and across the world, preparing the way for the Lord’s return. Come Lord Jesus!
Paddy Monaghan is Secretary of both the Evangelical Catholic Initiative (www.evancat.org) and Towards Jerusalem Council 2 Ireland (www.tjcii.org).
