Repentance – From Zacchaeus to Keir Starmer – A Tale of Two Turnarounds.

Repentance – From Zacchaeus to Keir Starmer – A Tale of Two Turnarounds.

True Repentance is More Than Just Saying Sorry.

Let’s talk about something we don’t hear much these days, repentance. Not just saying “My bad” and moving on, but the kind of turnaround that changes everything. We’re going to look at two very different examples – one from way back when, and one that’s pretty fresh in the news.

Zacchaeus – OG “Original Gangster” of Turning It Around.

In the realm of ethics and morality, the concept of repentance stands as a cornerstone of personal and societal transformation. If you’re into modern cultural music, you might recall the rapper Ice-T’s “O.G. Original Gangster” from 1991 – but let’s not get sidetracked.

Repentance is rooted in the Greek term “metanoia,” (μετάνοια) meaning “a change of mind” or “a turning around,” is far more than just a superficial “sorry.” It’s about a profound shift in heart and behaviour. True repentance involves a deep, transformative change that goes beyond mere words.

This article dives into two contrasting examples of repentance, on the one side the Biblical story of Zacchaeus, who we might call the OG of turning it around, and on the other side the recent actions of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

These two cases, separated by millennia, and miles in morality, offer us a fascinating look at what real repentance might look like, both in ancient times and in our modern political landscape.

So, first up we have Zacchaeus from the Bible his story is found in Luke 19:8, and it’s a doozy. Who was this guy? Well, he wasn’t your friendly neighbourhood tax collector that you might politely chat with at the local tax office of the IRS or HMRC offices. No way! Zacchaeus was known for squeezing every last penny out of people, often more than they actually owed. He was rolling in dough from exploiting others.

But, and here’s where the rubber hits the road like a Tesla Model S Plaid which moves from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.99 seconds with a top speed of 200 miles per hour, something wild happened – he met Jesus.

In a meeting with Jesus, something wild happened. This encounter wasn’t just a casual “Hey, how’s it going?” kind of thing. It hit Zacchaeus like a ton of bricks, we’re talking about a profound moment that flipped his world upside down.

The result? This wealthy tax collector did a complete 180. He committed to giving half of his wealth to the poor and repaying anyone he had defrauded fourfold. Now that’s what you call full-hearted repentance! It wasn’t just a superficial “my bad” – it was a deep transformation that led to real action he had what you might call a spiritual awakening. And here’s where it gets really interesting:

1. Action: Zacchaeus didn’t just say he was sorry. He stood up and said, “Look, I’m giving half of everything I own to the poor. And if I’ve cheated anybody, I’m paying them back four times over.” That’s not pocket change we’re talking about.

• Attitude: This wasn’t about saving face or doing the bare minimum. Zacchaeus was all in. He went from “How much can I take?” to “How much can I give?” Quite the 180, right?

• Aspiration: From that point on, Zacchaeus was aiming for a whole new way of life. He wasn’t just fixing past mistakes; he was setting a new course.

This is what you call “Godly sorrow” 2 Corinthians 7:10 – the kind that leads to real, lasting change. It’s not just feeling bad; it’s about being transformed from the inside out.

Zacchaeus’ story gives us a powerful example of what true repentance looks like, not just saying sorry, but actually making things right and restoring what had been taken from those he wronged. It’s the kind of turnaround that makes you sit up and take notice.

Fast Forward to Today, Keir Starmer’s £6,000 Gesture.

Now, let’s hop in our time machine and zoom from the day of Zacchaeus to the present-day UK. We’ve got Keir Starmer, the current Prime Minister, in a bit of a sticky situation.

Here’s the deal:

• Starmer’s been raking in about £360,000 in the last two years from his salary.

• On top of that, he’s enjoyed £107,145 in freebies and perks.
  • We’re talking £16,000 in fancy clothes and specs, and £40,000 in things like concert tickets.

Just to put that in perspective, those extra perks alone are more than three times what the average person in the UK makes in a year.

Starmer returned £6,000, framing it as an “oops, my bad” moment he had and what appears to be a lightbulb moment, saying it was a mistake to accept it. But let’s break this down:

1. Action: Giving back £6,000 when you’ve received over £100,000 in perks?
   1. We’re talking Taylor Swift concert tickets worth £6,000, a £16,000 wardrobe upgrade for him and the missus, and even lounging in an £18 million penthouse during election season.
      1. Pretty swanky, right? It’s a start, but it’s a far cry from Zacchaeus’s “half of everything I own.”

• Attitude: This feels more like damage control than a heartfelt change. There’s no “I’ve seen the light” moment here.

• Aspiration: We’re not seeing any grand promises or personal pledges to live differently.

And here’s where it gets really interesting. Starmer, who’s openly atheist, is operating in a political world where spiritual morality often takes a backseat. While his government is trimming things like winter heating allowances for pensioners, he’s still enjoying the perks of high office.

When we stack this up against Zacchaeus’s full-throttle turnaround, Starmer’s gesture feels about as heartfelt as a politician’s handshake. It’s like he’s trying to put a Band-Aid on a broken leg. Starmer’s £6,000 feels more like a PR move than a genuine “I care” moment. Sure, it’s a step in the right direction, but it’s like he’s taken one step on a marathon course and called it a day.

It’s a far cry from the biblical model of repentance we saw with Zacchaeus, that’s for sure.

The Big Picture – What Does Real Repentance Look Like Today?

So, let’s dive into this tale of two turnarounds – ancient Zacchaeus and modern-day Starmer.

The contrast couldn’t be starker:

So, what can we learn from this tale of two turnarounds?

• True repentance isn’t just about words; it’s about actions that match (or even exceed) the offence. Zacchaeus didn’t just say “My bad,” he emptied his pockets to make things right.

• True repentance is not about fixing a PR problem; it’s about a genuine change of heart. We’re talking complete 180, not a political pirouette.

• True repentance looks to the future, aiming to live differently, not just patch up the past. It’s about rewriting your story, not just editing a soundbite.

Now, let’s talk Starmer. While he’s busy playing the benevolent dictator, he’s driving policies forward like a runaway train, leaving millions in the dust. It’s not just about pulling the rug out from under pensioners by axing their winter heating allowance. No, it’s worse. Starmer’s strongman approach is suffocating ethical decision-making across the board, creating a culture where his word is law, consequences be damned, agree or be sacked.

And let’s not forget, while pensioners are shivering through winter, Starmer’s still got his head firmly in the trough. Sure, he tossed back £6,000 like it was loose change, but he’s still wallowing in a cool £100,000 worth of freebies and fancy living. It’s like returning a single grape after gorging on the whole vineyard.

Unlike Zacchaeus, who voluntarily coughed up way more than he’d taken, Starmer’s token gesture feels like he’s trying to plug a dam with a piece of chewing gum. It’s not just inadequate; it’s almost insulting.

This begs the million-pound question, will Starmer ever really pivot towards the needs of the vulnerable? Or will he and his followers keep playing political chess, keeping their backers in comfort while the most vulnerable are left out in the cold? As it stands, it looks less like leadership and more like a masterclass in self-serving politics.

Conclusion:

In a world where “sorry” is often just a quick fix, Zacchaeus’s story slaps us awake. It’s asking us, regardless of our beliefs, what true accountability and change look like in our personal lives and in our leadership.

For those in power, like Starmer, the bar isn’t just high – it’s stratospheric. When your decisions affect millions, your actions don’t just speak; they echo through communities, families, and futures. A £6,000 repayment might make headlines, but it’s like using a teacup to bail out the Titanic.

In the end, whether you’re looking at it from a spiritual angle or just basic human decency, true repentance – the kind that transforms – is about more than just saying sorry or making token gestures. It’s about a complete turnaround in action, attitude, and aspiration. It’s about making things right, not just making them look right for the cameras.

So, as we watch this political theatre unfold, ask yourself – “Are we seeing genuine repentance and a commitment to ethical leadership?” Or are we watching a carefully choreographed dance of half-measures and hollow words? In this high-stakes game of political Monopoly, it seems Starmer is still passing ‘Go’ and collecting far more than £200, while millions are stuck in jail without a get-out-free card.

The answer to these questions might just tell us a lot about where we’re headed as a society. Are we on a path to genuine accountability and compassionate leadership, or are we settling for a world where political expediency trumps true repentance? The choice, and the consequences, are ours.

So, next time we hear about a public figure’s “apology” or “repayment,” maybe we should ask – Is this a Zacchaeus moment, or just business as usual? The answer might tell us a lot about where we’re headed as a society.

The lesson here is clear. True repentance is not just about correcting bad judgment or making partial repayments; it is about fully committing to righting wrongs and restoring what has been taken from those in need.

In contrast to Keir Starmer, Zacchaeus didn’t just admit his faults, he went above and beyond to ensure that the people he had wronged were made whole.