As I write this blog, former Atlanta Falcon quarterback and now Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Michael Vick, is about to take his first snap since being convicted and jailed for his abusive dog fighting ring. It seems as though the entirety of humane organizations is bending over backwards to make him their voice for the proper treatment of animals.

Does anyone really believe he is truly repentant? Does anyone really think Michael Vick now hates animal abuse with such a passion that he is volunteering to be the new dog and cat advocate for the country? Or, is he merely remaking his image so as to resurrect his football career?

There is but one way to answer that question - he must demonstrate genuine repentance over the course of time. His dog abuse habits were part of a culture in which he grew up. This means that he has the DNA of a culture ruled by punks, hoodlums, and killers who could violently kill an animal for fun, for merely failing to win a brutal fight. Thus, if we are to judge his change of heart, we must see this vicious DNA extracted over the course of time. It did not take him a few days to become such a killer. It will not take him a few days to become the new face for animal rights.

Should we believe that while in prison he had a change of heart? Yes and no! On the one hand, he says that when they locked him up his eyes were opened. On the other hand time will tell. But this is true of any of us who fall into deep sin. Repentance is a two factored process. We must put off the old behavior and put on its opposite quality. For example, a liar is still a liar even though he quits lying until he begins to tell the truth. A thief is still a thief even though he quits stealing until he begins to give away. An adulterer is still an adulterer even though he stops his affair until he returns to the wife of his youth. And a dog abuser is still a dog abuser even though he quits abusing dogs until he becomes humane to animals.

Now, here is the key to measuring true repentance - it must be time-tested AND the change of heart must be reflected in other areas of his life. There is only one way this sort of "repentance" can be genuine, when Christ changes our hearts from the inside out. It is similar to the story of the demon possessed man who battled with the disciples. They could not drive out his demons. When they told Jesus about this he said, "This kind does not come out but by prayer and fasting." We should all be WILLING to forgive Michael Vick. But we should do so with an eye on time tested change. Now that he is surrounded by the right crowd with the likes of Tony Dungee we can have hope. But we also need to be wise and not expect that, if Vick has given his life to Christ (which I have not heard he has), his sanctification will be immediate. It will not be. He will fail again. But, we should allow for a second chance. When your knee jerk reaction is to condemn and refuse redemption to anyone, look in the mirror and ask God to give you a glimpse of your own heart without Jesus. After all, hasn't God given each of us a second, third, fourth, fifth, and one hundredth chance? May He have mercy on Michael Vick. And mercy on us as well.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

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