You Want Me To Do What?
I don’t know about you but there are somethings that only God and I need to know, and that is because He is all knowing. Airing my dirty laundry isn’t very appealing even if everyone else has some too.
Confession as a formal act is more commonly known in the Catholic world. Images of confession often consist of in non-Catholic circles of the priest in his stiff collar sitting in a box. He grants absolution of sins to those who in a moment of weakness need to hear, “Your sins are forgiven.” I confess that was my mental picture throughout the years. I thought I would never want someone to have that much power over me.
Many of us depend on the knowledge that God is all-knowing when it comes to confessing our sins. Why would we need to rehearse our faults before a God who knows everything? All I need to say is forgive me of my sins and move on…. In a bare bones kind of way, yes. But could this be a way of avoiding something more?
Have you ever had to apologize to someone and simply saying sorry took all the effort you could muster? As much as it is difficult to say, sorry, it is harder to say, “I am sorry for blowing up in your face the other night.” With this confession there is a sense of exposure and vulnerability that makes you uncomfortable and forces you to examine your actions. Could this be the reason why James tells believers to confess their sins and pray for one another, so we can be healed. There is healing in confession. Confession is not for God’s benefit, but ours.
When I was first married, I was the queen of the casual “I’m sorry”, and no longer wanting to discuss the matter. I hated when my husband wanted to push the issue, because God already forgave me so why meddle in what was already taken care of. I just did not want to confess my wrong doing because it meant really being accountable and that felt too raw. My growth in that area was very slow because I didn’t want to deal with my part of the problem.
Many of you know, as Christians when we come to faith in Christ the many unpleasant behaviors we acquired do not necessarily go away. We have been released from the bondage of sin, but now we must learn how to live without the chains. We must build our muscles, adjust our posture and change our mindset. God’s grace is required daily for this process, but how does that grace work itself out? Our walk is one of growing in maturity, making everyday decisions that bring us closer or away from our Creator. And one of the tools that God uses to mold us is confession.
“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Pro 28:13.”
I’m not saying that we must keep a detailed list of all the wrongs we have done and spill our guts over every transgression. The point is that the confession of our sins brings about our freedom and maturity. It brings us face to face with our ineptness and our constant need and dependence on the good and spotless one. Our pride and shame no longer have a leg to stand on. If your simple acknowledgement of God’s mercy is not bringing you closer to the foot of the cross, then maybe you need to examine your method.
Yes, confession is hard and terrifying work, but there is healing and growth to be found in its application. It is not about our image, but the image of God that we bare. We need to understand that we are not that awesome, but our merciful God is. In that, we learn to walk a little straighter and take one step further from the chains that once bound us. Pray for one another and ask God for His grace to strengthen you. For humility to be your posture of thanksgiving and confession that mirror that keeps you in check. Confession brings healing for the soul.
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