April: The Nature of Confession

            A few months ago, I was reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Life Together. It is a fantastic book which highlights the importance of Christian fellowship; without getting into cliches or banal rhetoric. Not only does Bonhoeffer speak on the divine realities of Christian fellowship, but he moves the conversation to remind us that we all share at the “fellowship of the table”. We share through daily fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and through our fellowship in the Kingdom of God. We are one. We are united through and in Christ. 

Ephesians 4:3-6

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

            Bonhoeffer speaks about the importance of unity, fellowship, and the myriad of ways to get there. However, there is one that strikes me as most peculiar and that is the idea of confession. I do not mean confession in regard to sharing one’s sins and failings with the pastor or priest. This is more an idea of communal confession. We should not think of confess as law, per se, but an offer of divine intercession. Having a few people in our inner circle, who we can be completely honest and open with, can become a method of Spiritual convalescence. 

James 5:16

            16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

            The art of confession is biblically sound doctrine. It was never introduced into the church so that others must air their dirty laundry, or for a privileged group to maintain control over another individual because they are privy to information which others are not. Confession was created so that we may find a sense of relief from sin, not become more burdened by it. Sin inherently does not want to be discovered; thus naturally, we must be cautious when it seeks to remain hidden. Perhaps the best way to do this is by finding a few mature Christians, with whom we feel comfortable sharing. A friend or two that we can lean on and trust when it comes to the practice of confession. Afterall, most of us are confident in sharing our sins with the Father, should we not also find confidence in sharing with a brother or sister?

Confession is also ubiquitous in nature, it can occur at any moment in time, it requires no pre-requisites, and only bolsters connection. There are many great things that we can do as individuals but together we are always stronger. As the great sages of Israel once wrote, “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) We are created to lift one another up, not keep each other bound. At a greater level, we are even called to “bear one another’s burdens”. (Gal. 6:2) With these things in mind, there is a maxim that comes to light; confession is at the heart of community and community is at the heart of confession. Without either one, life becomes a burden we bear alone, often finding no resolve. Yet, through our vulnerability and by way of surrendering the ego, we find freedom. Confess to the Father. Confess to your brother or sister in Christ. 

Peace to you,

Rev. Taylor Kibler