I just finished reading Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (link at the bottom of this post). The last chapter talks about confession and communion, and it blew me away. Bonhoeffer talks about how “the pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners.” It is so true!
My wife and I have learned the hard way that admitting fault is a quick way to be judged and outcasted, rather than accepted and loved. We only have true fellowship with others when we walk in the light. When we spend all of our time performing the “stain glass masquerade” (as a Casting Crowns song stated) we do not have true fellowship with one another — we simply play a pretentious game of trying to look good. I have to confess to all of you — I am a rotten, miserable sinner. I really am. I continually focus my time and energy on things that have nothing to do with God and give Him the last-fruits of my life. My prayer life is relegated to the “left-over’s” of my time, my Scripture reading time is saved for rainy days when I have nothing “better” to do (as if anything really is better!), and my longest period of fasting recently has been the short time it takes me to get from the front door to the refrigerator. My faith is pathetic.
I have to confess my sin to you. I must be real and open — or else I will just be ‘playing church.’ I’m not perfect. But if I keep my sin in the dark, I will be in captivity. Sin wants to be hidden, it wants to keep a person alone and isolated. So long as you are too ashamed to share your sin with others — you will be bound by it. No one is immune: not a businessman, a doctor, a drug addict, not even the pastor of a church. We must “confess [our] sins to each other and pray for each other so that [we] may be healed” (James 5:16). Bonhoeffer correctly states that “the expressed, acknowledged sin has lost all its power.”
I want to quote just a few more profound statements from Life Together then I’ll end this post — bear with me:
“Confession in the presence of a brother is the profoundest kind of humiliation. It hurts, it cuts a man down, it is a dreadful blow to pride…. Because this humiliation is so hard we continually scheme to evade confessing to a brother. Our eyes are so blinded that they no longer see the promise and the glory in such an abasement.
It was none other than Jesus Christ himself who suffered the scandalous, public death of a sinner in our stead. He was not ashamed to be crucified for us as an evildoer. It is nothing else but our fellowship with Jesus Christ that leads us to the ignominious [(degrading; humiliating)] dying that comes in confession, in order that we may in truth share in his Cross. The Cross of Jesus Christ destroys all pride…. Confession is discipleship…. Confession is the renewal of the joy of baptism.” [Emphasis mine].
I could easily quote the entire chapter if I continue. It is a phenomenal book and should be required reading for any discussion of genuine Christian fellowship, community and discipleship.
Well, I’ve learned that no one reads my posts once they get past a certain length, and this is probably pushing it — but we must become readers if we are to learn and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. And second to the Bible, I recommend that you pick up a copy of Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and read it. God bless you as you become transparent to other brothers and sisters in Christ.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree that it is sad that most people don’t take time to completely read your blogs…it is a shame, but our society is one of laziness and spoon-feeding.
Anyways, about the book…i would like to read this after i finish my book on discipleship by George Barna. I am also a worthless piece of crap. I WILL SHOUT IT: WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST, I AM THE FILTHIEST OF ALL WHO HAVE WALKED ON THIS EARTH.
It is too bad that the church today discourages true fellowship; and i believe that this is from pride issues (which is what led Lucifer to hell with 1/3 of the angels in heaven).
Remember: repent and confess. There is no shame in eternal life with our savior jesus Christ.
Nice post Dan,
It’s hard to develop a church culture in which people feel free to confess their sins. I’m glad that I’m a pastor of a church with a tradition that holds on to individual confession and absolution. Too often I have heard of stories of people “coming out” with their sins only to be shunned by people in their communities. At least with a pastor you should…emphasis should…be able to confess your sins with no fear.
I have heard, however, some truly amazing stories about public confessions that have made churches bond together and realize their own sins as well as Christ’s forgiveness.
One of the neat things about the ancient Christian liturgies I read about way back when was what we call the “sharing of the peace.” Today in Lutheran churches it’s the “hi, how ya doin’” in the middle of the service before communion – but in the early church it was your time to beg forgiveness of your brother or sister and your chance to forgive your brother or sister.
The sharing of the peace began with the worship leader to the assistant worship leaders, then from them, it went to the rest of the congregation – sort of like “the wave”. However, if two people could not say “I forgive you” to each other or be at peace with one another – they were not allowed to take communion.
It would be hard to do that today, but not impossible. It would certainly be interesting.
in Christ,
jW
Yes Jay, corporate confession and absolution is certainly something I miss from the good ol’ Lutheran side of things. I think it would be neat to see the sharing of the peace restored to its original intent… you already know my thoughts on the way it is currently practiced, lol.
Ooo, I’m not as excited about this bandwagon as you and the preacher Dan.
I was personally involved in a church in Valparaiso that prided itself on practicing discipline. In their minds this encouraged confession and fellowship as you suggest. But the exact opposite actually happened.
The church became a weapon in the hands of those that wanted to harm leaders. If you had a beef with someone in the church then you went and complained of sins such as “pride” or “divisiveness” and the church could become your tool of disposition.
Then if the person dared to defend themselves, they were un-accountable and it proved the original charge. Sound like Salem’s Witch Trials? It was.
I will agree that in true fellowships, which are probably and sadly smaller than normal churches, there is a chance to be transparent and confesss. But I am one who has been burned at the stake of confessional tribulation by a church.
I see where you’re coming from Steve, but it sounds to me like you were exposed to a cell church/G12/accountability type of group — which is far different. In those groups, the leaders teach that authority trickles down through the groups, and then use that authority to control people. Very bad. In a true setting I am talking about, it is not a program nor an agenda, but rather a means of authentic living and transparency. I’d be willing to bet the church you went to modeled a house church/accountability model, Ed Bevere stuff. Just curious if I’m on the right track of thinking.
Either way, the situation you described is a flagrant abuse of the God-given gift of fellowship, and I’m sorry you had to go through that.
Sounds like a Vineyard/Prophetic church to me…