It is amazing at how many don't realize that we have this gem of a service to soothe troubled consciences and to remove sin from their lives.
It seems that private confession has fallen out of usage in the Lutheran Church. A lot of that has to be laid at the feet of pastors of previous generations who did not educate their members about this practice, nor did they practice it themselves.
Our Old Adam resists Confession for several reasons. First, the convenient excuse, "It's too Catholic" reveals ignorance. Had they paid attention in Confirmation, they would have recalled the Fifth Part of the Small Catechism. It's all about private confession and absolution.
Second, we just don't like to do it. We like to think that we are sinless. Private confession is reserved for the "bad sinners" in their minds. "I'd have nothing to confess..." Or, and this is a biggy, we are just too embarrassed to do it.
And then, throw in the protestant confusion, that "only God can forgive sin, not the pastor". Another convenient excuse. (They need to read John 20 very closely, for Jesus gives this very power to His Church). They misunderstand that when the Pastor speaks forgiveness, it is not him speaking, but GOD HIMSELF. Again, if we heeded the Catechism, we would know this.
EXCURSUS: Remember, Lutherans are not protestant Christians-- we need to stop using this terminology about ourselves. We reject what the protestants believe: No presence of Jesus in the Sacrament of the Altar, no salvation by Baptism, no confession, a stress on "Jesus in me" instead of "me in Jesus." And no confession! When will we ever learn?? That is not us!
Lutherans are catholic Christians. Always have been, always will be. Not Protestants! One is reminded that the purpose of Luther in the Reformation wasn't to start a new Church (Lutherans are a movement, not a Church). It was to restore catholicity to the Church which had been lost by the incorporation of reason and the teachings of man. We never celebrate the Reformation-- we observe it. It was a necessary evil, not a victory.
The Fifth of the Six Chief parts of the Small Catechism is devoted to Private Confession and Holy Absolution. Of Confession, Luther writes:
What is Confession? Confession has two parts: the one is that we confess our sins; the other is that we receive Absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, is from God Himself, and in no way doubt, but firmly believe that our sins are forgiven before God in heaven by this.
In the Apology of the Augsburg Confession it says:
We also keep Confession, especially because of the Absolution. Absolution is God's Word which, by divine authority, the Power of the Keys pronounces upon individuals. Therefore it would be wicked to remove private Absolution form the Church. If anyone despises Private Absolution, he does not understand what the forgiveness of sins or the Power of the Keys is... (AP, Article XIIB)
Private Confession is not some 'high-church liturgical novelty' but a soothing balm for the soul.
I can recall that when it has happened, the huge burdens lifted off of the shoulders of our members. Their past sins are no longer holding them back. Their depression is gone. Their nights are restful once again. Their relationships have been restored. Private absolution assures us that with the Cross none of us have a past. You can have this, too.
Therapy has its place, but what do you do with your past, once you've figured it out? Private Confession has the answer: You obliterate the sin by confessing it. It is gone by the death of Jesus on the Cross.
I am grateful, also, to the Society of the Holy Trinity, a ministerium of which I am a part, that offers private confession to Pastors during times of retreat. I avail myself of that. It has always been a blessing to me.
All this to say, why not give it a try?
Some things to keep in mind during Confession:
- One only need confess the sins that lay heavy upon the heart. You don't have to make up sins. If you can't think of any, that is ok, also, as there is a general confession that can be used.
- The Pastor is under the seal of ordination. He cannot ever reveal, talk about, make reference to, or in any other way expose confessed sin to anyone at any time. He cannot be compelled to testify in court or other legal action to reveal what was confessed.
- The Pastor will not judge you. He will forgive you. There is no need to be embarrassed about any sin that you Confess.
This is an awesome Gospel experience, not one of the Law. The Law has already spoken, that is why one comes. The Pastor simply applies the cross to your life.
I'm here right now. 10am to 2pm today and Wednesday. Or call me and I'll arrange to meet you at a different time.
Until one does it, the fear will remain. But the joy you will experience will far exceed and outweigh the pain of the unknown.. This, I promise you.
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