Perhaps we didn't take money but we've taken advantage or taken control or taken leave of our senses and then, like the thief, we've taken off. Dashing down alleys of deceit. Hiding behind buildings of work to be done or deadlines to be met. Though we try to act normal, anyone who looks closely at us can see we are on the lam: Eyes darting and hands fidgeting, we chatter nervously committed to the cover-up, we scheme and squirm, changing the topic and changing direction. We don't want anyone to know the truth, especially God.
Am I missing the mark when I say that many of us attend church on the run? Am I out of line when I say many of us spend life on the run?
Am I overstating the case when I announce, "Grace means you don't have to run anymore!" It's the truth. Grace means it's finally safe to turn ourselves in.
Confession does for the soul what preparing the land does for the field. Before the farmer sows the seed he works the acreage, removing the rocks and pulling the stumps. He knows that seed grows better if the land is prepared. Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our heart. "There is a rock of greed over here, Father; I can't budge it. And that tree of guilt near the fence? Its roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?" God's seed grows better if the soil of the heart is cleared.
And so the Father and the Son walk the field together; digging and pulling preparing the heart for fruit. Confession invites the Father to work the soil of the soul.
Passage: 1 John 1:8-10
I don't really feel like answering the questions...perhaps I will just talk about confession? Yes.
Growing up a non-Catholic, the word "confession" can conjure up two thoughts for me. One is this very scary, awkward vision of having a priest give you a disappointed look after you tell him whatever you've done wrong. (Catholics, please forgive me. I...really have no idea about formal confession.) The other image I get is one that is full of light - a picture of myself coming to God and saying, "I'm sorry" and He smiles, assuring me that it was already forgotten.
So, yeah, confessing is hard....and for us protestants, I think that there are good and bad points to NOT having a formal confession. Good points include: we understand that you don't have to go to a little box with a priest to be forgiven. We can ask forgiveness and feel satisfied any time, any where. We know that God forgives us without a third party. Bad points include: well, we don't practice confessing, really. We don't have that much emphasis on it...I mean, at least speaking for myself, I KNOW that I sin, and I don't pretend not to, but I certainly don't make it a point to go through all of the sinful things that I did that day and tell God about them. Partly, this is because I just don't always feel guilty, maybe I go through a really quick confession process in my head right when I realize I've sinned. I'm not sure. Anyway, I think that the more we tell God our sins, the more of a habit it becomes, and that would be a good habit. And that is basically what I think.
I'm going to pray now.... you may read it, pray on your own, or go back to facebook. :)
Dear Father, Help us to remember that you want us to talk to you about our sins. You are waiting for us to open up to you so that you can relieve us of our guilt. Please take away the things that prevent us from confessing to you: fear, shame, embarrassment, uncertainty. In your holy name I pray, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment