SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
Time to âFess Up
Shackled by guilt? Lighten your load and start being honest
Photo: Š Ingimage.com/Graja
BY MAJOR GAIL WINSOR
âFor I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.â âPsalm 51:3
B
eginning in Genesis, the Bible reminds us that we all experience sin that interferes with our relationship with God and damages our human relationships. Each of us can recall feeling condemned and weighed down by the guilt of our own sins. Verses such as âthe wages of sin is deathâ (see Romans 6:23) drive home the seriousness with which God looks upon our transgressions. The Bible also balances Godâs justice with his mercy and our guilt with Godâs grace. In Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster writes: âAt the heart of God is this desire to give and to forgive. Because of this, he set into motion the entire redemptive process ⌠Golgotha came as a result of Godâs great desire to forgive, not his reluctance.â God wants to forgive our sinâbut to be forgiven, sin must first be confessed. Our confession of sin is directed 18 ⢠February 2014 ⢠Salvationist
toward God, who alone can forgive sin. This is modelled for us by the psalmist who admitted to God, âAgainst you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judgeâ (Psalm 51:4). We do not need to confess every sin to someone else. Many issues can be settled between ourselves and God. However, like a child whose fear of the dark prompts him to call out for a parent because he needs someone âwith skin on,â we sometimes benefit from the comfort that God offers through another Christian. At these times, the Scriptures encourage us to âconfess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healedâ (James 5:16). Before such a confession, we should ask God to direct us to one who is emotionally and spiritually mature, wise, compassionate and confidential. We need someone who has been gifted by God to hear and respond to the spiritual needs of others.
What does the discipline of confession involve? â˘â˘ Confession begins with inviting God to speak to us about our behaviour. This âexamination of conscienceâ requires responsiveness to Godâs Spirit who reveals to us the areas in which we fall short of Godâs will. It includes an admission of sin, repentance and willingness to name specific sins so that they may be addressed. â˘â˘ Confession requires honesty and humility in the presence of another person. When we confess to someone, we become vulnerable to them and also become aware of the Holy Spiritâs presence in them, showing us the reality of our sin and the immediacy of Godâs grace. That is a humbling experience. â˘â˘ Confession opens us to receive Godâs healing and forgiveness. In The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard notes that confiding in another about our struggles and hearing that person offer scriptural assurances of forgiveness can remind us that Godâs forgiveness is as real as the person with whom we are sharing. This can be a powerful means of hope and healing. â˘â˘ Confession helps us avoid sin. Through confession, we make ourselves accountable to another and receive needed support. â˘â˘ Confession breaks the bond of secrecy that has been the downfall of many souls. In Thirsting for God, Gary Thomas writes, âSecrets allow Satan to blackmail us.â Secrecy also isolates us from the people God has placed in our lives to encourage us and separates us from the spiritual resources that God offers us. When we confess our sins, we disarm Satanâs campaign to discredit us both before God and our fellow believers. â˘â˘ Confession leads to joy in the forgiveness of sin and in the ongoing work of God in our lives through his Spirit and the support of Godâs people. For tips on practising the discipline of confession, visit salvationist.ca/ confession. Major Gail Winsor ministers through the leadership development department at Canada and Bermudaâs territorial headquarters. She is also a trained spiritual director.