Liturgical Moment of the Week: Confession of Sin

By Fr. Brian+

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9, NRSV

Hey, you sinners, listen up.

The beautiful practice of regular confession of sin sets apart the Episcopal Church from other traditions. Getting on our knees as a church - never mind on our own throughout the week - is a clear indication that we are in touch with our sin.

“Not a big deal” I hear someone in the back pew saying. 

It is a big deal.

I had a Muslim friend in Macedonia who when I would speak with him about Christ, had one big hang up. Not about Jesus. About himself. His sense of personal sin.

He agreed that people are sinners, in theory, on paper. But to get him to admit, let alone confess, that he sinned, was quite a challenge. It was clear to me that I could not convince him that he was a sinner. Only the Spirit of God could do that. That’s His job, not mine.

As a result, my friend did not see his need for a Savior.

If we say that we have no sin, John writes, we deceive ourselves. John says that we cannot have fellowship with God unless we confess our sin, because God is light, while we are walking in the darkness.

When we confess our sin, we are coming out of the darkness into God’s light. When we do it on a regular basis, as our weekly service confession does, we are creating fellowship with God.

It’s the opposite of what children do. I’ll hide my misdeeds from my parents. If it comes out, I’ll run away and they won’t catch me. 

Good luck with that, kiddos.

I know you are getting tired of hearing me say this. Just make sure that when you confess, you are actually confessing, and not going through the motions. If we go through the motions, and think we’ve done a magical deed, we enter into that deceived state, and are in trouble.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you, in thought, word, and deed…

Say it! Mean it!

There, don’t you feel better?

Then, when I get in front of you and remind you with an absolution that God has forgiven you, you can sit back in your pews WITH THE ASSURANCE that…

God has heard you.

God has forgiven you.

You are in the Light.

That beautiful Savior of yours has come through for you again.