“There is no perfect church.” The statement has become horribly trite, because we know full well that it’s a euphemism. What it actually means: our church is messy and broken. Of course it is! So where has confession gone?
The corporate confession of sin is quickly becoming extinct.
I can’t speak for the whole of evangelicalism. But among the tribes I inhabit, the corporate confession of sin is quickly becoming extinct. In birding terms, it’s uncommon, an occasional migrant, an endangered species. Worse still, in other places it’s already like the dodo.
Confession takes different shapes. Sometimes a pastor or leader in the church will pray to God on behalf of the whole assembly. At other times, the body will confess their sins together, reciting a prayer together. But the public admission of sin can go wider, when a denomination might corporately admit their failings before God and neighbour.
Do some intentional and careful listening at a get-together of pastors. Usually, there are expressions of thanksgiving, and there is a fruitful and faithful gospel ministry being carried out. But these positives are sometimes dwarfed by talk of the failures, problems and sins in local churches, denominations, networks and regions. These leaders will talk openly about sin and shortcomings in one context (the fraternal), despite rarely sanctioning it in the local assembly of God’s people. Confession, where art thou?
Why Has Confession Become So Scarce?
Here are several reasons, though others could certainly be mentioned:
- Some church leaders are simply ignorant. They have grown up and been discipled in churches where the public confession of sin wasn’t modelled. So it seems weird, an unnecessary intrusion.
- We don’t want to “go on about sin too much,” which might put people off. Instead of seeming morbid, negative and introspective, we want to be swimming in the glorious stream of the victorious Christian life.
- Linked with the previous bullet point is an over-realised eschatology—an underlying triumphalism—which emphasises the already, overlooking ‘the not yet’.
- There is a fear that we may come across as very stuffy and ritualistic. Corporate confession is often associated with high church practices and inflexible liturgy.
- Our culture is excessively individualistic and selfish. We’ve so stressed the Christian life as “my personal relationship with God” that there’s little to no room left for corporate expressions of our faith.
- Theologically, there appears to be a confusion of categories. Justification and sanctification are distinct categories, yet organically connected. We emphasise justification but downplay the messy business of sanctification. We don’t want to make the saints grovel too much.
Confessing Sin As a Means of Grace
But the public and corporate confession of our sins, failings and omissions shouldn’t be viewed negatively. Nor suspiciously. Rather, it should be valued and treasured for what it really is: a generous provision from God, for our good and his glory.
Confession is a generous provision from God, for our good and his glory.
As individual followers of Christ, we are usually well instructed as to how to handle our persistent, besetting sins. It’s laid out clearly in several passages. For example, there’s 1 John 1:8-9. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The way to deal with ongoing sin is ongoing faith and repentance. We confess our personal sin, acknowledging it and leaning into Jesus Christ, trusting in his completed work, while also seeking strength from the Holy Spirit to help us.
But those same realities, truths and attitudes should motivate the corporate confession of sin. God’s people should embrace this communally, as a means of grace.
Authentic Community Is Built on Confession
I find all of this not only curious but also a glaring contradiction. Just consider two of the trending evangelical buzzwords: community and authenticity. Both convey vital biblical truth. When we speak about community, we’re referring to togetherness, connectedness, belonging, and fellowship. And by authenticity, we mean being real, transparent, and genuine.
Corporate confessions affirm that we’re a community, a messy one.
But think for a moment. Shouldn’t we put those words together? And if we did, what would the reasonable response be? Surely it would be the gospel-empowered confession of sin. By doing this, we affirm that we’re a community, a messy one; we’re a people who all battle with sin and are slowly being changed into the likeness of Christ. Confessing sin publicly isn’t a formality. It isn’t tied to our evangelistic strategies. No, it’s simply about being authentic and in community.
Corporate Confession in the New Testament
To conclude this piece, I want to highlight some of the New Testament support for corporately confessing our sins.
The Apostle Paul
When writing to the Galatians, Paul passionately addresses the churches there, angrily rebuking them for forsaking the gospel (Galatians 1:6), while cursing the false teachers (Galatians 1:9), who he says had bewitched them (Galatians 3:1). Surely the pastors in Galatia didn’t just say, ‘Okay folks, let’s note what the apostle says, and move on.’ No way. Paul’s letter demanded heartfelt confession.
Paul’s letter demanded heartfelt confession.
Similarly, Paul highlighted some of the scandalous failings of the church at Corinth. He must have been expecting them to do more than hold their hands up. Thus, it’s no wonder he speaks about the place of “godly sorrow,” a product of the Spirit’s work (2 Corinthians 7:10). Again, it’s unlikely this church would have shrugged their shoulders and moved on. Surely, they were meant to mourn their sin, repenting of it together.
The Apostle John
And what about the seven congregations of Revelation 2 and 3? Jesus speaks to them very directly, calling on four of them to repent while also warning of imminent judgment (see Revelation 2:16; 3:19).
To the church at Ephesus, Jesus says: “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place” (Revelation 2:4-5). I imagine if Jesus warned a church that he was about to close it down, there would be intercession on the part of its leaders and corporate confession.
The Lord calls them to corporate, gospel repentance; to the confession of sin.
Then there was Sardis, a church that might’ve thought it had nothing to confess. But Jesus warns them: “I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains, which is about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent” (Revelation 3:2-3). Clearly, the Lord is calling this church to corporate, gospel repentance; to the confession of sin.
Confess With Confidence
As I observed at the outset, corporate confessions are increasingly rare among evangelicals. I also offered a few reasons why this might be the case. In closing, I would like to return to and reiterate something I touched on earlier. Confessing our sins isn’t a burdensome obligation. Nor is it morbid or masochistic. It is a gift from our gracious God, in invitation to turn back to God and treasure his reassuring mercies.
Confessing our sins isn’t a burdensome obligation.
But how do we go about it? Do we have a model to follow? The answer is yes, and in my next article, we’ll consider one of the many biblical models we have to follow.
