Confession in 21st Century Religious Life

Penance in Worship and Daily Living

Jan 28, 2009 Bryan Jackson

The practice of confession is both ancient and contemporary. The option is always there to exercise this spiritual concept. Who confesses, and how does it help them?

For some Protestants, the concept of confession or penance is irrelevant. For others, it is a consistent part of worship that has become second nature, and for many a genuine aspect of their daily interaction with God. What role does it play for you, and how do you actualize it?

Catholic Confession

Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians each have their own method of confession, which, in these traditions is a regular part of corporate worship as well as a separate, individual experience between the person doing the confessing and a confessor, usually a priest. They are considered sacraments and their purpose is “to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, lost by sin.” [1] In the Episcopal church it is known as “Reconciliation of a Penitent.” The notion is that the penitent is reconciled to God by way of sincere confession and absolution.

There are subtle differences between the three traditions but Roman Catholics, Anglo-Catholics, and Orthodox Christians all share the sometimes-life-altering experiences of having their sins heard by a trusted cleric who is bound by canon law to honor the content of the confession.

Protestants and Penance

Most Protestants take a different view in that the belief in a priest to absolve one’s sins is unnecessary. The option is there for a pastor or trusted other to listen to a penitent, but the idea that God is freely available at all times to everyone is emphasized. No intermediary is required. The notion of confessing one’s sin to a priest is not a New Testament concept.

In fact, the new agreement belief was that believers are to be priests to one another. A problem with that practice, however, is that it can be difficult to find a discreet confessor, and that person may not bound by some sort of professional contract. Be careful to whom you confess is the point.

Confession in Worship

Many contemporary worship services, particularly those with a bent toward being as opposite from “traditional” as they can get, make no mention of confession. Others honor the tradition of penance but may set aside only a brief moment for individual confession within the corporate worship setting. When individual wrongs have been committed against another, it is sometimes suggested that the offender make amends at a time separate from the service, which seems quite practical.

Confession in Daily Living

What about the everyday practice of confession? The kind of intimate, natural conversation between the individual and the Great Spirit? Since that kind of conversation is always available, it stands to reason that confession can be made directly to God at any time and place.

The comprehensive coherence of Scripture in general and the New Testament in particular tends to point to the assurance that when believers do confess their misdeeds to God, with genuine intention toward transformed living, they will be absolved.

Source:

1. Wikipedia, The Free Encylopedia. Confession. World Wide Web, 2009.

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Daily penance