Open Confession Good for the Soul?
Posted by: David Bunch
Here's a thought provoking article on confession, forgiveness, sin....the general point is that this generation is very open with each other, even about their faults. But is that openness causing them to view sin in a cavalier fashion?
As a Sunday School teacher for high school boys and a youth group worker, I can attest to this generation's openness. It is nothing for them to come in on a Sunday morning and confess to the group the deeds of the night before. Further, no topic of discussion appears to make them truly uncomfortable (we have gender segregated class rooms for our youth, so that could be part of it).
But are they really sorry for their misdeeds...?
This article hit me on another level as well because the points made regarding being open about our faults and having someone to hold us accountable make sense and are biblical. Prior generations tended to come to church and pretend like everything was okay, even frowning upon those who did not march in line with the ruse. Mistakes, sin, imperfections were all to be masked and hidden. After all, what kind of Christian would not be perfect in every area of his or her life? You think I'm being melodramatic, but that was the impression I had growing up.
That led to often struggling in my head with the thought that church services should be the places to come for healing, forgiveness, restoration, yet they can be the most uncomfortable atmosphere for finding those elements. Why is it that we sometimes feel so intimidated about asking for the prayers of our fellow saints?
Over the recent years I've noticed a shift, and I'm glad that there seems to be more focus on biblical accountability and the realization that "if we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." I John 1:10
Here's a thought provoking article on confession, forgiveness, sin....the general point is that this generation is very open with each other, even about their faults. But is that openness causing them to view sin in a cavalier fashion?
As a Sunday School teacher for high school boys and a youth group worker, I can attest to this generation's openness. It is nothing for them to come in on a Sunday morning and confess to the group the deeds of the night before. Further, no topic of discussion appears to make them truly uncomfortable (we have gender segregated class rooms for our youth, so that could be part of it).
But are they really sorry for their misdeeds...?
This article hit me on another level as well because the points made regarding being open about our faults and having someone to hold us accountable make sense and are biblical. Prior generations tended to come to church and pretend like everything was okay, even frowning upon those who did not march in line with the ruse. Mistakes, sin, imperfections were all to be masked and hidden. After all, what kind of Christian would not be perfect in every area of his or her life? You think I'm being melodramatic, but that was the impression I had growing up.
That led to often struggling in my head with the thought that church services should be the places to come for healing, forgiveness, restoration, yet they can be the most uncomfortable atmosphere for finding those elements. Why is it that we sometimes feel so intimidated about asking for the prayers of our fellow saints?
Over the recent years I've noticed a shift, and I'm glad that there seems to be more focus on biblical accountability and the realization that "if we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." I John 1:10
I think there is definitely a shift towards more openness in church. Our church leadership is reading The Emotionally Healthy Church right now, and one of the key points is being open and making yourself vulnerable. I don't think "church people" have done that very well in the past.
I'm interested that you mentioned you have gender-separate classes. It's something we've been discussing for our church. I'd be interested to know how it works for you.
Josh Lewis
Posted by
Anonymous |
Wed Jun 27, 08:08:00 AM 2007
I (and two others) teach the high school girls at the church where Dave teaches the high school boys. We started this over ten years ago, at my request. I think it has been a great success - amazing how much you can discuss in gender separate classes that would not be appropriate in a mixed class. Also, the girls respond so much better when they aren't worried about whether they sound stupid to that cute guy sitting behind them. They is much in the educational literature now about the success of gender separate classes for teens.
Posted by
Shirley McDonald |
Fri Jun 29, 04:55:00 PM 2007