Confession

I confess that “confession” often is hard to comprehend and accept as a part of life’s reality. In some ways the concept of confession is depressing for it requires us to take a hard look at our lives. We’d rather avoid it, and focus instead upon more positive images. Yet the Lenten season asks us to take a look in the mirror and honestly reflect on who and what we see. Confession is not about taking comfort in how good we are, but recognizing how we have failed to be all God desires us to be.

The Old Testament begins by reminding us that we were created in the “image” of God. (Genesis 1:27) In Psalm 8, the psalmist states we have been “made a little lower than angels” and “crowned with glory and honor.” (vs. 5) Jesus told his disciples, “Love one another as I have loved you…by this you will be known as my disciples.” (John 13: 34-35) John reminds us, “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) The apostle Paul wrote: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Against the background of such scriptures it is easy to recognize that we have fallen short of the glory of God and therefore confession becomes necessary. And the good news is that we if we own up to our our sins, our failures to be faithful and obedient to God’s will and purposes for our lives revealed in Christ, God is forgiving and willing to offer us a clean slate. John expresses this promise of renewal this way: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

True confession is a step toward restoring our broken relationships with God and one another, and can lead to more holy living. The Lenten season does not take on its fullest potential and meaning until we encounter the ongoing role of confession in our lives. Confession is one of the roads we must travel to have a holy Lent.