Celebration of Discipline:
The Discipline of Confession
(Downloadable Word document)

Introduction
* Mankind's redemption by God through Jesus is the ground upon which we can know that confession and forgiveness are realities that transform us
- God's good pleasure to save sinners by a substitutionary (vicarious) atonement was founded in the love and justice of God (Isaiah 53:6, 10; John 1:29, 3:16; Colossians 1:19-20; Galatians 1:4; Hebrews 9:28; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:2)
- Salvation is an event and a process (Philippians 2:12-13; Ephesians 4:13)
* Confession is a grace (which God gives for genuine confession) and a discipline (things which we must do to bring us under the "shadow of the Almighty")
* Confession is private ("one mediator", I Timothy 2:5) and corporate ("confess your sins to one another", James 5:16)

Fellowship of Sinners
* We tend to view our church family as the "fellowship of saints" where no one could be as trapped by sin as ourselves
* We forget that our church family is "Simul justus et peccator" ("at the same time just and sinner", Martin Luther)
* "We are sinners together. In acts of mutual confession we release the power that heals." (R. Foster)

Authority to Forgive
* "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (John 20:23; cf. James 5:16 above)
- "[Our brother] hears the confession of our sins in Christ's stead and he forgives our sins in Christ's name." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
- This authority in no way threatens the value or efficacy of private confession.
* "God has give us our brothers and sisters to stand in Christ's stead and make God's presence and forgiveness real to us." (Richard Foster)
- "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people …" (I Peter 2:9)

Do you agree that all believers are given authority
to proclaim Christ's forgiveness to others?
What does your answer imply about how you should act?

Giving a Confession
"For a good confession three things are necessary: an examination of conscience, sorrow, and a determination to avoid sin." (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
* "Examination of Conscience"
- Inviting God to show us areas that need His forgiving and healing touch
- Be prepared to deal with specific sins, versus a general confession of guilt
¢ Sins of the heart (pride, avarice, anger, fear) and sins of the flesh (sloth gluttony, adultery, murder)
* "Sorrow"
- Not primarily an emotion, but "an abhorrence at having committed the sin, a deep regret at having offended the heart of the Father"
* "A determination to avoid sin"
- We ask God for a yearning for holy living - the will to be delivered from sin

"[T]here must be a definite termination point in the self-examination process. Otherwise, we can easily fall into a permanent habit of self-condemnation." (Richard Foster)

To whom should we confess: To a brother or sister who can keep a confidence, who understand the nature and value of confession, who are spiritually mature, wise, and compassionate.

Receiving a Confession
To hear a confession also involves preparation
* "Living under the Cross"
- Knowing the human heart's deceptiveness, and the Grace and Mercy of God's acceptance
¢ Understanding that above all, we ourselves are the chief of sinners
- Keeping privileged information privileged
- Keeping free from the danger of spiritual domination
- Radiating Christ's light and presence to those confessing
* "The Discipline of Silence"
- Control is key, knowing when to speak and what to say when speaking
* "The Discipline of Prayer"
- Prayers of love and forgiveness
- Prayer for healing of the inner wounds that sin has caused

Experiencing Forgiveness (from Study Guide)
Forgiveness is not:
* Pretending an injury doesn't really matter
- Reconciliation not Avoidance
* Ceasing to hurt
- Hurting is not evil
* Forgetting
- We remember, but not with a sense of vindictiveness
* Pretending the relationship is just the same as before the offense
- "By the grace of God, it may be a hundred times better, but it will never be the same."

True confession and forgiveness bring joy to the Christian community and healing to the parties involved.

Discussion Questions
* What three things are necessary for a "good" confession?
* What are the qualities we should look for in someone to hear our confession? How do we find someone like that?
* How comfortable are you with the following forms of practicing confession:

Very Comfortable; Somewhat Comfortable; Not Sure; Somewhat Uncomfortable; Very Uncomfortable
a. Institutionalized confession, or sacrament of penance
b. Priest, pastor, minister, or ordained person
c. Spiritual director, mentor, or advisor
d. Support group of some kind
e. Another believer with whom you feel comfortable
f. Close friend
g. Individually before God (in private)

* Do any of your responses above suggest areas in which you'd like to change your practice of confession?
* Do you feel God could use you to receive another person's confession?
* When receiving confession, how would distinguish between false guilt and genuine guilt?