Living in Confession

This isn’t some grand exposition. Rather it is more of a thought I had driving to church today.

Unfortunately, it seems that the longer we have been Christians, the less likely we are to admit our weaknesses. We see in the young and the young in the faith an exuberance that trumps all pretension. Whether they feel they have permission to not have their lives 100% in order or that they are so enamored with the love of Jesus Christ, they seem more willing to lay bare their lives for the sake of fellowship and sanctification. Perhaps as we age and establish more of a history as believers we feel that we should have it all together by now. We always talk about sin in the past tense. We only feel willing to share our struggles with others when we feel that we have properly managed them. How many of our limited years are wasted because we are not honest about our flaws and failings?

John writes in one of his letters: 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 cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There are few of us who would claim that we don’t still struggle with sin. It would take quite a lot of delusion to claim that we were perfectly following Christ. Yet at the same time, we seem to be becoming less willing to own up to that reality. Contrary to our tendencies, the mark of the mature believer should be an increased willingness to confess our lingering sin and selfishness. The condemnation is gone, dead and buried. Our admission may well disqualify us in the standing of men and women who hold perfection as the requirement of faith. Our honesty might cost us. What we gain however, will far outweigh the cost. What we gain is healing, true community, and a renewed and honest relationship with our Creator.

James writes:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

I think it’s time we confessed our sins. I think it’s time we admitted our frailties. It’s probably time to be open about our budgets, kids, marriages, our jobs, and our doubts. Our honesty will cost us. But our dishonesty will cost us far more.

Eating the Unclean (A short note)

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted to something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Acts 10:9-16

Peter’s revulsion at the notion of eating the unclean animals is by no means irrational. All of his life, training, and social upbringing told him that this was not only immoral but also abhorrent. He does not understand the context of this vision at the time (as is so often the case when we are being taught or led) but comes to understand its significance when visited by Cornelius, the gentile, who, along with his whole household not only accepts Christ as Lord but is also given the Holy Spirit. 

Undoubtedly, Peter came to see the connection between the vision and the real world circumstance. This was a time, of course, when the question of whether the Gentile was able to follow Christ (let alone experience the filling of the Spirit) was very much still in debate. The (understandable) Jewish bias against Gentiles and Hellenistic Jews was deeply rooted in the hearts of the early Christ-followers (showing that we are all in the process of becoming more Christ-like).

Despite Peter’s initial complaints in the vision, he surrenders his will to the Lord when the parallel challenge occurs. Just as he had when the Lord sought to wash his feet, he gave over his misunderstanding and pride to the Lord.

The implications of the gospel constantly challenge our preconceptions. It is human nature to seek comfort above all things. The gospel, though, is constantly affecting us, shaping us into the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit. Though our very soul might cry out in protest, we must follow the challenge of the Lord no matter how disagreeable or uncomfortable. The aim of the Spirit is not our comfort but our sanctification. The Lord is concerned with making us holy first and foremost. Our happiness or comfort may follow but only after we have surrendered our will. In fact, true happiness and comfort can ONLY come following true surrender. The critical paradox of faith is that only in surrender can we ever experience true happiness.