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Confession of Sin and Sins
dose of confession. CONFESSION OF SIN AND SINS We all know that too much introspection can be unhealthy, unhelpful and even damaging. But some is not only salutary, but necessary. Our Bible reading will often sober and abase us in this way. The word of God ruthlessly exposes our sin, selfishness, vanity and greed, and then challenges us to repent and to confess. One of the safest ways to do this is to take on our lips one of the penitential psalms, especially perhaps Psalm 51 ("Have mercy on me, O God") or Psalm 130 ("Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord"). It’s a healthy discipline each evening to review the day briefly and call to mind our failures. Not to do so tends to make us slapdash about sin and encourages us to presume on God’s mercy, whereas to make a habit of doing so humbles and shames us, and increases our longing for greater holiness. There is nothing morbid about the confession of sins, so long as we go on to give thanks for the forgiveness of sins. It is fine to look inwards, so long as it leads us immediately to look outwards and upwards again. — John Stott, CHRISTIAN BASICS, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969, pp. 121-122. [TRUE STORY: Some months ago, my VISA bill got buried under some clutter on my desk. I soon found that I was late with a payment and had been billed for some interest on the outstanding balance. I was horrified. I called the bank and explained that I was sorry, that I had simply misplaced the bill and had wanted badly to pay it on time. "Is there anything I can do to make it right?" I pleaded. Believe it or not, the woman on the phone replied, "There’s nothing you can do, but I will cancel the charge and credit your account. Be careful to make your payments on time in the future." I was elated. I danced for joy. I shouted with glee. I felt like a new person, a released prisoner. I couldn’t contain my delight. But what about my offense against a holy God? What about his amazing grace and the forgiveness of my sins through faith in Christ’s redeeming work? How much delight do I take in that? Psalm 32 says it pretty well. Take a look. How good to know my sins have been forgiven!] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |