Month: June 2014

Reading Time: 2 minutes

(exomologeo, – acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully: — confess, profess, promise)

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

*A Scottish Proverbs says, “Ane open confessione is good for the soul.”

We practically eliminated this concept from the way we live out our Christian faith.

Catholics practice confession under the sacrament of penance. With that come images of beautiful, private confessional booths where one can talk to a Catholic priest. Catholics believe their priest has the authority to forgive sins. Check. Got it.

However, James tells us to confess our sins to one another. Have we abandoned this practice because we think this is only for the “professionals”? Or have we decided that this one was too weird or uncomfortable to put into practice.

Have you ever done this…confessed to a friend?

I have (believe me, not often though). I found it to be terrifying, emotional and bonding all at the same time!

A while ago while leading a men’s retreat I was speaking on King David’s life. As a small group exercise I asked the guys to pair up and confess a personal sin that really bothered them; something they felt like they could never talk about. Yeah, I know – sounds crazy!

For a couple of minutes we all just stared at each other in silence. It was VERY awkward. But then the dam broke. And men were confessing, crying, laughing and telling stories for over an hour.

It was truly amazing. Of course things were shared in complete and total confidence and trust. Though they were never talked about again there was an understanding – a knowing. Like we were saying, “I’m human, you are human. We fail. We sin. We have confessed it and now we get on with life!!!”

Call me old fashioned, but I would only do this in groups of men or women. Not in a combined male and female group setting. There’s no way I would have men confessing to women (unless it’s just a general men’s choral singing “we’re sorry”) or vice versa. 🙂

Is it hard to practice? Extremely. Who knows, someday we may get better at it.

What can I say? It’s in the Bible. It’s a command. It’s on the list. Are you up for the challenge?

Father, I can barely bring myself to confess and bring up my sin in private with just You listening. This would be a huge step of maturity and faith to talk about my sin with a close friend – even in confidence. Please help me in this – it’s not only good for my soul, its an obedient step to trust.

*[c 1641 in E. Beveridge D. Fergusson’s Scottish Proverbs (1924) no. 159]

And wrapping up the entire 23 week blog… next week is appropriately – Pray!

Reading Time: 2 minutes

(koinonia – common, partner, sharing)

John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

This word, “koinonia” is one my favorite words in the New Testament.

I came to Christ at fifteen years old and it was the tail end of the famous “Jesus Movement.” Don’t ask to to explain what all that means I just know that in the mid-sixties and throughout the seventies there was a sovereign move of God among the youth in the United States. I always thought it was kind of a heavenly response to the hippy movement. I found out the love was not free, it was extremely costly. And that sex outside of God’s instructions were devastating to individuals and families.

Anyways, the word Koinonia was hip and cool and I loved it! It’s translated “fellowship,” but I’m not sure most people really know or use the word. It’s simply means a common partnership. I get partnership.

I came into Christianity really believing that these folks that said they “loved” me were out for our common good. At first it was all about them helping me grow and learn about God and the body of Christ (the church). But one day in the near future I was planning on giving back big time. After a couple of years I was teaching those same adult’s teenagers. Then, for awhile, I was their teen’s Youth Pastor. Then, as I grew, I married, buried, cried, taught, corrected and loved those same teens (now adults) even as they began to have their own children. In fact, for that small investment those first Christian adults made into my life, I’d say I’ve given ten-times that amount back to their children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren.

I have always seen the church as a community of “fellowship” or partnerships.

Is John giving us somewhat of a litmus test of Christianity? IF we walk in the light…then we have this fellowship with one another. The partnership is automatically created with the commitment to Christ. If fellowship is a problem, doesn’t it make sense that walking in the light would be a problem as well?

I think it would be best to see each other as God sees us…as common partners.

Do you see yourself as a partner with the family of God? Trying to find ways to help each other toward the common good of being like Jesus? Who are your partners? Who are you a partner to? How’s the partnership going? Is someone else giving a proportionately greater effort into your life than you are giving back? I know, it’s not a competition, but seriously are we acting like partners?

Prayer: God, it’s simple. If I’m going to walk with you I better do it with some partners. So now I need to figure out who I can work with to be more like you and help them do the same. Maybe you could help point out some possibilities for me?

Next week – Confess