Confess Your Sins: The Benefits of Confession--James 5:16-17

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. James 5:16-17 The Message.

Confession? 
"No," you say. "That went out with the 20th century."
"No," you declare. "That's only for Catholics."

"No." (And with this third iteration of no, we sound like we're talking in toddler-speak.) "I'd be ashamed for people to know what I've done wrong."

And I say, no to all the above.

Confession is an integral part of the Christian experience, and essential for complete spiritual healing. 

Just don't blab your life, or problems, or sins to just anyone.

I remember one time in a small group, we were talking about difficulties we had in our Christian walk. I mentioned that the Bible had become boring to me. After years of fervently devouring the Word, over the last few years, I couldn't get into it.

A week later I received a letter from two women who attended this supposed "safe" group. They impugned my salvation because anyone who found the Bible dull could not be a Christian (I don't think they ever read Chronicles). They derided my confession, and their accusations spiraled me into an anger that made me want to leave the church I loved. 

I didn't leave--praise God.

The lesson I learned is to choose when to confess. Verse 17 of James proclaims that the prayer of a person living right is powerful. Of the two women, one came to me and repented. The other demonstrated she did not live according to the precepts of the gospel...not that she wasn't saved, just ignorant and immature.

Today I'm involved with CR (Celebrate Recovery), a group like AA that helps those struggling with addiction. In order to work with the group, I have to take part in a "Step Study." Here, we work through the twelve steps to recovery just as all addicts do.

As the steps are worked, each member must confess the areas of her life that God is working on. We know that the group is a "safe place." What's said in the group, stays in the group. Each member is treated with respect and without judgment.

The end effect is powerful. No longer are our sins hidden to be used by the enemy to torment us. With our foibles exposed, they heal.

And almost better, the bond between each of us has deepened to a respect and love that transcends our disparate lives.

Confession is, as the cliche goes, good for the soul. In order for it to be so, be sure:

1. It's to a righteous person
2. Be sure that person is not judgmental (and believe me, you can tell quickly by conversation whether the person judges)
3. It's understood everything we say is confidential
4. If not to a church leader, be sure it's reciprocal

5. Be certain of those who lead your church. Not all who say, "Lord, Lord" (Mt. 7:21) have the precepts down right.

Our group has become a beautiful tapestry--three lives woven together by the Master Creator. The end product is more beautiful and stronger than any of our lives alone.How has confession helped (or hindered) your walk?

Next week we leave James and explore how God loves us.

The Quality of Mercy: James 2:13

"For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment "James 2:13.

"Henry" grew up in a home parented by an alcoholic father and a distant mother. With no familial example, he turned to drugs by the time he was thirteen. By his mid-twenties, he'd been twice married, twice divorced. He lost his children, ended up in jail.

He should have known better having seen his parents' life. He should be punished for his robberies, drug dealing, inept parenting. He should have...

True. Though, we need to remember we all have sinned in some fashion, and in breaking one part of God's commandments, we've broken them all. Thankfully, Henry's story didn't end with a life of incarceration.

With the new drug laws for non-violent offenders, Henry was offered drug court in lieu of a continued sentence. This procedure is essentially a civil action that depends on the will-power of the addict to stay clean and to be accountable. It's a step toward mercy.

Better for Henry, he found himself in a residential, God-centered rehabilitation program. Here, with a close reading of Scriptures, a program much like AA's Twelve Step program AND social and emotional support, he's been clean for close to a year.

His sister had been granted custody of his children. Prior to his joining the drug program, she refused all contact with her brother. Now, given his progress, he's established visitation again.

Relationships are being restored. Henry's beginning to give back to the society he robbed, and a life is redeemed.

"For judgment will be merciless
to one who has shown no mercy;
mercy triumphs over judgment "James 2:13.

He's not an isolated case. I work with CR (Celebrate Recovery), a Christian-based course that builds its precepts on the Beatitudes. It consists of worship, testimony, study, small group, accountability partners and sponsors. If a person struggling with addictive behaviors or co-dependency so wishes, he/she can take an intensive six-month study.

This community redeems the lost. Not every individual shown mercy here does turn her life around. However, many dear friends, people I've quickly formed close alliances with, had been former addicts, and some had been rightly imprisoned for their actions.

It's a network of beautiful lives restored because of mercy.

Mercy must be extended through all facets of our society, not just to addicts. Black lives, just as police lives, matter. Let's understand and work for mercy. Poverty is sometimes self-inflicted, other times it's a matter of circumstances. How can mercy not help? Christians are mocked, just as Muslims are discriminated against. Can we reach a Muslim with the truth of Jesus without mercy? Can we allow the Holocaust to resurrect because of another religious intolerance?

If one person out of ten is pulled out of the fire by mercy, we've achieved much.

Shakespeare said in The Merchant of Venice:

The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes...

That, in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation...

And aren't the last two lines so true? Who here would have salvation without God's mercy? In James 2:13, we receive a chilling warning if we have not mercy...our own judgment will be merciless.