How Does Your Church Confess?
After being inspired by Imonk’s recent foray into evangelical liturgy, I have been thinking about the role of confession in non-denominational churches without a tradition to follow.
During communion at my church, I have been reading selections from Joel and a confessional prayer I wrote. For me, it it is both a product of our community (my writing) and attached to God’s Story of confession and deliverance (in Joel and in the sacrament).
I think there are many opportunities for powerful confessional moments in our churches that we are simply missing out on. So I ask of you, how does your church confess?
Do you do so formally? In silence? Out loud? Before communion? After communion?
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Confession is such an important part of our mutual growth. There is nothing that God can do with us when we are all pretending that we are okay. Our church runs through a liturgy which includes a time of renewal (confession, assurance of pardon, God’s will for our lives). Since I come from a Continental Reformed background, there is a tendency to sort of glaze over at this time as it is done every week. But the ritual itself is a very important part of our meeting together. Sometimes we confess together using a litany, sometimes I lead the prayer, sometimes we confess in silence.
I think it needs more teaching and attention in our churches, however, because it is something that we do not really understand.
Chad—I think your point about teaching is key.
That is something I really struggle with. I naturally "get" liturgy. It’s how I am wired. It’s how the church should be wired as well. But I also grew up with it and was formed by it in both denominational and non-denominational settings.
Now that I am participating in the worship service where there are so many people who have either not gone to church or who have not participated in any type of liturgy (other than stand and sing/sit still and listen) it is crucial that we start teaching these things.