Public Confession of Sin?
Over the last 200 or so concerts I have talked about sin quite a bit. At the same time I have observed that many churches, both those of my home denomination (which is PCA), and others who are evangelical, conservative, and would say they attempt to be biblical, talk very little about sin or confession of sin. Many times all that is done publicly is for someone to thank God for forgiving us. Certainly there is nothing wrong with that. But actually confessing our sin is something else altogether. It seems that to a certain degree in order to not appear like the Roman Catholic Church we have done away with, or diminished as much as possible, the practice of confessing our sin together as the family of God.
This, in my view, once again, is swinging the pendulum to far. A large portion of the Scriptures talk about sin. A large portion of the church forget at best, or disparage at worst, the bible’s emphasis on sin. Why? Perhaps it’s our perception that sin doesn’t sell or make people feel encouraged. But grace does. The obvious problem, however, is that we don’t need grace if we aren’t sinners, and so grace becomes an impotent concept that is relegated to the sphere of the sentimental.
I am not afraid of the topic. In fact, I find confessing my sin along side others a wonderfully encouraging and uplifting experience that is based in the reality that an Almighty Father longs to embrace his wayward child. The parable of the Prodigal pictures a father running to throw his arms about the repentant son.
Public confession of sin as the family of God should be revitalized. Perhaps we can even regain the practice of confessing “our” sin rather than only confessing “my” sin. Yes, the Lord works with individuals, but he also has a long history of working in, and through groups of people. The church is a group, a covenant family. I pray that when we come together on a Lord’s Day that we can confess together, be humbled together, and thereby be uplifted together by the Strong Hand that bore all sin. Why carry the burden? Confess.
August 31, 2008 at 12:32 am
Hey, Nathan!
I have just been listening to your songs at indie heaven for the last 20 minutes or so. Most excellent! I have prayed that the Lord would raise up many others who would not be afraid of the Scriptures and who would sing them clearly for His people, and lo and behold, here you are!
I first heard your name recommended to me when I sang at a PCA church in St. Louis last summer. After my concert, several folks came up and said “Have you ever heard Nathan Clark George?” I had to answer negatively, I’m kind of a reclusive Canadian who doesn’t get out much, I see…
Then this past week I sang with my family at a family camp outside of Spokane, where RC Sproul Junior was speaking, and he asked me the same thing. So today I looked you up.
I would like to buy a bunch of your CDs. Or if you wanted to swap some with me, I would be delighted. You can listen to my stuff at my website http://www.solmusic.ca, or even at itunes.
Blessings! I’m glad I ran across you!
Jamie Soles