Step 5 - Confession

Step 5 - We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

James 5:16 "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so you may be healed. The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective."

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When I was about six years old, a neighbor boy and I were ringbearer and flower girl in a wedding. As the reception went on, we were bored and seeing the grand spiral staircase...decided to slide down it. We were having a wonderful time when one of the staff shooed us away and we went running, sweaty and out of breath to our parent's table. Apparently, someone had told on us and my mom asked, "Have you two been sliding down the staircase?" "No, mommy!" I said, not realizing that my dress was torn, hair disheveled and streams of dirt from the stair rail covered my dress!

It is hard to confess our wrong doings...even when we are caught red handed! Perhaps it is the power of our pride that prevents us. Or fear. The Bible says, "perfect love casts out all fear." What would it be like to live fear-free lives? What would it be like if we could really experience perfect love?

The verses from James and 1 John take on new meaning in the context of perfect love. The goal of God's perfect love is not to punish or condemn us but rather to restore, cleanse and heal.

How does the idea of perfect love impact your ability to confess?

[preview of "Step 5: Confession" sermon by Rev. Lynn Munson, Sunday Oct. 4, 2009, Good Shepherd UMC, www.cometoworship.net]