Confession and Community

One of the ways I participate in my church community is as a lay leader in Sunday-morning services, usually leading a congregational prayer or another element of the liturgy. Recently, I had my first opportunity to lead the Confession of Sin, a congregation-wide prayer of turning to God in repentance for specific ways that we have commonly transgressed.

Our custom is for the lay leader to begin with a personal story of temptation or challenge – an example that is appropriate to the audience, as well as one with which everyone can identify. I immediately thought of the way I engaged with events playing out on the national stage, events that directly impacted people, institutions, issues and values that I cared about. As I spoke with the pastor who was directing the overall flow of the service, he challenged me to make the invitation to confession accessible to those who might see the current political climate differently than I do. He helped me to craft the wording so that anyone listening could relate to what I’m dealing with in my heart. As I wrote the prayer, it occurred to me that, since a corporate confession of sin is a communal act as well as an individual one, it transcends any difference or division – be it physical, generational, or ideological – that exists in that space and time.

So here is what I said in front of my community:

In recent weeks, I’ve watched as current events have affected the lives and livelihoods of people who I am close to or care about. I also see how these circumstances turn people against each other, as accusations and insults fly online and plenty of people, regardless of their views, are left feeling hurt, misunderstood and devalued. My own temptation has been to jump in with impulsive anger, to let loose on social media or in conversations, and further amplify the hatred and discord that is already so widespread. It has laid bare for me what my inner voice can sound like when it is not yielded to God. Regardless of what circumstances prompt that voice and those feelings, my guess is that many of us have struggled with these temptations at one time or another, or reacted angrily to others yielding to those same temptations.

When we join together in corporate confession of our sin before God, we join together – with people with whom we agree and with whom we disagree – in saying we desire to lay these sins aside and walk humbly with God, that we are all in need of God’s forgiveness through Christ, and that we are all in need of his Spirit to turn our hearts to him. I invite you to join me in praying the prayer of confession:

Most holy Father, we confess that the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts, are so often not pleasing in your sight. We mock, despise, hate, and ridicule our fellow image-bearers, souls that you have created and that you love. We pass judgment upon these souls instead of trusting in your justice and mercy. Forgive us, God, for our hardness of heart and for trusting in our own perceived rightness instead of in your perfect righteousness. Give us hearts of love for those whom you have created, loved, and given of yourself for. Restore our broken relationships with one another and with you.

Now let’s spend a moment praying silently to the God who loves and has forgiven us…

God, forgive us, we pray, and sanctify our hearts for our good and your glory.

After the prayer of confession, it is our custom to remind ourselves of the assurance of God's forgiveness and continued presence in our lives. Just as I needed this prayer, I needed to say and hear these words of assurance to remind me that, even in my times of deepest struggle, God’s grace and forgiveness are extended to me, restoring relationship and empowering me to move forward in humility and toward restoration of my human relationships:

Please stand and hear these words of grace:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Let’s join together to praise God for his grace.

Jay Boyles is the Vice President of Advancement at the One America Movement.