“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer argued that confession is the final obstacle to koinonia. I tend to agree. Below I’ve highlighted some resources for putting together a confession service for those in your worshiping community:
For the Old Testament background, you might begin with Leviticus 16 where we read instructions for the Day of Atonement. See especially Lev 16:21. You might also read the great prayer by Daniel in Daniel 9. pay attention to Daniel 9:4 in particular.
Psalm 32 is an individual confession psalm, but one intended for use in corporate worship. Regular corporate and individual confession has long been a part of the church’s worship. We see this as early as the Didache which some are now dating as early as A.D. 70. Didache 4:14, 14:1 reads, “Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure.”
Of course, confession is an essential part of the New Testament message, and we see it as early at Mark 1:5. Why is confession such a vital element of faith? Acts 19:13-20 provides profound insight. Acts 19:18 makes clear that those confessing were already believers (see the NASB translation). Confession isn’t just for those wishing to be baptized and become followers of Jesus. Confession should be an ongoing part of our life in Christ. The setting in Acts 19 is Ephesus which was the center of magic in the Roman Empire. Magic spell books were often called “Ephesian Writings”. In ancient times, the power of a magic spell was thought to lie in the secrecy of the incantation. This is why the spell books were so valuable. If you knew the “secret” you had power because there is power in secrecy. David famously wrote, “When I kept silent my bones wasted away... my strength was sapped” Psalm 32:3-4. Satan longs for us to keep our sin secret because secret sin isolates us. Proverbs 28:13 puts it this way: “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
James 5:16 makes clear that we must confess to one another - not just to God. Until we confess sin to another person, sin still has a hold. James understands a vital truth: confession to God brings forgiveness. Confession to another believer brings freedom because it breaks the isolating hold of a secret sin.
When the Ephesian believers confessed, Luke reports, “So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.” (Acts 19:20). Confession is frequently the catalyst for revival.
Bonhoeffer writes, “The final break-through to fellowship does not occur, because, though we have fellowship with one another as believers and as devout people, we do not have fellowship as the undevout, as sinners… Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners! He who is alone in his sin is utterly alone” Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, pg. 110).
Confession is a gift from God. It doesn’t grant forgiveness, but confession does make forgiveness incarnate. The beloved disciple put it this way: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to purify us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9
Below are a few Observations from my experience of leading confession services, a Sample order of Service and a very brief Biography:
First, I argue that confession should normally be made to mature spiritual believers, rather than before the entire congregation. When I train confessors, I remind them they must…
Hold a confidence
Be mature
Have an awareness of their own sin and need to confess.
Refrain from giving advice, trying to solve the problem, or trying to counsel the person confession. There is a time and place for such things, but not in the context of a confession worship service.
Secondly, in a worship service I always have confessors in pairs. I include male / female, male / male, and female / female pairs so that men may confess to men and ladies to ladies. Having pairs help bear the burden and also provides a level of accountability and protection for those hearing the confession.
Sample Order of Service
Prelude
Opening Song
Sermon (Teaching on the role of confession)
Reflection
Responsive Reading Psalm 32
Confession as we sing
Whiter than Snow
Create In Me a Clean Heart
Nothing but the Blood
Lord’s Supper
Offering
Benediction
Resources:
The Psalms. See especially those laments that are Psalms of Confession and the Penitential Psalms (Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).
Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline. His chapter on confession is helpful.
Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook. See her section entitled “Confession and Self Examination”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together. See especially chapter 5 “Confession and Community”.
The Book of Common Prayer. See especially “The Reconciliation of a Penitent” pg. 447ff. The BCP is also full of wonderful corporate confessions.
Peter Davids, The Epistle of James, NIGTC. See pg. 194ff.
Patrick Hartin, James. Sacra Pagina. See pg. 270ff.