The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Small Groups

Why not? =/

Why not (make open confession of your personal sins before a group of people)? Because there is no biblical mandate nor principle to be found that would enjoin nor even encourage such a practice of people mutually confessing their private sins to one another. Confession of private, personal sins are to be done unto God. (Ps 32:3-6; Prov 28:13; 1Jh 1:9) What Scripture does teach is that when someone sins against another the one who is guilty of that sin needs to confess that sin to the one it has been committed. (Lk 17:3,4; Ja 5:15,16) And/or if one has been sinned against, then if the guilty party does not confess that sin and seek forgiveness then the innocent party is to confront the individual with that sin with the explicit purpose of desiring the person's repentance so as forgiveness and reconciliation can be achieved. (Matt 5:23,24; 18:15-17)

If someone commits a sin against a group, then it is to the group that confession is to be made. If a sin is done against the Church, then it is to the church that confession is to be made. But nowhere is it taught that private or personal sins are to be indiscriminately confessed publicly.

It may be that there is a close friend to whom one may confide in concerning certain sins that are being wrestled with for the purpose of asking for help, wisdom, counsel and prayer. But one is to exercise due care and wisdom in such things.

Can you provide biblical support that teaches otherwise? IF you are of the opinion that it does.

James 5:16 says,


But in context it doesn't support the public confession of private sins. Rather it refers to sickness caused by sin in which repentance calls for apology, forgiveness, and prayer.

In a small group it's easy to get a sense of false intimacy, and in some small groups I was in, we were encouraged to "confess our sins" to the group "for healing." But the Bible is not talking about some sort of "group therapy session" here. All those "confessions" became a means for people to vicariously participate in the sins of others. Almost like, but not quite that blunt.

Confessing our shortcomings and faults to trusted friends is one thing. Accountability to one or two very close, trusted people for the purpose of mutual discipleship is one thing. Confession of sins before a group is quite another! It quickly turns to gossip, it provokes harmful speculation, it destroys trust, it multiplies sin by contagion.

I was in two such small groups, and the damage done to people who engage in that stuff is immeasurable. It's the reason I haven't chimed in on this thread until now, and I hesitate even now to write much further on the subject because of the subdued pain and residual anger that remain even now. The false intimacy that is fostered by confessing sins to the group is inevitably and unavoidably exploited, misused, and very harmful.

-R

Robin,

I am thankful that you have decided to chime in. The relating of your experiences is most instructive as to what can and often does happen when the indiscriminate revealing of sins is done before a group, particularly when those sins have nothing to do with the individuals within the group. However, as true as what you have expressed may be, we certainly cannot base the practice of group confession of personal sins upon what might or might not happen, as I am more than certain you are not suggesting. The practice must be based upon what Scripture teaches. If it can be substantiated from proper exegesis of relevant passages thus establishing the warrant to do so, then it must be done. On the other hand, if there is no biblical support to establish the practice then it must be forbidden and not practiced.

Your understanding of the passage in James 5:15,16 I believe is correct. The context restricts this confession of one's sins to one another restricts it to a particular and specific situation where one is sick, perhaps even due to sin(s) committed and with the hope that such confession will result in healing of the sinner. Further, the context names the specific people who are to be present at this confession of the one stricken with illness; the Elders of the church. It is to them that this confession of sin is to be made; those to whom the keys of the kingdom have been entrusted.

Again, thank you for your participation and insights. I, for one, do appreciate it.

Robin, what you say rings true in my experience as well. I don't know that it was the official teaching of IVCF when I was involved with it many years ago but it was the widely accepted understanding and practice of the group to confess sins publicly. There were some where some people would actually seek to outdo one another in giving testimony to their sinful behavior. The worse it was, the more pleasing it was to the group. A weird kind of spiritual pride. This certainly did result in gossip and backbiting. Like you I learned from bad experiences the hard truth of John 2:24, 25 "But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man."

=) Yeah, Robin took the verse I was gonna say. You know, I've never heard it explained in context before. Thanks Robin and Pilgrim =) I learned something new today! ^_^