Yesterday began the season of Lent, the 40(ish) day period of fasting leading up to Easter. During that time, Christians are encouraged to give up something as an exercise of self-denial. This self-denial helps one identify with Jesus, who gave up life itself on the cross.
As we deny ourselves, we may more easily discover our own brokenness and sin. Such discovery should lead us to confession.
Confession is something that Protestants and Catholics handle differently. Many Protestant churches lead parishioners through weekly prayers of confession, a corporate way to acknowledge our failures. This is valuable.
But Catholics encourage parishioners to name their sins specifically, individually to a priest in confession. I understand the Protestant objection here. We believe in the priesthood of the believer, that we don't need anyone to stand between us and God. Jesus himself is our priest.
Nevertheless, scripture calls us to confess. "If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). We can dig that. Let's confess our sins to God. He forgives us. We need it.
Notice also what James says about confessing: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16). Confession to other believers brings more than forgiveness; it brings healing.
Protestants don't mind confessing sin to God, but it's really awkward to confess your sin to another person. I might do that occasionally, but not regularly. I think I'm missing out on some healing.
