Nothing Worthwhile Ever Comes Easy

This week it is my intention to complete the series on Confession and Absolution. We have specifically focused on the practice of Private Confession. As of late we have been discussing the obstacles that deter folks from taking advantage of this wonderful gift. I want to end in a strange and perhaps unexpected place.

Although I have attempted to alleviate some of the fears associated with trusting a Confessor to hear your confession, there is no way around it; our sinful nature will resist it. And the trust level and sense of vulnerability remain significant. But oddly enough, that actually works to our advantage! What do I mean?

There is an old adage: nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. So often we appreciate the value of something for which we had to work hard. In the instance of confessing our sins, it is not so much the hard work as it is the difficulty of humbling ourselves, admitting our inability to work ourselves out of the predicaments we get ourselves into, and to freely admit our need for help. One can mutter under their breath in a general way that these things are true. But you need to be intentional, and risk embarrassment, to allow your confession of sins to God to be overheard. Private Confession becomes a true act of humility and indicates great urgency. And this is good.

We are so used to God being unseen that we can adopt an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude. It should bother us more that God sees all and knows all, but frankly we are often more worried by other humans seeing and knowing what we have done. Again, this is all the more reason why an ambassador of the unseen God can bring the practice of confessing sins into vivid focus. It is also why the spoken words of “Your sins are forgiven you,” can bring home the gift in a more tangible and comforting way.

Since You Asked...

Why is incense used in some churches? 

The use of incense is not unique to Christianity or Judaism and is used in many of the world’s religions to enhance special times and places by sight and smell. In Christian worship incense is effectively used at the beginning of the Service of the Word and in preparing for receiving Holy Communion. The burning of incense is associated with the prayers of worship rising before God (cf. Psa 141:2; Rev 8:4). Good worship should engage all the human senses. In this connection it should be pointed out that the olfactory sense is perhaps the most sensitive of the five senses; it continues to function even during sleep. (Indebted to Aidan Kavanah in his “Elements of Rite”.)