CONFESSION OF FAULTS by S. S. Times

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 22.

CONFESSION OF FAULTS.

By S. S. Times

It is not at all unusual to find people who think themselves quite in the line of Christian duty, who seem to have no consciousness of the duty of confession. I have known a man whose grave breaches of trust had brought thousands to distress and want, speak of his offenses with entire complacency, because he believed that his Maker had forgiven him.

To such people it seems quite enough that they confess to God, and ask his forgiveness. They expect man to "forgive and forget," without a word said, while to God they ascribe no such generosity. They think any resentment that is more than momentary shows an unchristian spirit, and that those who show it are shutting themselves out from forgiveness on the terms of the Lord's prayer. But those terms are, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." It is asking God to deal with us as we have dealt with our brethren in this matter of our sins. Do we expect God to forgive without our asking? In the parable which illustrates this petition, the offense of the servant was that he gave no heed to his fellow servant when he pleaded, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee." Just the prayer he had made to his lord, his fellow servant made to him, and made in vain. If we expect God to forgive those who never own their sins, and never ask that he put them away by forgiveness, we have the right to expect the same of man.

The social life and relations of Christians would be sweetened greatly by the practical recognition of this duty. Nothing puts two people on a better mutual footing than the frank confession of faults. It warms two hearts, while it disburdens one. Much unchristian coldness and indifference, and many serious disagreements in churches, would be obviated by our binding this duty upon us. Besides this, it would increase Christian watchfulness. A fit of bad temper, a needless sharpness in speech—such is the weakness of our human nature—would come to have a much more serious look of evil, when we knew we should have to own it, and ask that it be forgiven and forgotten. We would walk more circumspectly, and with sharper outlook for the little foxes which mar the vines of Christian fruitfulness. Nor is this the only benefit. Our sense of the reality and heartiness of God's forgiveness of us would be greatly heightened by our experience of the forgiving spirit in those who best reflect his love in their lives. It is human goodness, commonly, that helps us to understand God; and there is no aspect of his character which may be thus disclosed to us more practically than his long-suffering and forgiveness.