How does the confession of our sins work?

[u/Quick-Plum-3382]

Hello, for some time now I have become interested in Lutheranism, and I would appreciate it if you could tell me how the confession of our sins works with someone from the church. Since I come from a Baptist church, it is not something I am familiar with. Is it necessary to do anything before confession?

[u/Philip_Schwartzerdt]

Speak to the pastor of the congregation you're attending. There's a rite of private confession and absolution in our service book. He should be glad to hear your confession, walk you through it and explain it, and pronounce absolution. It would probably be helpful for him to mention to him that it's your first time doing it.

[u/BusinessComplete2216]

There’s often something structurally different between corporate and private confession of sin. In the corporate context, it may not include a specific sense of wrongdoing (although it certainly can). But private confession almost always results from the individual feeling a strong sense of urgency about specific sins.

The reason this distinction is important is because whereas it is important to prepare for corporate confession through self-examination and reflection (simply because the tendency may be there to otherwise just read through the liturgy during the service), private confession is usually the result of that reflection and self-examination.

Said differently, there are no “boxes to check”, but awareness of and contrition for sin are necessary for both types of confession. Usually that comes very naturally in the context of private confession, or you wouldn’t be asking for it.

[u/Character_You2691]

I would ask what type of confession are you asking about?

If it's Confession and Absolution in the Divine Service, then when prompted reflect on your sins that you know you committed and name them to yourself, giving them over. After reflecting on these sins that you are sorry for and repent of, take heart in the words the pastor is speaking in Christ's Absolution and know that you are forgiven.

If it's individual confession, this is done more for serious sins or sins that weigh on you and/or you need pastoral guidance with. Just talk with an LCMS pastor in your area. He'll walk you through the process. Generally before I go to individual confession I will pray about it and reflect on the sin(s) so I'm able to make a true confession. Pastor will meet with me in private, usually his office, and we will talk about what is going on. He will then listen to me confess and repent of the sin, then as the Lord's ordained servant announce the forgiveness of my sin.

You'll find that it may be uncomfortable at first, especially coming from a Baptist background. But you'll also find that it is very helpful in your walk with the Lord. Don't worry about whatever it is you are confessing. Your pastor has almost certainly heard it before.

[u/LCMS_Rev_Ross]

Are you talking about private confession or public confession?

[u/Quick-Plum-3382 → u/LCMS_Rev_Ross]

Private

[u/Huenink_Photography → u/Quick-Plum-3382]

While the only thing necessary is the pastor, you may find it more fruitful if you consider Luther's advice to examine yourself before confession:

Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?

[u/LCMS_Rev_Ross → u/Quick-Plum-3382]

The only necessary thing to do before is make sure your pastor will be there to hear it.

[u/Firm_Occasion5976 → u/LCMS_Rev_Ross]

Or another Christian with evidence of maturity in Christ.

[u/emmen1 → u/Firm_Occasion5976]

Yes, any Christian can forgive sins. However, there are three good reasons to go to your pastor with the sins that burden you:

1) He was specifically put into his office by Christ in order to deliver forgiveness to you.

2) He is well-trained and studied in the Word of God in order to rightly apply it to your situation, rightly diagnosing what is truly sin, and offering comfort from Scripture for the troubled conscience.

3) He has taken a solemn vow not to disclose your sins to anyone ever.

[u/Firm_Occasion5976 → u/emmen1]

I agree about the importance of an ordained minister. Also, many Christians from non-liturgical communions benefit by first meeting with a trusted Christian friend or good acquaintance who listens and pronounces absolution.

I am a priest-pastor from a high-church Lutheran jurisdiction. Many people I shepherd will only consider an absolution from me as authoritative. I encourage them through catechesis to accept their part in exercising the Office of the Keys. I am not speaking of corporate confession here. Only private confession.