Growing with God 2013 The Spiritual Disciplines – Confession

The ‘Growing with God’ schedule  January PrayerA vital way to start the year  FebruaryConfessionAsh Wednesday falls on Feb 13  MarchFastingLent includes almost all of March  AprilCelebrationThe joyous Easter season  MayWorship May includes Pentecost  JuneStudyCoinciding with the end of school  JulyGuidanceSummer quiet for listening to God  AugustMeditationKicking back and tuning in to God  September ServiceThe start of a new church year  OctoberSimplicityStewardship time  NovemberSubmissionCreation begins its annual death  DecemberSolitudeAdvent waiting for the Kingdom

Look who’s talking  “A man's very highest moment is, I have no doubt at all, when he kneels in the dust, and beats his breast, and tells all the sins of his life.” Oscar Wilde,  “For a good confession three things are necessary: an examination of conscience, sorrow, and a determination to avoid sin.” St Alphonsus Liguori,  "We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves… Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Steps 4 and 5, Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 4 and 5, Alcoholics Anonymous

Born in 1943 in Kansas Franciscan friar and Roman Catholic priest. Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps, 2011  Richard Rohr

 “People only come to deeper consciousness by intentional struggles with contradictions, conflicts, inconsistencies, inner confusions and what the biblical tradition calls 'sin' or moral failure.”  "The threat of punishment is the least effective form of social change or long-lasting improvement. Efficient, yes, but not effective at all. Only mutual apology, healing, and forgiveness offer a sustainable future for humanity.“ Richard Rohr

 “God does not love us when we change, he loves us so that we can change.”  “Forgiveness is to let go of our hope for a better past.”  “You cannot heal what you do not acknowledge.”  The more you are attached to a persona ('stage mask’ in Greek) bad or good, any chosen preferred self-image the more shadow self you will have. So we absolutely need conflicts, relationship difficulties, moral failures, defeats to our grandiosity, even seeming enemies, or we will have no way to ever spot or track our shadow self.” Richard Rohr

 “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”1 John 1:9  “When I kept silent my bones wasted away … my strength was sapped … then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity … and you forgave my sin.”Psalm 32:3-5  “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

What is confession?  “To surrender my weaknesses and faults to the forgiving love of Christ and intentionally desire and embrace practices that lead to transformation” Adele Calhoun  Admitting to God our natural urge to rationalize, deny, and blame.  Examining our moral weaknesses, self-centered habits and broken relationships.  Using Scripture as the yardstick by which we judge, e.g. 10 Commandments.  Seeking God’s grace to change  Determining to do live differently.

True Confessions Genuine confession and repentance don’t happen overnight. They require being formed in communities that value above all else, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control.

The fruit of confession  Peace and lightness of spirit  Restoration of relationship with God and others  Greater self-awareness  Increased compassion towards others’ weaknesses and sins.  Increased compassion towards others’ weaknesses and sins.

The dangers of confession  Developing an identity of unworthiness  Confessing the same sin - again and again.  Believing that confession on its own is not enough.  Confusing guilt with shame.  Believing that merely saying ‘sorry’ is enough.