Confessing One to Another (and praying too!)

Today a visit to the bathroom turned out to provide an unexpected object lesson.  We have an intermittent leaky tap in our bathroom which is the ultimate "jiggle the handle" experience.  If you have the technique and strength, it works ok.  But because the maintenance man didn't match the new handles with the old-style brass fitting it has always been difficult to keep from dripping.  So we have developed a workaround:  if the tap drips a cup is placed underneath to catch the water to prevent wasting it.  Then when I come in to wash my hands, I crank that puppy down--much to Laura's dismay.

As I watched the water slowly form under the tap and drip into the cup, I mused how pointless it would be to try to keep the tap from dripping with a finger.  Attempts to keep the water from dripping by hand pressure or placement of a cup underneath does not address the internal problem with the tap.  It needs to be pulled apart and fitted with a new plunger, O-Ring, and grease for smooth function (with compatible knobs of course!).  The dripping really isn't the problem, but is a symptom of a hidden internal problem.  We can be quite similar to the dripping tap because losing our temper, worrying, lying, or cheating are only symptoms of a heart problem which can result from our neglect of confession and repentance.

In Christian circles confession of specific sins to others on a regular basis is a seldom practiced spiritual discipline--at least speaking for myself.  That is set to change for me personally on the basis of what the LORD has been teaching me lately, for who does not sin (1 John 1:10)?  In addition to the biblical directive in James 5:16, I came across something J. Edwin Orr wrote in his book Full Surrender which impacted me:

"It costs nothing for a church member to admit in a prayer meeting, "I am not what I ought to be."  It costs no more to say:  "I ought to be a better Christian."  It costs something to say:  "I have been a trouble-maker in this church."  It costs something to say:  "I have had bitterness of heart towards certain leaders, to whom I shall definitely apologise."  While it is true that human hearts possess attributes towards sin which can be described as general, all acts of sin are particular and should be confessed in a particular way.  A sinner might be overwhelmed by so many specific convictions of sin that he does not know where to begin.  He should begin with his besetting sin, about which he will feel most conviction.  The exhortation to confess our sins is clearly progressive:  "If we keep on confessing our sins." (Orr, J. Edwin. Full Surrender. Marshall, Morgan, & Scott. 1951. pages 28-29.)

Though all sin is against God, we also sin against people.  Since this is the case, when guilt of sin comes to our attention we ought to confess our sin to the one we have wronged as the Prodigal did to his father:  "I have sinned against heaven and against you."  Orr put forth a maxim concerning confession in Full Surrender to let the "circle of the offence committed be the circle of the confession."  The unity and healthy fellowship of Christians can be severely hampered by pride and our (my!) refusal to confess sins to one another as James prescribed coupled with prayer for each other.  Joshua exhorted Achan to publicly confess what impacted the nation; Job prayed for his erring friends and they were healed.  We cannot keep short accounts with God if our ledger is bleeding red with sins against our brothers and sisters and we have neglected our responsibility to confess.  It is good for us to keep from sin, but if our primary motivation to avoid it is the fear of confessing to our brothers our hearts are not right before God.  Praise the LORD He is forgives, cleanses, restores, and even redeems our sin for His ultimately glory and our good.