Thursday, December 02, 2010

The Power of Confession


Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
“The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation.  Sin wants to remain unknown.  It shuns the light. . . . In confession the light of the gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart.  The sin must be brought into the light.  The unexpressed must be openly spoken and acknowledged.  All that is secret and hidden is made manifest.  It is a hard struggle until the sin is openly admitted.  But God breaks gates of brass and bars of iron.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York, 1954), pages 112-113.

(HT:  Ray Ortlund)

2 comments:

Corey Sosebee said...

Thought this was timely in light of your post. A quote from a recent Boot Camp session when he was emphasizing repenting. Well worth a listen:

http://youtu.be/U270wZyvKwM

"That's what happens, friends, when you stop repenting.

When you stop repenting you stop calling others to repent, and invariably the sin destroys you or you end up changing your theology to justify your disobedience.

And it always ends badly... it always ends badly

Ryan said...

This quote you posted was relevant and reminds me of a book I read recently called Comfort Healing and Joy by David Fox. The book talks in depth about reflection and the choices we make and confession definitely helps you reconcile those aspects of your life with God. Thank you for sharing.