ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 29, 2025
I was rereading Rob Bell’s book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, for the third or fourth time. Toward the end, he offers a very earthy yet accurate description of confession. He writes, “Confession is like really, really healthy vomit. It may smell and get all over the front of your shirt, but you feel better—you feel cleansed—when you’re done.” Though a bit disgusting, I believe Rob offers a helpful metaphor as confession is not easy or clean. We often toss around the idea of confession, but we don’t take it outside the theoretical.
In the Book of James, we read:
Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
The author wants people to move toward healing (wholeness), and though he does not offer a description of what confession looks like or feels like, James leaves no question in regard to the necessity of confession. And I appreciate how confession is not something a person does alone. It can get messy and ugly, but it is nice to have someone who is there with you.
Thank you, O Lord, for those who can hear the honest confessions of others without judgement or haughty opinions. We need these friends along our journey toward healing. Amen.
