Private Absolution at Saint John's Lutheran Church

In his Reformation Day sermon, Pastor Reckzin focused on private confession and absolution. While private absolution has fallen into disuse in much of American Lutheranism, some confessional Lutheran congregations are striving to restore the practice today. Private absolution is offered solely for the comfort of hurting consciences and does not prescribe any "requirements" from those who come to confess their sin. The opportunity for a Christian to confess the sins that trouble him or her to the pastor and hear Christ's unconditional forgiveness announced personally is another important way to apply the gospel's comfort that our Lord has given to His church.

The restoration of this practice in our congregation also raises some legitimate questions. This insert is intended to address some of the practical and theological questions that you may have. Answers to some of these questions follow. In addition, some pertinent Bible passages and quotes from the Lutheran Confessions are included to shed light on the basis for this practice in our church life.

Quotes about Absolution from the Scriptures

Luke 17:3-4: "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

John 20:21-23: Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Colossians 3:13: "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

1 John 1:8-9: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Quotes about Absolution from the Lutheran Confessions

From Luther's Small Catechism (1529): Confession consists of two parts. One is that we confess our sins. The other is that we receive the absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the confessor as from God himself and by no means doubt but firmly believe that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven. Before God one is to acknowledge the guilt for all sins, even those of which we are not aware, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. However, before the confessor we are to confess only those sins of which we have knowledge and which trouble us.

From Luther's Large Catechism (1529): Confession consists of two parts. The first is our work and act, when I lament my sin and desire comfort and restoration for my soul. The second is a work that God does, when He absolves me of my sins through the Word placed on the lips of another person. This is the surpassingly grand and noble thing that makes confession so wonderful and comforting. If you are a Christian, you should be glad to run more than a hundred miles for confession, not under compulsion but rather coming and compelling us to offer it. For here the compulsion must be reversed; we [pastors] are the ones who must come under the command and you must come in freedom. We [pastors] compel no one, but allow ourselves to be compelled, just as we are compelled to preach and administer the sacrament. Therefore, when I exhort you to go to confession, I am doing nothing but exhorting you to be a Christian. If I bring you to this point, I have also brought you to confession. For those who really want to be upright Christians and free from their sins, and who want to have a joyful conscience, truly hunger and thirst already.

From the Augsburg Confession (1530): Concerning confession it is taught that private absolution should be retained and not abolished. However, it is not necessary to enumerate all misdeeds and sins, since it is not possible to do so: Psalm 19:12, "But who can detect their errors?"

From the Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession (1531): Confession has not been abolished by the preachers on our side. For the custom has been retained among us of not administering the sacrament to those who have not previously been examined and absolved. At the same time, the people are diligently instructed how comforting the word of absolution is and how highly and dearly absolution is to be esteemed. For it is not the voice or word of the person speaking it, but it is the Word of God, who forgives sin. For it is spoken in God's stead and by God's command. Great diligence is used to teach about this command and power of the keys, and how comforting and necessary it is for terrified consciences. It is also taught how God requires us to believe this absolution as much as if it were God's voice resounding from heaven and that we should joyfully find comfort in the absolution, knowing that through such faith we obtain forgiveness of sin.

From Luther's Smalcald Articles (1537): Because absolution or the power of the keys is also a comfort and help against sin and a bad conscience and was instituted by Christ in the gospel, confession, or absolution, should by no means be allowed to fall into disuse in the church-especially for the sake of weak consciences and for the wild young people, so that they may be examined and instructed in Christian teaching. However, the enumeration of sins ought to be a matter of choice for each individual: each person should be able to determine what and what not to enumerate. Because private absolution is derived from the office of the keys, we should not neglect it but value it highly, just as all the other offices of the Christian church.

Questions and Answers about Private Absolution

Q: Isn't this like the Roman Catholic Church forcing its people to go to confession?

A: Absolutely not!

1. The Roman Church requires private confession. The Lutheran Church never forces but rather urges, exhorts and encourages its people to make use of private confession because of the personal assurance of forgiveness spoken to each individual.
2. The Roman Church requires an enumeration of specific sins. The Lutheran Church allows you to enumerate specific sins that may bother you in order to receive specific assurance of forgiveness. The Lutheran Church never requires a detailed list.
3. The Roman Church puts the burden on the penitent. In the Roman Church forgiveness depends on how sorry you are for your sin. The Lutheran Church, as the Scriptures teach, puts the burden on Christ-he died to pay for your sin. Forgiveness depends entirely on His grace and His mercy and the perfect sacrifice He made on the cross.
4. The Roman Church assigns acts of penance to perform in order to assure the penitent of forgiveness. The Lutheran Church declares the free forgiveness of Christ without any strings attached.

Q: Does the pastor really have power to forgive my sins?

A: Yes, he does! He has that power because Christ gave him that power. In John, chapter 20, Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." The forgiveness the pastor speaks is as valid and certain before God in heaven as if Christ, our dear Lord, dealt with us Himself.

Q: Don't I already receive forgiveness of sins in the general confession and absolution in the worship service and also in Holy Communion? Isn't private absolution just repeating the same forgiveness?

A: Yes and yes! That's what makes private absolution so comforting. Christ Himself comes to us with His sweet forgiveness. As Christians, we crave that forgiveness. We hunger and thirst for it. In Psalm 42:1 it says, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." We crave God's grace because we live in a sinful world. We feel the burden of guilt that comes when God's unyielding law afflicts our conscience. Only the forgiveness of Christ can soothe us, calm us, restore us and uplift us. Private absolution is yet another way our gracious Savior serves us with His life-giving gospel. Private absolution also has the added benefit of being deeply personal. Christ serves the individual Christian. In a world that insists on personal attention and service, you can't find a more satisfying service than Private Absolution where our Lord and Savior Himself forgives your sins and gives you eternal life.

Q: OK, I want to come to Private Absolution, but the whole idea still seems awkward.

A: That's perfectly normal with anything new. Like most beneficial practices, however, the awkwardness wears off once we realize the great spiritual blessings Christ offers, seals and gives through this rite. When we properly keep the focus on God's law convicting us of our sin and God's Son forgiving us and restoring His peace to us, then Private Absolution will become a treasured practice, not an awkward novelty.

Q: When will Private Absolution be offered at St. John's?

A: Most likely in the new year, Wednesday will remain the day of the week for this service. If this time does not work out for you, you are encouraged to make an appointment with Pastor Reckzin. He is divinely called to serve you with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Q: How do I do it?

A: Simply arrive at church. Enter the narthex. Look through the doors into the sanctuary. If no one is at the altar, then proceed to the communion rail. Take an order of service that is provided at the communion rail and begin. Due to the solemnity of the rite, there will be no chit-chat or familiar greetings between you and the pastor. After the rite is over, simply leave the order of service and depart from God's house in the peace and joy of Christ's forgiveness. If you arrive in the narthex and you see someone at the altar, please respect their privacy. Wait quietly in the narthex until they are finished.

Q: How is private absolution conducted? What does it "look like"?

A: Our hymnal, Christian Worship, includes a brief form called "Private Confession" on pages 154 and 155. This is the form we will use for private absolution, with very minor adaptations. In the future an additional, alternate form may be included along with the hymnal's form.

When this rite is used in the church, the penitent usually kneels at the communion rail in the front of church and the pastor is seated to the side. A printed copy of the hymnal's "Private Confession" rite will be there for you to use. The pastor will be seated near the penitent. To avoid any awkwardness, no "small talk" or "chit-chat" will precede or follow the rite. Where the service says, "Here the penitent may confess specific sins," you may confess whatever is particularly troubling your conscience; however, there is no requirement or demand that you must confess something specific in this place. Likewise, there is no minimum or maximum time requirement. At the end of the rite, you may simply get up and leave the sanctuary quietly with the gospel's comfort and forgiveness filling your heart.

Q: Can I be assured of confidentiality?

A: Yes, absolutely. When a repentant sinner comes to seek the comfort of Christ's forgiveness, their sin is removed; their guilt is absolved. What is confessed in private absolution is completely and totally confidential. An important matter related to confidentiality is to respect those who are confessing. If you enter the church and someone is going through the rite in the front of the church, please wait silently in the narthex until they are done.

You don't need to fear seeing someone else when you come for private confession, because confessing our sins and hearing the Lord's forgiveness is what we naturally do as Christians. Some people may choose to use private absolution more frequently than others, but seeing someone else at private absolution does not mean they have committed a "serious" sin. Finally, all sin is equally serious in God's sight and equally forgiven through faith a one in Jesus Christ. Seeing another church member when you arrive for private absolution simply means that there is a fellow Christian who, like you, wants to hear the gospel's comfort.

Q: How often should I come for private absolution?

A: There is no rule for how often you must come for private absolution. To make a requirement of this would be to turn the gospel into the law. Frequency will largely depend on the individual person. Some may choose to come whenever it is offered. Others may choose to come when something in particular troubles them. Still others may come infrequently. What we do hope is that by offering set times for private absolution, people who want to hear the gospel's forgiveness applied to them personally will have that opportunity.

May the Lord bless our congregation as we seek to carry out the task that our Lord Jesus Christ gave us to do. Just before He ascended into heaven, our resurrected Savior said to his Church on earth, "This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:46-48). May our congregation faithfully carry out this work of our Savior until He returns.

In the service of Christ for you, Pastor Reckzin.

The Rite of Private Confession and Absolution

After you kneel or are seated, the pastor will begin the rite of confession and absolution.

Minister:

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Minister and Penitent:

O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy, and in your faithfulness, come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.

Penitent:

Almighty God, merciful Father, I, a troubled and repentant sinner, confess that I have sinned against you in my thoughts, my words, and my actions. I have not loved you with my whole heart. I have not loved others as I should. I am distressed by the sins that trouble me and am deeply sorry for them.

If you wish to do so, you may confess specific sins that trouble you at this time. When you have finished your confession, say:

This is my confession.

Minister:

Jesus says to his people, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven." His death paid for the guilt of your sins and the sins of the whole world. Do you believe that through me, a called and ordained servant of Christ, God himself forgives you all your sins?

Penitent:

Yes, I believe.

Minister:

By the authority of Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of eternal life.

Minister and Penitent:

O Lord, my God, I called to you for help, and you answered me. I thank you for the love you have shown me in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Through him you have rescued me from the guilt of my sin and given me the peace of forgiveness. Help me fight against temptation, correct whatever wrongs I can, and serve you and those around me with love and good works. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Minister:

Go in peace. The Lord be with you.

You may now depart from the church with the comfort and peace of Christ's forgiveness filling your heart and strengthening your faith.