House Rule #5: Confession Takes Courage, Don’t Cringe

What kind of church family do you want to be part of when you sin? How would you like someone to treat you when you confess your sin to them? What would be good news to you in that moment? When someone is already under the weight of their sin and confessing it, we don’t flinch or give them a shameful glance. Instead, we celebrate and comfort them with the Gospel! The Gospel makes it clear we are all sinners, so a confession of sin doesn’t surprise us—it excites us because it means God is turning that person toward Christ and change. 

We don’t rebuke strugglers; we encourage them with grace and truth! Rebukes are only needed when we are hard-headed and obstinate in our sin. Most of the time, most of us are not obstinate in sin; we are simply struggling toward obedience. Confession is not something to rebuke, but to encourage because Christ’s yoke and burden is easy and light (Matt. 11:28-30) and the Gospel is true.

Luke 15; Gal. 6:1ff; Jas. 5:16