I have had the incredible opportunity to facilitate the trainee float experience for the past 6 years. Every year is a little different but every year has one constant......confession! I have witnessed the powerful spirit of God at work in the lives of the trainees setting them free through the act of confession.
"The Discipline of confession brings an end to pretense. God is calling into being a church that can openly confess its frail humanity and know the forgiving and empowering graces of Christ."
I am reminded to be an authentic IDENTITY! Be one who embraces integrity while chasing away roles.
- This can happen through confession! I am reminded to be a wounded PERFORMANCE! Be one who embraces brokenness while chasing away "perfection".
This can only happen through radical honesty with God, myself, and the world around me. If Loving God is central and everything flows from there - honesty in confession to God looks like confession to my brothers and sisters in Christ. When I fail to embrace my own brokenness through confession I involuntarily demand everyone around me to change....be more like me! I embrace everyone elses brokenness by controlling them and trying to fix their brokenness so I don't have to deal with mine!
ALL have sinned and fallen short.....I am one of the ALL! And everyone I deal with is one of the ALL - but the temptation to remove myself from one of the ALL and judge everyone else is misdirected worship! Confession as a life style rescues and reminds me to be aware!
I am reminded to be a weak PERSON! Be one who embraces Christ while chasing away personal strength.
Confession returns me to Christ's embrace.
- "The authentic, wounded, aware, and weak Disciple of Jesus Christ seems to experiences the gospel of Jesus Christ in a full and personal way that is deeply Christian. (Darrell Johnson & Rod Wilson)
-REID
Reid - thanks for this reminder!
ReplyDeleteThose four bullet points have been convicting me again and again since admin retreat (especially 'wounded performance'.)
Love this:
"The Discipline of confession brings an end to pretense. God is calling into being a church that can openly confess its frail humanity and know the forgiving and empowering graces of Christ."