In the Lutheran tradition, we practice the rite of confession and forgiveness every week. There is recognition of our short comings and the wrong we have done, there is a time of silent reflection where we confess our sins to God, and then there is the declaration of forgiveness by the pastor (or other leader). We as worship leaders do not grant forgiveness, rather we declare it. We pass on the promises given by Jesus Christ himself to forgive the sins of all who come wanting to turn over a new leaf and wipe the slate clean.
There are numerous times in the Gospel stories where Jesus tells people "your sins are forgiven" and gives them a clean slate for their new lives. This forgiveness has a dramatic effect. In Matthew 9, Jesus forgives a man for his sins and heals him of paralysis. The man walks away totally changed and transformed. In Luke 7, A woman weeps as Jesus feet for unknown reasons, she is forgiven and goes away with peace and hope for a new day. There are others stories, but they all reflect the same principle: Jesus forgives, wipes the slate clean for those who repent and those individuals live a whole new life.
We get offered that clean slate as well, each week, and really any time we ask for it. Jesus looks at we have done and not done, all our shortcomings, all our weaknesses, sins, cruel actions, hateful words, etc. Jesus sees all of it written in stark letters across our hearts and minds, and then reaches out and wipes the slate clean. Whatever it may be, when we come to repent, to ask forgiveness, Jesus promises to grant it. He clears the board, gives us peace and tells us to go and live a new life.
We get offered that clean slate as well, each week, and really any time we ask for it. Jesus looks at we have done and not done, all our shortcomings, all our weaknesses, sins, cruel actions, hateful words, etc. Jesus sees all of it written in stark letters across our hearts and minds, and then reaches out and wipes the slate clean. Whatever it may be, when we come to repent, to ask forgiveness, Jesus promises to grant it. He clears the board, gives us peace and tells us to go and live a new life.
That is why confession & forgiveness is one of my favorite parts of worship, because I am constantly in need of a clean slate. There are days when I just plain suck at being a pastor, father, husband, son, & friend. I get it wrong and I do and say things that are the exact opposite of love, mercy and kindness. I'm not a horrible person, just human.I see the need for that forgiveness from God so that I can try and do what I've been called to do. It's not a get out of jail free card, but an opportunity to start over, try again and live a better life of faith.
Jesus clean slate gives us the courage to try again and the peace to know we are still loved despite the darkness we sometimes carry in our hearts. It's life changing because it removes a burden from our shoulders that we have to always be perfect, be right, be on top of it all. That fresh start gives us hope to try new things (like blogging), or serving, or whatever, because we know we don't have to do it perfectly. We just have to be willing to stop when we screw up, repent and change our bad habits so that we can grow into the person God created us to be.
This clean slate allows us, or rather compels us, to forgive others and that is world changing. Jesus always instructs his followers to forgive others just as they have been forgiven. He reminds them that they have been given a clean start and they need to pass that on to others. When we experience the power of forgiveness, we get the chance to share that with others who have wronged us. We can pass on that free slate and repair the broken relationships that our collective sins have created. It is incredibly powerful to watch what happens when people forgive one another, it has changed lives and changed the very course of history, but that's another post for another day.
So in closing to this rather wordy post (they all won't be so long, promise) I ask: What do you want wiped off your slate? Where do you need forgiveness? And what would you do, if the weight of your imperfections was lifted from your shoulders? I can tell you as a called and ordained minister and by Christ's authority those sins are forgiven, the slate is clean, and a new life is waiting for you to receive it.
Jesus clean slate gives us the courage to try again and the peace to know we are still loved despite the darkness we sometimes carry in our hearts. It's life changing because it removes a burden from our shoulders that we have to always be perfect, be right, be on top of it all. That fresh start gives us hope to try new things (like blogging), or serving, or whatever, because we know we don't have to do it perfectly. We just have to be willing to stop when we screw up, repent and change our bad habits so that we can grow into the person God created us to be.
This clean slate allows us, or rather compels us, to forgive others and that is world changing. Jesus always instructs his followers to forgive others just as they have been forgiven. He reminds them that they have been given a clean start and they need to pass that on to others. When we experience the power of forgiveness, we get the chance to share that with others who have wronged us. We can pass on that free slate and repair the broken relationships that our collective sins have created. It is incredibly powerful to watch what happens when people forgive one another, it has changed lives and changed the very course of history, but that's another post for another day.
So in closing to this rather wordy post (they all won't be so long, promise) I ask: What do you want wiped off your slate? Where do you need forgiveness? And what would you do, if the weight of your imperfections was lifted from your shoulders? I can tell you as a called and ordained minister and by Christ's authority those sins are forgiven, the slate is clean, and a new life is waiting for you to receive it.
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