Standing In Line For Absolution

It seems that every time I go to the Pharmacist there’s a line.  Sure, there are lines for most of the things we do in life (in fact we end up standing in line all the time without taking much notice), but at the Pharmacy, it’s different.   

It’s not like standing in line to buy tickets for movie or ride a roller coaster.  When I stand in line at the Pharmacy I’m not there to get something I necessarily want, but something I need.  Healing medicine.

What if people stood in line to receive private Absolution?  

It’s a crazy thought isn’t it?  That something like simple words from your Pastor could be so important. 

“If you are poor and miserable, then go to Confession and make use of its healing medicine. He who feels his misery and need will no doubt develop such a longing for it that he will run toward it with joy… so we teach what a splendid, precious and comforting thing Confession is. Furthermore, we strongly urge people not to despise a blessing that in view of our great need is so priceless.”

Martin Luther, A Brief Exhortation to Confession, 27-28

The sad reality, however, is that many Pastors today refuse to give private Absolution.  

I realize that such practice has been greatly abused and is therefore distasteful to many, but what is private Absolution except the Gospel consolation which gives the remission of sins to all who believe?  It is healing medicine we so desperately need.

“But Pastor, can’t I just confess my sins to God and be forgiven?”

Yes, do that!  Confess your sins to God daily.  Confess to your neighbor when you sin against him.  But this is not a “Do I have to” issue, it’s not a law, it’s gospel, it’s a “I get to” issue!  You get to confess your sins to your Pastor, the one whom God has given to you that you might have the benefit of hearing the clear, external, objective, official Word from God which applies the saving merits of Christ’s death to you personally, verbally, individually, for your sin.

“But Pastor, I’m scared to confess my sins privately.”

Yes, there is a bit of trepidation about confessing sins for which you need forgiveness, but know that there is no sin which you could confess that would make your Pastor blush, for in his heart he is just as bad a sinner as you.  And though it can be a scary thought to divulge your innermost wickedness, what is more scary is trying to deal with your sin on your own.

Rather, if we really understood the words “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” we would “be happy to run more than a hundred miles to Confession and not let yourself be urged to come. You should rather come and compel us to give you the opportunity” (Luther, A Brief Exhortation to Confession, 30).

What if people stood in line to receive Absolution?  
What if people demanded their pastors to speak this word of Gospel to them, even if that Pastor shies from such a practice?  
What if this healing balm of the Gospel were sought out regularly, not necessarily because it’s something we want, but because it’s something we need!

“As long as this sun - namely, the doctrine of justification through faith alone - does not set but shines brightly within our Church, we will not suffer the consolation of absolution to be taken away from her.  But where this sun does not shine, where the article of justification by grace through faith alone is not pure, there infernal darkness must set in; there necessarily also the power of absolution, and with it, the perfection of Christ’s redemption, is denied.”

C.F.W. Walther, “Sermon on John 20:19-31 Regarding Absolution,” At Home In The House of My Fathers, 208