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CHRISTIAN CONFESSION
In some churches—the Lutheran, for example—unordained |
persons may sometimes administer the communion or the |
sacrament of baptism, even in private. It may be taken that |
when confession is not considered a sacrament an unordained
person may hear confession, but as a rule confession should be |
made to an ordained representative of the Church and spiritual |
fellowship.
It will perhaps be contended that different points of view are
held within different denominations concerning the Christian
practice of teaching. But however opinions may differ about
the question of ordination or consecration, for example, and
other points of doctrine, every Church has some formal way of
making it generally known who are its acknowledged
representatives.
We have probably dwelt too long on this part of our subject.
It is, however, of importance not only in relation to the tradition
of confession and its protection, but also to the question of the
psychology of confession. This leads us to another topic that we
must now discuss.
Confession and Absolution
There are two kinds of confession. In one form, the most
important thing is to be able to speak freely about one’s failures
and weaknesses. The person who reveals himself is not always
aware why he wants to do so or what his motive is. It is not
necessarily to learn what another person has to say about the
matters confessed. One may want no more than to be heard.
In the other form—the Christian form of confession—another
element is included: something said to the person confessing;
something of the utmost importance. :
The person confessing desires to receive confirmation of the
fact that the acknowledged sin is forgiven. In ecclesiastical
language this is called absolution. When confession is made with
this desire and intention, the person hearing it should, of course
be able to define and interpret the conditions of Christian
forgiveness. When conveying absolution he should not speak
on his own behalf. He represents the spiritual fellowship and
he must, when giving absolution according to the Word, speak
on behalf of Christ and the fellowship. Absolution, as a
confirmation of the forgiveness of sins, is an essential part of
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