Lutheran Liturgy Has Something For Us

Read this liturgy of the Lutheran Church

Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Short Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.)
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have
sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what
we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not
loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal
punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,
renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to
the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Glorious.

My childhood family knelt in the church to say these words every Sunday and no one believed except me. How could we and the non-believing pastor say these words and never be moved? Thank you God, You reached me in that place.

We have sinned against you in thought word and deed. by what we have done and left undone.  Wow, so true and covers the bases. Confession is valuable. the Book of James says we should confess our sins to each other.

James 5:16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Lutheran Liturgy Needs Our Revelation

My childhood Lutheran church was not ready to split into small groups and specifically confess to each other.  Unfortunately, even that likely would not have saved us. Faith is the gift of God. Revelation is precious. We still need it more and more. See also Faith Without Religion?

God you are trying to break through to us all the time. Help us to let you in, to connect with you. Amen