I can remember when St. Paul’s reinstituted “scheduled” Private Confession.  Yeah, we never really got rid of private confession, it just stayed in the Pastor’s study for when we had a crisis and needed to chit chat with our spiritual father.

Do remember that the Lutheran Church is a catholic (i.e. universal) church.  So…what does this mean?  We’ll, we are the only church that uses scripture and scripture alone as the norm of our faith.  Other Christian denominations add various aspects – work, the pope, etc. 

When the Pastor announced private confession returning, there were some cries from the congregation “that’s too [Roman] Catholic.”  Yet, why is it not common place in our parishes.

The Book of Concord, which Lutheran’s regard as defense of our faith and our bible based beliefs, says this:

Confession has not been abolished in our churches. For it is not customary to administer the body of Christ except to those who have been previously examined and absolved. The people are also most diligently taught concerning faith in the word of absolution, about which there was a great silence before now….Nevertheless, confession is retained among us both because of the great benefits of absolution and because of other advantages for consciences. (Augsburg Confession XXV [Kolb/Wengert 73:1-2; 75:13])

Luther went on to say:

…private confession should be retained in the church, for in it consciences afflicted and crushed by the terrors of sin lay themselves bare and receive consolation which they could not acquire in public preaching. We want to open up confession as a port and refuge for those whose consciences the devil holds enmeshed in his snares and whom he completely bewitches and torments in such a way that they cannot free or extricate themselves and feel and see nothing else but that they must perish. For there is no other greater misery in this life than the pains and perplexities of a heart that is destitute of guidance and solace.

For this reason I have a high regard for private confession, for here God’s word and absolution are spoken privately and individually to each believer for the forgiveness of his sins, and as often as he desires it he may have recourse to it for this forgiveness, and also for comfort, counsel, and guidance. Thus it is a precious, useful thing for souls, as long as no one is driven to it with laws and commandments but sinners are left free to make use of it, each according to his own need, when and where he wishes; just as we are free to obtain counsel and comfort, guidance and instruction when and where our need or our inclination moves us. And as long as one is not forced to enumerate all sins but only those which oppress him most grievously.

Now… if you look at old hymn books and, quite honestly, most of the history of christiandom, private confession reigned supreme.  Old liturgies do not have the corporate confession made popular by American egocentrism.  Even as late as the 1950’s, people announced themselves for communion and obtained private confession and absolution.  Well, the problem is that less and less people came, for various reasons, which meant that less people were confessing their sins.  Troubling, yes.  So many churches are reinstituting the practice.  But it can be intimidating.  What is it like?  Will the pastor judge me?  Of course not.  This video accurately depicts the act of Private Confession and Absolution.  Yes, it is done at the front of the church…but I can tell you that having God’s assurance of forgiveness, expressed through His called and ordained service, is a blessing.