You are Invited to Private Confession and Absolution
There are moments in the Christian life when the general confession on Sunday, as precious as it is, does not quiet the conscience the way it should. Certain sins cling, particular failures return to mind, old wounds reopen, and the heart grows tired of carrying what it was never meant to carry. For this reason, our Lord has given His Church a tender and strengthening gift, Private Confession and Absolution.
At Redeemer Lutheran Church, Private Confession and Absolution is available by appointment with Pastor Kilgo. This is not a strange practice reserved for a few, it is a simple evangelical remedy for real spiritual burdens. The purpose is not to catalog every sin you have ever committed, but to speak aloud, to name plainly, those sins that continue to trouble you, and to hear with your own ears the freeing word of Christ’s forgiveness. This is explicitly for the conscience, for the person who believes the Gospel, yet still feels weighed down by guilt and shame.
If you have never gone to private confession, it is understandable to feel hesitant. Many people fear what the pastor will think, or worry that confession will be used against them. The guide we are providing addresses these fears directly. The pastor is not there to collect information or react in shock. His sole purpose is to be the Lord’s voice for you, declaring forgiveness in the stead and by the command of Christ. And you should know this clearly, what is confessed in private confession is never repeated. Pastors take this vow with utmost seriousness, your sins stop at his ear.
The guide also speaks candidly about spiritual warfare. The devil does not want Christians to confess their sins, because he does not want consciences to be free. He will tempt you with fear, suspicion, and shame, anything to keep you silent. But those temptations are lies. The truth is that confession opens the mouth, and absolution opens heaven, not because of the pastor’s personality, but because Christ has attached His promise to the Office of the Keys.
To help you prepare, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS provides a thoughtful guide for prayer and self examination. It includes psalms for repentance and thanksgiving, prayers before and after confession, and a “confessional mirror” that walks through the Ten Commandments so you can consider your place in life honestly and without panic. It also includes a clear and gentle rite for Individual Confession and Absolution, so you know exactly what to expect when you come.
If you would like to schedule a day and time, contact Pastor Kilgo at (505) 553-4829. Come as you are, burdened, weary, uncertain, even afraid. Christ is not offended by repentant sinners. He is the Physician. And He still speaks the words that set captives free, I forgive you all your sins.
