Insincere Confession

Confession can easily become a way to impress or appease.

Here are some ways that confession is misused:

 

1) False humility - some people want others to see how serious they are about sin so they put on a show.  They fast and look somber (Matthew 6:16) they cry and lament but it is all for show.

 

2) Boastful Confession - some people are seeking attention and see that confessing sin is a way to receive it.  The more shocking the better.  Typically there is a marked absence of brokenness over their sin and nothing ever seems to change.

 

3) Therapeutic Confession - some people just want to dump all their problems on everyone else.  They don't want advice or help, they only want to feel the emotional release that confession brings.  Unfortunately they typically refuse any type of help because they don't want to anything to change.

 

4) Licentiousness - some people believe that they can live any way they please as long as they confess their sins.  They believe that they have found a loophole that allows them to be their own masters and still please God by throwing Him a bone.  There is nothing but judgment awaiting them.

 

5) Partial Confession - some people attempt to salvage their pride by only ever confessing partial sins.  Unfortunately this type of confession is only deception and leads to further stress. 

LINK: All confessions are not equal

 

6) Confession to earn absolution - some people, who believe that their sins are only absolved if confessed spend hours and hours attempting to please God by confessing every little sin.  They are tormented by their consciences because they are attempting to turn God's grace into a system of law.  It is said that Martin Luther, trained as a lawyer, then as a monk, was so overwhelmed by the task of confession that he would spend hours and hours attempting to confess every sin that would come to mind.  The law indeed is a heavy yoke that none can bear.