Why so Much Fear of Confession?

I spend a lot of time meeting with Christian leaders who are in pain, confusion and sadness. There is no task on earth greater than leading, shepherding and caring for God's people. By God's Providence I stumbled upon Organizational Development and Change Agentry as a great minor while getting a doctorate. Because of my studies I learned a great deal about how organizations function or fail to function.

Consultants, writers and management training gurus all tend to agree that leading and  managing a non-profit organizations is ten times harder than the same task in a profit organization. And, leading a church is the hardest of all non-profits to manage.

One reason may be that Christians seem to labor under the misaprehension that their leaders should be perfect. Not long ago a pastor was convicted about his lack of strong leadership and poor management style. After consulting a brother in Christ, the pastor decided to admit his sins, weaknesses and failures and ask the congregation for forgiveness.

While most of the congregation agreed with the process and gratefully forgave him, a few were horrified that he was so transparent in admitting his weaknesses. Despite St. James' admonition to "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so you can be healed," several pillars of the church attacked the pastor for his honesty.

One man said, "People will be encouraged to sin of they think their pastor is a sinner." Another complained that no one would respect such a weak and vulnerable man in the future.

St. John made it clear that we all sin and need to confess it to the church. St. Paul sang from the same page adding that we all fall short of God's glory. However, many Bible believing men and women resist the notion that we are all Christian sinners who need the healing balm of confession, repentance and forgiveness. It requires Genuine inner knowledge and an Authentic desire to have a clear conscience but it is worth the cost.

It is impossible to be healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically without admitting our sin and guilt. Maybe this is why there are so many unhealthy Christians and ill churches.