Clapham Community

God uses community to help us confess and gain victory over sin.

I recently had the privilege of seeing a very funny and yet very haunting movie. The name of the film was Get Low. It stars Robert Duvall (pictured left) as the lead character, an old hermit named Felix Bush. The film, supposedly based on a true story, depicted how Bush came into town after 40 years of solitude and asked the local undertaker to plan a living funeral. Bush wanted to have his funeral while he was still alive. You can guess how the humor of such a request could be played out on the big screen especially when the undertaker is played by Bill Murray.

I wont spoil the plot but the movie makes many good points. One of the main points that stuck with me as I left the theater is how Bush had to suffer loneliness and solitude needlessly for 40 years because he refused to confess his sins. Ultimately it is up to the individual to confess and repent of their sins but there is also direct bearing on community. God has designed His body to be the means by which we confess and find healing for sin, but often times we care more about the image we project than the vulnerability that we need.

In his book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer states the case with great clarity:

The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!

Bonhoeffer goes on to say:

The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation.

If we are not that confessional outlet for our brothers and sister in Christ, reminding them of grace and assuring them of forgiveness, then we have missed our calling. The community of faith is built on such confession and it is the reason why that so many believers (and not just people on the fringe mind you) are struggling with sin and isolation. We have to take up this charge and show vulnerability and strength for our brothers and sisters. For there is one sure promise that Bonhoeffer makes and that Felix Bush could have used all those 40 long years:

If a Christian is in the fellowship of confession with a brother he will never be alone again, anywhere.

Confession or isolation? Which will it be?

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