Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Lutheran Amnesia. . .

When I was growing up and Holy Communion was four times a year (whether you needed it or not), the preparation for the Sacrament was a Corporate Confession and Absolution service, held a few days before the Sacrament was to be offered.  The service was on page 47 in The Lutheran Hymnal.  It included an Exhortation, the familiar words of confession, and a choice between a short question pointedly asking the sincerity of what was confessed OR a longer form with five questions complete with an even more pointed response (Verily, you should. . . ).  Then the absolution was declared.

There was no rite for individual confession.  In fact, the Small Catechism that I was taught included no rite either.  It was as if the whole thing had been erased from Lutheran memory.  And it had.  So, as Pastor Mark Surburg put it, "from 1856 to 1982 there wasn’t a rite for it in the hymnals published by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (one did appear for the first time in the Worship Supplement of 1969). From 1943 to 1986 the description in the Small Catechism of how confession is done wasn’t included in the English translation used by the LCMS. From 1943 to 1991 the description in the Small Catechism of how confession is done wasn’t included in the Explanation of Luther’s Small Catechism used for catechesis in the LCMS. If you don’t read and speak German, and you received catechesis and Confirmation between 1943 and 1991 it is almost certain that you never learned about private confession, much less how it is done."  There is the shocking statement.  Even though the Confessions not only mention but commend individual or private confession and absolution, most Lutherans had no clue that there was such a thing.  Either because they were not taught faithfully or the rites were suppressed, Lutherans developed a clear case of amnesia regarding private or individual confession.

The first official sign of change came in the Worship Supplement 1969 but the big splash came when Lutheran Worship 1982 finally included a rite.  Sadly, there was not much catechesis about the restoration of that rite and so it was a big splash that was later forgotten and the status quo of silence continued even to the present day.  When a young pastor shows up right out of seminary, having been taught about the value of private confession from pastoral practice, liturgics, and Confessions classes, to address the topic of private confession, people immediately are suspect of him.  Does he lean toward Rome?  It is not their fault, of course, because they were not properly taught and their church had suffered amnesia with regard to this blessed and wonderful sacramental rite and its gift to the penitent.  But it does explain why so many are so confused about what Lutherans believe, confess, and teach with regard to private or individual confession and absolution.

So now we have the rite restored to both hymnal (LSB) and catechism and there are more pastors now willing to teach this wonderul gift with which Christ has blessed His Church, but are we willing to receive it?  It will be a long time before we find ourselves in accord with the Apology or with practice Bach knew in which additional times and additional pastors had to be assigned for the many desiring confession or even the time of Loehe when he found the burden so great that it was permissible for the pastor to sit on a chair while handling the great number of confessing people.

It is well known that we have so explained and extolled the benefit of absolution and the power of the keys that many troubled consciences have received consolation from our teaching. They have heard that it is a command of God—indeed, the very voice of the gospel—so that we may believe the absolution and regard as certain that the forgiveness of sins is given to us freely on account of Christ and that we should maintain that we are truly reconciled to God by this faith. (Ap. XI.2).

11 comments:

Carl Vehse said...

What Lutheran amnesia?!?

Confession, including private confession, was indeed explained in the Short Explanation of Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism that was included in the 1943 CPH Edition of Luther's Small Catechism (pp. 188 - 192). It included what type of sins we should confess to the pastor and how we should regard the absolution pronounced by the pastor.

Private confession was further explained by the pastor who taught the catechism class I was in. Since then, whenever the subject has come up, private confession has been further discussed by other pastors in adult Bible and catechism classes I've attend.

While a formalized and procedural "rite of private confession" was not printed out in the 1943 CPH catechism book, the CPH book also did not contain the formalized and procedural rite of ordination or the details of various liturgical rituals performed by the pastor.

Pastor Peters said...

Yet without a rite, it became a footnote in history and not a part of ordinary faith and piety among Lutherans. FWIW, I was catechized in the '43 Catechism and not one moment was given to the practice only to the theory. I expect that this IS normative among Lutherans of my age.

Carl Vehse said...

Holy Scripture does not say that without a formalized and procedural rite, private confession will become a footnote in history and not a part of ordinary faith and piety among Christians (including Lutherans).

Concerning the formalized and procedural rites of the Church the expositions in AC.VII and Ap VII/VIII.31 apply.

"For this we say that similarity of human rites, whether universal or particular, is not necessary, because the righteousness of faith is not a righteousness bound to certain traditions [outward ceremonies of human ordinances] as the righteousness of the Law was bound to the Mosaic ceremonies, because this righteousness of the heart is a matter that quickens the heart."

Concerning private confession and absolution, the expositions within the Book of Concord of 1580 apply, including: AC.XI; Ap.XI.63-67; and SA.III.III.1-2.

Carl Vehse said...

That some Lutheran pastors have inadequately catechized their catechumens is a sad fact, which has resulted in numerous Lutherans leaning and eventually falling off on one side or the other into the ditch of Romanism or the ditch of pietistical schwärmerei.

Unknown said...

Fr. Peters, you wrote the following: Holy Communion was four times a year (whether you needed it or not). Everyone always needs the Eucharist. No one does not not need it.

Unknown said...

Carl Veshe wrote the following:

Concerning the formalized and procedural rites of the Church the expositions in AC.VII and Ap VII/VIII.31 apply.

"For this we say that similarity of human rites, whether universal or particular, is not necessary, because the righteousness of faith is not a righteousness bound to certain traditions [outward ceremonies of human ordinances] as the righteousness of the Law was bound to the Mosaic ceremonies, because this righteousness of the heart is a matter that quickens the heart."

Since when did that apply to confession? NEver. Otherwise, it would not have been retained and almost elevated to sacramental level. (It should be a sacrament). IT's because of hogwash like this (yes, it is) that I'm no longer Lutheran. The Catholic priniple has been long jettisoned and something as beneficial and even necessary as confession (maybe, Carl, you can explain to me how private confession is NOT or CANNOT be beneficial for our souls) is seen as merely a human ceremony. It is a means of grace. I'm sure you'll respond saying that you can confess your sins to God. WHy do you need to do that? He already knows. So why not confess to one of his servants and receive through him the comfort you need which obviously you do not crave enough because going through a priest is an uncomfortable act. and you have the unmitigated gall to accuse others of pietism. Look in the mirror, Carl.

Anonymous said...

In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther clearly states, that before God
we MUST plead guilty of all sins. He adds that before the pastor we
MAY confess those sins which trouble our hearts.

The laity do not need a rite of confession when they go to their pastor
and share their burdens. A rite can become a mechanical ritual which
avoids the genuine interaction of pastor and laity. I want a pastor
who listens to my confession and graciously assures me of God's love
and forgiveness.

Carl Vehse said...

Unknown ex-Lutheran: Since when did that apply to confession? NEver.

The AC reference and quoted Apology excerpt were to the formalized and procedural rites, not to the actual exercise of the Office of the Keys in Confession and Absolution.

Unknown ex-Lutheran: IT's because of hogwash like this (yes, it is) that I'm no longer Lutheran.

I seriously doubt that whatever I or some other layman said to you was responsible for you no longer being Lutheran. You are no longer Lutheran because you no longer subscribe without reservation to the Lutheran Confessions.

Unknown ex-Lutheran: maybe, Carl, you can explain to me how private confession is NOT or CANNOT be beneficial for our souls

Who said that "private confession is NOT or CANNOT be beneficial for our souls"?!? Not me.

Unknown ex-Lutheran: "and you have the unmitigated gall to accuse others of pietism. Look in the mirror, Carl."

Unknown ex-Lutheran, the next time you go to confession, talk to your pastor about your bitterness and your evident tendency to fling unsubstantiated criticism at others.

James Kellerman said...

I just consulted two Roman Catholic, pre-Vatican II Roman missals for lay people (one Latin/English and the other Latin/German). Neither of them has a rite for private confession. Therefore, using the same line of argument employed by the original post, I conclude that pre-Vatican II Roman Catholics knew nothing about the practice of private confession.

The point being overlooked is that one doesn't need an elaborate rite for private confession. Even in the Roman Church, it is simply, "Bless me, father, for I have sinned. It has been ____ days/weeks since my last confession." The rest is largely ad lib, although the priest has a formula for absolution.

I don't say this to disparage the rites for private confession in Lutheran Worship and in the Lutheran Service Book. But you might consider that pre-1960 LCMS folk lined up at the parsonage on Friday nights to confess their sins to the pastor before going to communion the following Sunday. They did so without any particular rite to help them. Meanwhile, we have a full-fledged, beautiful, Scripturally rich rite, but next to nobody goes to confession.

Anonymous said...

I was confirmed in the LCMS in the mid 1970s. I was taught from Luther's Small Catechism. Private confession was never taught nor practiced. Likewise, I never heard of the Book of Concord until 30 years after confirmation. I never knew Lutherans even allowed private confession - too Roman Catholic. If Lutherans are not catechized that private confession is strongly encouraged, it doesn't matter if there is a rite. I have never participated in private confession but believe it is good and salutary.

James

Joanne said...

A brief discussion of the history of private confession in Berlin at a SELK congregation site:

http://www.lutherisch.de/index.php/glaube/vertiefung/luthers-kleiner-katechismus-teil-2/80-vom-amt-der-schll-und-von-der-beichte-2