Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Joel J. Miller

About
Resources
Joel's Books
Article Categories
- Spiritual Growth
- Theology
- Prayer
- Church Life
- Family Life
- Society
- Books
- Misc

Home
Evangelical
Why it’s good to remember our sins

Why it’s good to remember our sins

Last updated on: December 15, 2013 at 5:43 pm by Joel J. Miller

Why it’s good to remember our sins 2013-12-15T17:43:56-06:00 Joel J. Miller

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Over the course of several books, crime novelist Philip Davison gave life to his character Harry Fielding, an operative in British intelligence tasked with undesirable jobs. A small train of colorful characters orbit through Harry’s universe, including his flamboyant aunt Kate.

wheat_in_your_hair, Flickr

At one point in the final Fielding outing, A Burnable Town, Kate wants her nephew to go to church.

“Oh God,” Harry exclaims. “I don’t have to contemplate my sin, do I, Kate?”

She answered with “a very practical” yes and off they went.

I can identify with Harry. Contemplating my sin is never fun. I haven’t been to confession recently, and there’s a part of me (the better, more truthful part) that thinks I’m just avoiding the reckoning. Usually my failings sit there in the open, gross and obvious. Sometimes I have to swing a lamp in the darker crannies of my heart. I hate it either way.

The prayer book has a brief preparation for confession that helps in self-evaluation, and the primary confessional prayer lists sins that run the gamut. Check, I think as I recite it, check … check … check.

But we’re not meant to look at our failings without also looking to the cross.

I heard a presentation by Fr. Tom Hopko on the Lord’s Prayer in which he mentioned three reasons why it’s good for us to remember our sins. The first goes right to this point: We remember our sins to more fully appreciate the grace of God. To face my sins while being reminded that Christ has covered them is a profound relief.

The simultaneous remembrance of our sin and Christ’s mercy is the basis of Christian testimony. “But such were some of you,” says Paul after darting through a litany of wickedness. Our sin is part of our story, though obviously not the better part — thanks be to God.

The second reason to remember our sin, said Fr. Tom, is to find motivation for holiness in the future. I suppose this use of our remembrance is like the jolt of pain we feel when touching something hot. I’m not going there again. I wonder if we take full use of this function of memory. Often enough, I’m afraid I don’t.

It’s far more likely for me to be prideful, which it so happens is addressed by Fr. Tom’s third reason for remembering our sins — so that we would not judge others. If forgiveness has any fruit, humility must be a large part of the first harvest.

“[I]f we remember our own sins, we shall never store up the sins of others,” said John Chrysostom.

This last point calls to mind Christ’s parable of the forgiven servant. Relieved of his own debt, he is in no position to demand repayment from others. Neither am I. God is the judge. And as we remember our failings, we can be thankful for his mercy on us all.

Previous Post

December 6, 2013

Fun things you find at a Christian publishing house

Next Post

December 18, 2013 Read this before you burn that picture of Jesus

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Church Life Family Life Misc Prayer Quotes Society Spiritual Growth Theology Uncategorized Video

Select a Month April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 November 2008 October 2008 July 2008 June 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 August 2007 June 2007 October 2002 July 2002 November 1999 October 1999

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian tradition is known for ornate mosaics and icons in their churches?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Baptist Presbyterian Adventist Orthodox