Do Lutherans practice private confession?

Yes. OK, we’re done here, right?

In all seriousness, the answer is simple. But, the rationale is more complex. At the time of the Reformation, the practice concerning confession (penance) had become onerous upon the people. The problem was that the Papists demanded every sin be recalled accurately and confessed in order to be forgiven. Furthermore, penance needed also to be rightly performed in order for absolution to stick. This is impossible for human beings and makes forgiveness dependent on our work instead of the work of Jesus.

In the Augsburg Confession (1530 AD), Lutherans say: “Our churches teach that private Absolution should be retained in the churches, although listing all sins is not necessary for confession. For according to the Psalm, it is impossible. ‘Who can discern his errors?’ (Psalm 19:12)” [Augsburg Confession 11]

There’s a curious shift in language here. The author, Philip Melanchthon, Martin Luther’s close friend and fellow reformation teacher, speaks here of the practice as “Absolution.” the shift in language in this discussion identifies our unique Lutheran perspective. For us the point is hearing Jesus words of forgiveness to us from our pastor. This is very different than the Romanist practice of enumerating sins, hearing conditional forgiveness, and performing penance in the hopes of receiving what has been promised.

The papists continued to push back against the Lutheran reformers in many of the articles of the Augsburg Confession. This sparked a response from Melanchthon in the form of the Apology to the Augsburg Confession.

Concerning confession, the Apology to the Augsburg Confession (1531 AD) says, “It is well known that we have made clear and praised the benefit of Absolution and the Power of the Keys. Many troubled consciences have derived comfort from our teaching. They have been comforted after they have heard that it is God’s command, no, rather the very voice of the Gospel, that we should believe the Absolution and regarded as certain that the forgiveness of sins is freely granted to us for Christ’s sake. … Previously, the entire power of absolution had been kept under wraps by teaching about works. For the learned persons and monks taught nothing about faith and free forgiveness.” [Apology 11]

There are two important notes for us to observe here. The first is that our understanding is that Absolution is to serve in calming and comforting the troubled consciences of sinners who confess. As we say in the Small Catechism, “…but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.” Private Confession and the Absolution delivered therein is for Christians to have confidence that the forgiveness of sins promised to us in the Gospel is indeed delivered directly to us. We all struggle in understanding and believing that even our sin can be forgiven. That’s exactly why we Lutherans retain and uphold the practice of private absolution.

The second point Melanchthon makes cuts back again to the practice of penance as the central part of confession in the Romanist understanding. The learned persons and monks continued in teaching directly and indirectly that our work of confession was somehow involved in receiving the forgiveness. Moreover, that our work of penance played a part in earning this same forgiveness. That’s wrong. We have rejected that teaching for 500 years and continue to do so today. Forgiveness from God is free.

The confidence we receive from hearing that forgiveness privately from our pastor for those specific grievous sins that trouble our hearts most is the very Word of the Gospel in our ears. God does not expect us to find confidence within ourselves in our struggle and tribulation. He gives us the very words of his forgiveness in which we may hear and trust as often as we have need.

Dear Christians, Let us live joyfully from the words of forgiveness!

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church & Preschool
La Grange, TX