Social (Testimony) Meetings - confession

[Arlene]

I have been thinking about what the early Adventist church and what Ellen White called the social meeting- also known as testimony meetings. My father and a friend at church spoke about these meetings and described them differently that what I was familiar with. These meetings would sometimes include individuals standing up and confess specific sin and struggles. Now I don't know about you but I have never been to a testimony meeting like that. When researching the social meeting to find out what my dad had been talking about I found this statement.

Confession Essential Though Humiliating.--I spoke with much freedom Sabbath forenoon. The people seem to be hungering and thirsting for the bread and water of salvation. The Lord gave me much of His Holy Spirit. I was very free in the Lord. Hearts were touched, for the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the people. We had a very excellent social meeting, which lasted until after sundown. This was indeed a good day for this church. Confessions were made by some, very humiliating to the soul, but essential for them, that the fruits might appear unto righteousness.--Manuscript 18, 1889, p. 5. (Diary, February 23, 1889.){9MR 93.2}

Most of the time at testimony meetings we hear only about God's blessings rather than victories people have won through the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact if someone were to stand in front of church and invite church members to a testimony meeting, most times it would be even more sparely attended that prayer meeting. I am aware that Ellen White counsels that some of our sins need only to be confessed to God. But my experience has been that there is healing in sharing with others what our struggles are. First to know that my sin is common to "man" and that others have gained a victory in the very area I am struggling in is a great help. Usually at church if one hears a testimony about sins that have been committed it is from a recent convert who is no longer using an addictive substance. Like I was a cocaine addict and an alcoholic but now that I have come to the Lord I no longer use drugs or alcohol. This is truly a great victory but not the only victory that God deserves praise for.

I would love to hear any thoughts about testimony meetings and confession.

[Arlene]

I am still hoping someone will have a comment. This is kind of what is done at 12 step meetings.

[ClubV12]

We recently celebrated communion. A brother and myself have had an ongoing dispute over the authority of the Church, on several levels. We talked about it, confessed our sins of arrogance, loss of patience, feelings of anger toward one another and then washed each others feet.

We STILL don't agree on several important issues, but we are both learning how to express that in a kinder, gentler way. This is the "Church Militant", we are not yet the "Church Victorius", there will be a battle, a march, and another battle before we come into perfect unity. We may have to "rinse and repeat" next communion... Whatever it takes, heaven is cheap enough.

I've never seen the type of public meeting of which you speak. You know, I think that will have to come before we become the Church Victorius.

[Gail]

Praise The Lord, Club!! That was the power of God working through the Spirit in both of you! Your testimony, though short, spoke to me.

I like to think that with the Holy Spirit there will be diversity in opinion but united hearts in love and respect.

[Gregory Matthews]

There is a place for this, such as a 12-step meeting.

Without checking on my memory, which may be wrong, I have in the back of my mind that EGW once commented on the man who is a testimony meeting every week thanked God for victory over the same sin! Sometimes enough is enough.

Also, I am reminded of one day when my wife and I were leaving church. A male member walked up to my wife and said: "I need to apologize to you for something that I have done." My wife responded by asking what that was.

The man responded: "I recently told someone that I found you to be an ugly person and I should not have said that."

NOTE: He did not say that he was wrong, just that he should not have said that.

My wife was speechless as he walked away.

Perhaps there are some sins that we should only confess to God.

NOTE: Every time I tell this story in the presence of my present wife, she informs people that she is not the wife who was told that. :)

[debbym]

confessing our need of God is always appropriate. i am not sure how much we need to confess the details.

there is confidentiality in 12 step meetings for a reason, but no confidentiality at a church meeting.

i have heard people get into the details of their sins, and it got to be entertaining and wild and glorifying themselves and their sin.

i have heard testimonies that referenced personal sin and the need of a savior and the sufficiency of God's love to save them, and it was to the glory of God.

i found in prayer circles when i confessed my impulse to seek my own glory it was accepted and others made their confessions and we prayed for each need, and that was a most wonderful prayer meeting. But it was the Holy Spirit leading in everything that was confessed and said.

everything the Holy Spirit pointed out that could hinder the Spirit was brought up and put away.

"confess your faults (sins) to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed."

"if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, i will hear from heaven.... and heal the land."

[phkrause]

That is a great testimony of what communion or at least foot washing should be all about. Thanks for this post.

[phkrause]

Oy Vey! What a story.

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

I have heard people get into the details of their sins, and it got to be entertaining and wild and glorifying themselves and their sin.

Exactly.

Good Post.

[Naomi]

Personally I feel that we should be very sure of our intentions, & of those to whom we are confessing our sins.

I have been In prayer groups which provided material for considerable gossip.

I was in a congregation once when a 30-something lady asked to make a confession to the church body. She confessed, in great detail, an affair she had with a married man. The man with his (unknowing) wife were seated in the church.

My comment to public confession is: 1) Be very sure of your reasons 2) Do it in an atmosphere of confidentiality 3) The details are not important. God already knows the details

4) The person in the pew next to you is human, the preacher and the deacon and their spouses are human ... a slip of the tongue can cause much damage.

[Nan]

In summary, the testimony should be for repentance and reformation and not titillation?

Some wise words here.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

I have heard people get into the details of their sins, and it got to be entertaining and wild and glorifying themselves and their sin.

Exactly.

Good Post

The Word gives some advice about repentance that makes me believe the phrase "confession with discretion" is well advised.

There are three sins I'm satisfied are universal in application.

The lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the lust of the eye. Each person, taking God's ability to already know where our greatest need is, would be well advised IMHO to keep confession to any human being other than Jesus and the person the sin was harmful to, general in reference to details.

In the first place we all know that everyone is falling short of the glory of God and there seems no good reason for us to quantify the extent for others to pass judgment on, a situation warned against in the Word. If we confess enough in detail to make it easier for others to be judgmental, are we not ourselves making it easier for them to be less than Jesus wants them to be? I believe that could be classified as putting a stumbling block in the pathway of my brother/sister.

" Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."Romans 2:2 NASB

OTOH, if we have gained victory in areas of lifestyle as a result of inviting Jesus to take charge where we find ourselves deficient, it seems altogether appropriate to broadcast the results, that others might be encouraged to see that Jesus can do the same for them.

Again, if we broadcast how wonderful our works have given us great reward as a result of our superior capabilities, we just might be turned into a critter like Nebuchadnezzar was, hopefully for less than seven years as he experienced.

Our results will really be determined by who's glory we wish to extol, ours or the Person really responsible for our successes.

"“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock."

Matt 7:21-24 NLT

God cares!

[olger]

Quote:

I have heard people get into the details of their sins, and it got to be entertaining and wild and glorifying themselves and their sin.

Exactly.

Good Post.

I agree. We shouldn't listen to details, especially if they are immoral details.

"Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee" (Proverbs 2:11).