Wedding of the (er, uh) Week (?)
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesWell it wasn’t the wedding of the century by any means, but yesterday prince Charles married his erstwhile girlfriend, Camilla. After the couple got married, they proceeded to a chapel where they confessed “manifold sins and wickedness” and asked for forgiveness. Most, I believe, have interpreted this to be confession for the sin of adultery, however, it wasn’t explicitly stated. What should we make of such a “confession?”
Up front we ought to acknowledge that repentance and confession are the ways that God has established for the Christian (not the alien) to be forgiven of sin. Regarding repentance, Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing” (2 Corinthians 7:9). Regarding confession, John wrote “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Both actions are biblical and ought to be practiced by those who have sinned against God.
That, however, is not to say that such actions cannot be abused. Paul spoke in this same passage of a sorrow of the world which leads to death (2 Corinthians 7:10). Many see this “sorrow” and interpret it as repentance, which it is not. One might very well be “sorry” for what he has done without repenting in the slightest.
Confession also may be so abused. The church of England, much like the Catholic church, has a doctrine of confession that is not in harmony with the biblical teaching on the subject. In these religions, confession is more of a ritual than a sincere acknowledgement of wrongdoing. Such “confessions” are often done simply to satisfy the legal requirements of their religion. As such, they really have no meaning and are merely an exercise in hypocrisy.
The statement made by Charles and Camilla came from the Anglican “common book of prayer.” Was their confession a strictly legal affair? Or was it sincere and well intended. I’m not sure that we can know the answer to that question.
On the question of repentance, however, God’s word teaches us that fruits must follow (Acts 26:20). If such is the case, then we have to wonder why the couple are still together after all of these years seeing that their adultery lead to both of their divorces. A legal marriage doesn’t legitimize adultery (Matthew 19:9) regardless if you’re the future “head” of a church.