Father and God, we confess to You that as a nation we have not wanted the prophets to do anything but prophesy smooth words. We have hired flatterers and liars, and spin doctors, and then when the unavoidable truth comes upon us, we wonder why we were not warned. We chase away any who would presume to warn us, calling them nutcases, and then, after the harvest, we complain that no one cared enough for us to warn about these things. We confess this, Lord, on behalf of our sinful nation.
We know, Father, that if we in the Church regard iniquity in our own midst, or in our own hearts, this prayer will be ineffectual.
Father, for our part in the Church, we confess that we have been unwilling to take up the task of warning. And yet, one of the responsibilities that we have is that of being a watchman on the tower. We confess that we have not discharged our office in this as we ought to have done, and we confess this sin to you.
Father, we confess our individual sins to You now—and Selah . . . We pray in the strong name of Jesus, and amen.
You have confessed your sins, and God has opened your eyes. You have been enabled to hear the words of your teachers and ministers, and as a minister of Christ I declare to you that your sins are forgiven through Christ.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!
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