Father in Heaven, we have wanted to deal with sin by redefining it, and we confess to you now, on behalf of a wicked generation, that our redefinitions have been self-serving and absurd. We have wanted to robe our bloodthirst in the sanctity of law, and we have wanted to reduce Your gospel to language games within a particular faith community. Forgive our foolish nation, we pray.
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, as the outside world has given itself to these follies, we in the Church have not confronted it as we ought to have done. We have not spoken the prophetic word. We have not preached the gospel and, as a result, our nation has not heard the good news about Jesus. Forgive us for this, we pray.
Father, we confess our individual sins to You now—and Selah . . . We pray in the strong name of Jesus, and amen.
Whoever listens to God need fear no evil. You have heard His law, and received the conviction of His Spirit. On this basis, and as a minister of Christ, I invite you to listen to His declaration now—I declare to you that your sins are forgiven through Christ.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!
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