Faith Venture

We recently visited Williamsburg, Virginia. One museum displayed a history of “ducking.” It seems that Colonial people (men? Other women?) frowned upon people (women?) who degraded people’s reputations through gossip.

One group of guys decided to take action. They rigged a chair at the end of a long pole with a strategically placed fulcrum. (They knew their elementary high school physics, I guess.) There was a woman who was a notorious gossip. They strapped her in the chair. They would then “duck” her into the pond. Wait a bit. Then lift her out. “Do you confess to your sins?” No answer. Duck her again. The story goes that after a few ducks, she confessed, pleaded mercy, and swore to never again gossip.

Forced confession has a long history. Salem witch trials. Stalinist Soviet Union. McCarthy anti-communism trials in the US Congress. The Grand Inquisition of the Middle Ages.

But…

I’d like to take the concept of confession into a different direction. One that I believe the authors of New Testament letters would approve if they lived in our time.

The purpose of “confession” is to result in “repentance.”

Let’s parse these words into modern American.

To confess is to tell my story of where I’ve been and where I am, and perhaps also, where I’d like to be. First comes awareness. I’ve come into a realization that where I am is not a good place.

The New Testament writer (and brother of Jesus) James, tells us to confess our sins to others, but he also tells the others to pray for that person (not to “duck” them). The desired result is healing. 

Or how we might define the word repentance as changing the direction of our life.

Forced confession is simply a power game. Something that Jesus expressly opposed.

True confession is generated from within. We become aware that how we are living is destructive—to our health, to our relationships, to others broadly, perhaps even to the community or broader. We seek the help of others who will walk with us to help change our direction. It’s a process—one that requires helpers.

Do you need to confess something? How is your story?

Or, do you need to help someone along their journey?

This entry was posted on June 18, 2025 at 4:14 am and is filed under Confession, Grace, healing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.