©2007, Ross House Books, 295 pp., incl. indices, in hardback

“Confession is good for the soul.” This is a proverb that we might consider as unconditionally true. In his heart man knows he is a sinner and has a burden to confess this sin and thus alleviate guilt. Rushdoony, however, calls the reader to examine what God says about how confession is to be rightly done. We must take every thought captive in terms of scripture. (II Cor. 10:5)  We must realize that man, as a sinner, can warp God’s requirements into foolishness and failure. Confession, itself, has been directed into wrong paths that are useless for the cure of our souls.

The author begins by pointing the reader to the understanding of confession in the early church. The emphasis was on repentance and restitution.  This emphasis underlined the importance of word and deed. Rushdoony provides some good insights as to how and why this practice changed over the centuries.

As biblical confession faded in importance, confession itself did not. Many times in history the totalitarian state has been the object for confession. It is often treated as God when the triune God’s importance is lessened. As a result confession by coercion even to the point of torture is viewed as legitimate. At other times, tell-all biographies have been viewed as appropriate avenues for confession.

In the absence of biblical teaching regarding sin, man still confesses sin. Often it is the sin of others that receives the focus rather than one’s own sin. When pressed, modern man describes himself as the victim of heritage, culture, or something else outside of himself. Thus he has reason for his own actions even though the Bible defines his actions as evil. In fact, some even blame God as the culprit: God made the individual with certain desires and the individual is just living as God made him.

These are just some of the many insights the author provides the reader who desires to understand the misuse of confession today.  He also devotes a number of pages to therapeutic counseling and some of its errors. Throughout, the author desires to keep the reader focused on biblical confession. He provides the reminder that our confession must be primarily to God. It is against God we have sinned. God alone has provided covering for sin through Christ’s death on the cross. When we have wronged another we also confess our sin to that individual and provide appropriate restitution.

Rushdoony points out another aspect of confession. We must also confess God as the basis of our trust and the foundation for our daily action. Our proper confession of sin points to the reality of our trust in God as the one who forgives.  Thus there is agreement in our faith and resultant action.

My only point of disagreement in the book is with the author’s position that physical adultery does not have to be confessed to the injured spouse when it is unknown to that spouse. However, because the adulterous act has broken the marriage covenant, I believe such should be confessed. Otherwise how can spouses live in total openness with each other?

There is tremendous amount of thought-provoking material in these pages. The author sees modern man’s problem and provides the scriptural answer. At the same time he exposes the error and many consequences of unbiblical thinking in and outside of the church. He writes with clarity. Each chapter is incisive and contains application for our times.

This is an excellent book to thoughtfully read and share with others. It is a worthwhile addition to personal and church libraries as well as to church book tables.

Review ©2008 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia