True Confessions
Augustine of Hippo is arguable one of the most important Christian theologians who lived among the first millennia of the church. Augustine was outspoken for his commitment to seeking after God through community with God's people. He is best-known for writing, Confessions, his autobiographical retelling of his conversion and the early thought of his Christian life. His life is one that was significant because he was able to bridge the gap between the lives of the pagans of Rome and the Christians who were known for their ascetic practices in the cloisters of their cathedrals. Augustine's life is characterized by his belief that in order to bridge that gap between the pain of the world and the glory of God, the Christian community must be alive and vibrant. Augustine believed that the truth could not be understood or sought after in solitude. Instead, he urged the community of faith to know and share their stories with one another and to the world.
To Augustine "confess" is a word with a double meaning. The act of confession includes acknowledging your own shortcomings, but more importantly confiteri focuses on proclaiming the truth that one knows about God and give God the natural praise and glory that God is due. This is an exercise in self-knowledge as well as humility that can only be done in community. Augustine believed that we must enlist as fellow soldiers in this spiritual act.
Augustine believed that God's people should dedicate themselves to lives of confession. When we dedicate ourselves to this work we find that we do not have time to get caught up in petty arguments. We can not step away from the important work of confession to be distracted by issues on the periphery. Maybe that is why Augustine is regularly quoted as stating, "in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, clarity." While he almost certainly did not write this phrase, it seems to fit with the perspective that is gained when people dedicate themselves to confession. May God give us the courage to be people of true confession.
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