Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

Has anyone seen this new game show, “Moment of Truth,” yet? Its twisted and not-so-secret reality entertainment on Fox, has people at home asking themselves, “Could I bare my most private secrets (sins) to the public to win money?” Hooked to a lie detector, the host asks very personal questions to the contestant. If the participant lies, they lose. If they tell the truth, they get to go on to win more money for a shot at the Grand Prize of $500,000. And if they do not want to answer a question after completing a certain level, they can walk away with the money that they earned. Sounds simple right? Well, on top of that, their closest family and friends are sitting right in front of them, where the questions many times involves them, as the participant keeps advancing to higher levels. I watched just a little bit of it last night, and I have to tell you, one can either feel the tension or relief when a participant answers truthfully…and when they do, the emotions can turn uglier with anger or disbelief from their closest kin and the audience.

It is interesting how money can motivate telling the truth; or is it sad? I guess from a Christian standpoint, as soon as we see a speck in our neighbor’s eye, we do well to be careful not to miss the log in our own. However, it is seemingly detrimental that a participant is willing to risk their relationships in front of a national audience (and anti-biblical) not just to possibly lose them, but to not have any immediate reconciliation. Unless the participant and kin are very well aware of the rules and possibilities, I don’t understand how much public confessions like those are worth it to them. But then again, money has an allure…and is a 1st Commandment issue.

The fact of the matter is that our current earthly reality IS drenched in sin. We make a public confession of this fact every week, if not more. Furthermore, there are means by which sins that are heavy on our hearts are can go, namely to Private Confession and Absolution. Also, Matthew 18 [show]Matthew 18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." (ESV)
directs us to resolve conflicts one with another, and not drag other people into it unless the other party is unwilling to listen. Pastors and deaconesses are trained not to be surprised by sins brought to them, because we understand the realities of our fallen world and flesh. Which ought to make it easier to face them when needed, and then ultimately be absolved by a Pastor through Holy Absolution; in essence, by Christ.

I wonder if there will ever be a program called, “Ask for Forgiveness.” It could be hosted by an ordained LCMS pastor, and after a participant’s confession of faith, they and viewers can listen to the Words of Absolution over and over again. Would that be marketable? Probably not, but who would like to wager that some people would be off of their anxiety medication and leaving their therapists? Jesus Christ is the source of Forgiveness, and in His Crucifixion and Resurrection, the ‘Moments of Truth’ that mattered, we were atoned for.