The fifth step of humility is that a man does not conceal from his abbot any sinful thoughts entering his heart, or any wrongs committed in secret, but rather confesses them humbly.
The Rule of St. Benedict, 7:44
One of the things that Protestant Christians have by and large eschewed as a practice is the confession of sins. This avoidance is not just personal, either, as many churches (especially more progressive churches) have moved away from corporate confession as an element of liturgy. Often, this is framed as a pushback against toxic forms of religious control that have weaponized the knowledge of our sins by some who want to use that knowledge for unsavory reasons. This is certainly a reasonable reaction. But, I think churches should work to re-incorporate some form of confession back into their practices of faith and character formation. Recognizing and verbalizing the ways we all fall short is a good thing to do (just ask anyone who have been through the 12 Steps or any other recovery program!)
I have a group of very close guy friends, and we meet once weekly on Zoom to check in for accountability and conversation. A key element of our weekly chat is the confession of sins and temptations we deal with in the week, and the subsequent forgiveness and accountability we can offer one another. I, too, brought into this practice initially some skepticism, but have found this weekly unburdening one of the best and most powerful rhythms in my life. Practicing life together as Christians, in any context, is made all the richer – and more just! – through the practice of confession to trusted ears, and the care and compassion that comes with that.
Justin DaMetz 