iPhone Confession

According to Reuters there is a new iPhone app for a 1.99$ to aid in confession.  It is designed to help Catholics through the sacrament and contains what developers call a “personalized examination of conscience for each user.”  Here are some of the features cited:

• Custom examination of conscience based on age, sex and vocation (single, married, priest or religious),
• multiple user support with password protected accounts
• ability to add sins not listed in standard examination of conscience
• confession walkthrough including time of last confession in days, weeks, months and years
• choose from seven different acts of contrition
• custom interface for iPad

 am not sure how this will impact Catholics or the church but it did cause me to think about a couple of passages about confession.
 
As followers of Christ how are we to deal with sin in our lives?  The times we mess up, foul up, do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, have the wrong motive.  When we sin! I remember what John said, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” I John 1: 8.  So if we claim we are sinless, we certainly are  not fooling God or anyone else, we are just deceiving ourselves.  So what do we do with our sins?  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9.  So we are to confess, which means to agree with God about our sin.  So we come clean before God.  If we know Christ, we don’t come to the church, the clergy or technology we come to Jesus who has paid the price for our sins and through Him we find forgiveness.  Paul put it this way, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 2:5.  The bible is saying that salvation, forgiveness, right standing with God is found through faith in Jesus Christ.
 
So while I have no problem with technology that can help us in our walk with God, I want to remind you that if you are a Christ follower,  when things are not right between you and God, put down the phone and get alone with God and come clean.  Agree with Him about your sin and you will find an incredible gift of forgiveness.
 
Pastor Scott
 
Sources
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/20011/02/catholic-church-blesses-iphone-app