My Confession is a public “Humility” campaign
We can’t change what we won’t acknowledge! Our goal with “My Confession” is to come together online, share how we have fallen short of the Glory of God, and help us to focus on our own sins-which you CAN change, and take the focus off of other people’s sins-which you CAN’T change.
That may look like pain you have caused someone else, a judgmental attitude, a secret hatred for another person, failing to give God time during your day, not reading the Bible…this page is yours.
Take a moment to read other people’s confessions and join us in praying for each other. We encourage you to share your confession with the person you have hurt (only you will know if that’s appropriate). Finally, find a fellow Christian to confess to personally and seek their counsel and accountability to help you in your area of weakness.
To share your public confession, we encourage you to:
- Write a short confession on a post-it note
- Add our website www.myconfession.org
- Post it in a public place, and email us a photo of it
- Share your confession and other thoughts here
Here are some of the best “high traffic” places to post your confession:
Gas stations, bank ATM machines, drive through windows, bathroom mirrors, RED BOX video rental units, parking garage keypad entries, Etc. Use your imagination!
When I was younger, I remember my parents taught me the difference between right and wrong. Somewhere along the way, I determined that wrong meant “a bad person”. And from there, I just began to disassociate with people who were bad, and felt comfortable knowing I was NOT a bad person. Because I felt like I wasn’t a bad person, I began to treat others who didn’t know Jesus as lesser than me. My pride got the best of me and I began to talk down to other people who were different religions, or without religion at all. Worst of all, I began to treat them as if my life was better and they were stupid for not choosing Jesus. One of the things that really bothers me, is that I knew a girl at the place I work at, who didn’t go to church, and was pretty weird. She used a lot of bad language, and watched movies that I thought were too violent for me. Sometimes I thought about being nice to her, and inviting her to my church, but I thought that she might say a bad word or and everyone would think that I was a bad person for trying to be friends with her. She moved away, and I always wish I would have befriended her, my behavior was not very Christian like. I know that Jesus came to us while we were all sinners, all bad. He didn’t come to rescue those who were without sin—there isn’t anyone who is without sin. And if he didn’t reach out to my heart, I would still be a sinner too. I’ve learned now, that I don’t have the right to be judgmental of anyone, because I am just as guilty of being bad too. I try now, to make sure and be friendly to people who don’t know Jesus too, because Love is greater than evil.
-Kevin Plano, TX
I work in an office with several gay people. When I first got this position, I was really confused on whether or not I should even talk to people who were gay. I see on TV a lot of so called Christians picketing gay events, and I know that being gay is not condoned by the Bible. But I never understood what that means I should do? Should I try to convert them? Does Jesus expect me to speak about him, in everything I say? So instead, I just chose to ignore them, and have as little to do with anyone who was gay at all. I feared that I would be responsible for condoning their behavior, if I spoke to them, without letting them know that I am a Christian, and I think they are wrong. But I realized after talking with my church pastor, that this is not the right response either. Instead, I should interact with them, the same way I would any other person. After all, we are all sinners, myself included. I can work, cooperate, and even assist or help a person who is gay, the same way I would a person who is not gay that also has a problem with sin. I just need to let what God has done in my own life, reflect that in my actions, my words, and my heart. I’ve recently had a conversation about God and my beliefs with this same person. He was amazed that I wasn’t so hateful to him all these months. He even thanked me for helping him out on a project.
-Anonymous Frisco, TX
Today, I realized that I was a hypocritical Christian. I used to think I was a Christian just because I went to church and I served on a ministry that helped in the homeless shelters serving food. I thought this was what a Christian did and that I was good, but I never read the Bible because I thought it was pretty boring. And at the time, I wasn’t really sure that what it said was even true. But a good friend asked me if I would like to attend a Bible study with him, and I was really wrong. I realized that what I was doing and what I was showing were two different things. I’m really glad my friend invited me!
-Trevor, St. Paul MN
Hypocrisy is something that I’d never really understood. To me, hypocrites were people who were liars, saying one thing and doing the complete opposite. This definition is true, but I never accepted that I have been hypocritical in my actions as well. After all, who WANTS to admit this? But recently I was convicted of this when I realized that my behaviors did not match up with what I say my beliefs are, when I interacted with my own children. I teach Sunday school, so I knew the Bible versus on why Jesus is our savior, and what He says about anger and being critical. I realized that I was a hypocrite one afternoon when I yelled at my son to clean up a mess he had made. I had a bad day at work and was already fuming when I got home because a man had cut me off in traffic, so I admit that I was much more abusive with my words than I should have been. After he ran to his room crying, I heard a television program with a preacher say the words from Proverbs 14:29- People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. I sank to the floor and prayed for forgiveness right then. Then I went upstairs to apologize to my son and even shared the verse with him. I realize now, that hypocritical behavior can always affect us, and we need to thank Jesus every day for His mercy and grace.
-Tamara
My Confession is I’ve allowed my religious convictions to make me numb to the human rights of gays and lesbians. I haven’t consciously fought AGAINST gay marriage, but I’ve allowed outspoken Christian political activists to limit the human rights of LGBTs (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) and let them speak FOR me through my silence. The Gay community deserves love, not discrimination. And for my part in that, I’m incredibly sorry.
Mr. White,
I am a bisexual youth in the United States. While I can’t speak for the entire LGBT community, I would like you to know that I, personally, am very thankful for what you said here. I don’t imagine it was easy to confess this, nor can I imagine the comments you may be receiving from people angry with what you’ve said. So, thank you. It really does mean a lot.
James Glenz
i dont know why but i always feel guilty and i think its because my parents put to much pressure on me. A couple of months ago i went on a school trip and had sex with a guy i dONT REALLY LIKE i dont know why i regret having sex with him but before i had sex i was addicted
Delilah, thanks for your confession. I was confused by one part (not that it really matters), but I’d like to understand where you are at…and a clarification would help.
You said “…i dont know why i regret having sex with him but before I had sex i was addicted.”
Did you mean you don’t know why you had sex with him (the guy you didn’t really like), or did you mean you don’t know why you have regrets?
Thanks, and let us know if we can help you in any way.
I usually try to be good and bring Glory in the name if the Lord, but lately I have felt a lot of pressure to be good because I feel that non-believers are watching and waiting for me to fail and fall because in that is condones the lifestyle they have. This weekend I did fail miserably. I had my sister and her bf over and we drank alcohol. Alcoholism runs in my family (not an excuse). More people ended up coming because of people that my sister knew and so on and so forth. By the time they got there I was pretty drunk. In the back of my mind, the whole time I felt ashamed. I was not bringing glory to God’s name. I even tried to make up for it by putting on Christian music at one point, which someone changed within a few seconds of me putting it on. I even found myself saying things that were totally dis-honoring to God. I feel like I have let a lot of people down by doing this and myself down and most of all God. I know Jesus spits out the lukewarm Christian and I don’t want to be that way. How do I let this old lifestyle go and tell people that I can’t do these things without them thinking I am puting my nose up in the air at them? Mostly, how do I stop drinking?
Heather, me and a friend named larry just sent you a private enail in response to your questions. Thanks for being so brave to post your confession. I hope and pray that it inspires others to do the same. We’re praying for you.