Worship does not come naturally for us, basically, because we are sinners. Our relationships with God, with our neighbors and friends, and with God's creation are all flawed and damaged. God's original purpose for us has been destroyed. Confession of sin and His assurance of pardon is very important because it is the part of worship where relationship with God and people are restored. Christ redeemed and reconciled believers to God so the way for us to worship "in spirit and in truth" would be reopened. When we come before God in worship with an attitude and heart that says, "Lord have mercy", and pray - "Create in me a clean heart, O God," . . . then God's Spirit creates new paths for both reconciliation and joy. Unfortunately in these days, there are worship leaders who don't feel you should ever use confession of sin and assurance of pardon in a service, in prayers or songs, because they are judged to be depressing. But in reality, the very act of confession and affirmation of assurance is a celebration of the identity of community of baptized believers. Brothers and sisters in Christ are able to rejoice together in the grace that makes their relationship with God and with each other possible.
Unconfessed sin is an obstacle to worship. The great missionary, Bertha Smith, used to greet people with the words, "are you confessed up to date?". She knew the importance of confession to break down the dam of sin into glorious worship. When people are asked why they don't feel like worshipping, the natural response is to point to someone else's failure: the minister, the musician worship leader, or some "Christian" they knew. When broken relationships and personal failures control us we are unable to worship as God intended. Confession is the only Biblical way to experience forgiveness, grace, and unhindered worship. mjm
