The Telling - book 3

Book 3 in the Seasons of Grace series by Beverly Lewis

I liked this series and it gives a great view of the Amish lifestyle. The books move rather slowly but then I also think that since the Amish cut out much of the things that make life fast paced - that their lives move slower, also. The books seem to move at the same, slower pace. There is a parallel there. In this last, book Mom has finally been found and returned home. The secret that began in the first book is revealed to the family. The reader has been made aware of the sin and the problem that caused her to go searching back in the first book. It was a sin that had been carefully covered up and buried by the family. Mom could no longer live with that --- the sin was eating away at her. She eventually does a kneeling confession in front of the whole congregation.

I found this interesting because while our faith does stress confession of sins we do not confess to others - unless we have wronged them - we do apologize and ask for their forgiveness. But our confess is handled in prayer - straight with God. For it is God who forgives sins. Still, there is something to be said for kneeling confessions as it helps a church to stay healthier. Our church has a saying - we lower the threshold but raise the bar. The problem with this is that lowering the threshold while it may seem welcoming and certainly we except all people - but lowering the threshold can also give the appearance of tolerance and acceptance of the sin. It is still a sin and it is not okay to continue sinning or to wallow in the 'filth' of life. Due to our relationship with Christ we want to strive to be more Christ-like and that includes trying to live a sin-free life. Of course we will never be perfect - it is only with God's help we can even attempt to try.

The kneeling confession, though, isn't just for the benefit of the person confessing but for the benefit of the congregation as an example - demonstrating that this act that was done IS a sin. Something that now days we seem reluctant to admit to. How can we confess if we don't even admit it is wrong - don't admit it is a sin? The kneeling confession helps to keep the congregation healthy as it is a visible witness to others that this was a sin, it is wrong, the person has confessed and now has received God's grace and forgiveness. What a powerful testimony that is! Certainly, something to think about. Although hard to do. I, for one, know that I have sinned and prefer to take it up with God directly. It takes a lot of courage to do it in the public's eye like the Mother does in the book. And what is the culture at today's churches - is it like the Amish where we would be enveloped and welcomed back after the confession? While we know we are forgiven by God, are we forgiven by the church membership? Or will we be met with judgement? It just got me to thinking, that is for sure and for certain!

A very good series and I do recommend them. My only complaint is that they do move along slowly but the story line is good. The content is good. Very much a Christian series.