Sunday, April 5, 2015

Habitual Rededicaters

When I was a pastor and just growing up I remember at church, when we'd have the invitation and people would come down the isle to get saved, there were many times where the same people would repeatedly make the trip every few weeks if not every week.  We called it "rededication" or something, and repeat rededicaters would inevitably get an eye roll, at least an internal eye roll, if not an actual one.

I mean, you're already saved, why do you have to keep on coming back and doing it over and over again?  Part of me questioned their faith, but ultimately I questioned my own faith too, I rededicated several times growing up.

Heck, I was baptized three times, I guess I was a habitual rededicater too, I probably even got some eye rolls.  It wasn't until I considered and participated in the Orthodox sacrament of confession that I realized what was happening.  

The rededicaters were really seeking confession, but the their tradition didn't really provide for it, so walking the isle and getting saved again was the closest thing they could figure out.  

I'm thankful for the wisdom of the Church in providing for a sacrament that I can regularly participate in to confess my sin.  I've always known I needed it, I just didn't know really what to do until now.