Bible Class Question: Do We Have to Be Miserable?



Lutheran services typically open with a confession of sins, especially if it is a communion service since self examination is part of preparation for communion. A traditional confession states, "I, a poor miserable sinner . . ." One may wonder, "Do I have to be miserable at church? What if I don't feel miserable when I arrive at the service? If I'm joyful, do I have to suddenly change moods?"

I think the word miserable throws us. In common, modern English, the word means "unhappy." Knowing a little bit more about the confession might clear things up.

According to historians of liturgy, the confession "I, a poor miserable sinner" goes back to Philip Melanchthon's church order for Mecklenburg (1552; see Pfatteicher 83). But I suspect that it has earlier roots since a similar expression appears in Luther's Large Catechism III 86, where he writes regarding "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (The Lord's Prayer, fifth petition; published in March 1529). I would bet that the expression is from some medieval confession that Luther and others learned while growing up at church. Luther writes,

"This part [of the Lord's Prayer] now applies to our poor miserable life. Although we have and believe God's Word, do and submit to His will, and are supported by His gifts and blessings, our life is still not sinless. We still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the world among people. They do us much harm and give us reasons for impatience, anger, revenge, and such. . . . It is not possible to stand firm at all times in such a constant conflict."

Notice that Luther is describing one's standing before God and others, not one's feelings or emotional state. The confession is not, "Boy, do I feel depressed today" but "Lord, I am poor and stand in need of your mercy." In the confession, the word "miserable" fleshes out the idea of being "poor." "Miserable" comes from a Latin word that can mean "sad" but, when used to describe one's standing toward another, can mean "in need of pity or mercy." So, one may speak the confession with this thought, "Lord, I know I need your rich mercy today and everyday because I am a sinner and I am going to fall into sin again."

The picture above shows in the background the tax collector making a sincere confession of his sins and requesting God's mercy (Luke 18:9-14). His simple confession, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" says it humbly and well, giving us an excellent example of how to make confession of sins.