I am sure we have all heard about the new iPhone app that is intended to prepare you for confession. Â Here is one of the youtube clips… Â Take a look…
First of all, I am not a huge fan of the flippancy the reporter showed the app.
Second of all, I kind of like it. Â Certainly I have issues with the theology of needing to have a confessor. Â I strongly believe the scriptures make it clear we can go straight to Jesus with our confession, and that we should. Â And while I do believe in repentance, literally “to change your mind,” and that repentance involves action, I do have some significant issues with the practice of penance (or more accurately, some of the works of satisfaction.)
But that having been said, look at what it does. Â At its base it gives you a metric for reflecting on how you have walked with Christ. Â Questions to reflect on are so helpful in this way. Â I have some images of screen shots…
There are some great questions here.
Sorry that I cannot put these pics across the page, I am just not that awesome… Â Here is the next one…
If you cannot read it, you get a scripture for thought and reflection. Â Like that…
You can even reflect on how you have done with obeying the Ten Commandments.
First of all, I am not as positive as I am no this because it is an iphone app. Â Truly.
I like anything that causes us to reflect on how we are actually living out our lives of faith. Â Reflection is important and I find that few in my age demographic really understand its necessity and make appropriate time for it.
Again, there are questions. Â Does it focus on behaviors exclusively? Â I am not sure about that one. Â I would want to be challenged not just in how I follow certain standards and rules, but in how I bring those together with my soul and my life and truly live a life that looks more and more like the one Jesus lived. Â I wouldn’t want something to give someone the impression that they are able to live their life with Christ even more fully alone. Â Those of us that follow Christ have a very communal faith. We are to live it together, grow together, encourage one another together. Â If the app discouraged that, then that would be an additional issue.
I don’t get the sense from the clip that it does though. Â It is a heart preparation tool. Â I like that.
What is your take? Â Aside from pun fun… is it a helpful tool?
Peace, Jim
