Often, Christians are confused about a Pastor speaking God’s forgiveness to others. Some (i.e., Protestants) say that only God can forgive sins. Such a statement is true, but neglects how God chooses to bring His forgiveness of others. This short theological pondering by Pr. Futrell may help someone better understand what God’s Word teaches.
Scripture teaches that when a Christian–pastor or layperson–speaks God’s Law and Gospel to another, it has the power of God behind it. For the power of God’s Word isn’t based on the office or position of the one who speaks it, but the power of the Word itself.
If this is true, then why do our confessions use the word “keys” referring to a pastor absolving (AC 28, 5), and the words “mutual conversation and consolation” or “advice, comfort, and strength” (SA 3, 4; LC 6, 13-14) referring to one Christian speaking to another? Why this distinction?
We know that in John 20:22-23, Jesus was speaking to His Apostles, whom John referred to as “the Twelve” (John 20:24). So we don’t use John 20:23 as the Scripture passage referring to all Christians speaking God’s forgiveness to another. The Bible itself doesn’t do this when you see to whom Jesus is speaking–and neither do our Confessions.
But looking at Scripture passages specifically written for all Christians (instead of Jesus speaking to His Disciples/Apostles), Scripture does show how all Christians may speak the Word of God to others. Passages such as Colossians 3:13,16, 1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 4:32, and Luke 6:37 show that all Christians may speak God’s word of forgiveness (even censure!) to another. But what you won’t find is any hint that all Christians may retain the sins of others (which means retaining the sins of another is a cross that the pastor must bear).
So, how do all Christians forgive (and if needed, admonish)? All Christians are to make a good confession of the truth, in teaching and correcting. All Christians should praise God who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. All Christians should privately go another Christian who errs, and tell him of his error.
Every individual Christian has the spoken means of grace and its power, which is one way God works to create and strengthen faith. And this is based on the Word; it matters not who is doing the speaking. If this were not true, then only the Word spoken by the pastor would create faith. Yet, God the Holy Spirit uses the confession of all Christians who speak His Word to others!
The only difference is how one speaks the Word. A pastor forgives and retains sin according to His vocation as pastor; a layperson speaks forgiveness and censures according to his vocation.
Lutheran Service Book does a good job of showing the difference. Page 151 of LSB has two columns below the confession of sin. The left column is spoken only by the pastor. The right column may be spoken by a pastor–or a layperson leading a service (such as an elder) if a pastor is not available.
