Are Protestants forgiven?

[EMD]

I was just curious as to how Protestants deal with their sins and are they forgiven for their sins. I personally believe in confession, but why don’t Protestants confess ? Just to be clear I’m not trying to be disrespectful in any way, just curious.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

“As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. . . . Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:21–23)

 

[twopekinguys]

I attended services at a variety of churches before I joined the Catholic Church. Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Nazarene, and a couple of non-denominationals.

In many of those I listed, there really wasn’t any discussion of how they are forgiven, other than prayer.

I do remember one service at the Assembly of God where a gentleman stood up in the middle of the service and offered his “testimony”.

He stood up, literally in the middle of the congregation and proceeded to let loose with every single thing he had done wrong. In a little more detail than I would have cared to know I might add.

As an adult, I was extremely uncomfortable with some of the things he shared, not only for myself, but for people that were there with their children. (some of the content was a little R or X rated)

I don’t know if that is the norm for them, or if it was totally unique, but to be honest, it freaked me out just a bit.

Give me the confessional anytime.

 

[4Squarebaby]

I attended services at a variety of churches before I joined the Catholic Church. Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Nazarene, and a couple of non-denominationals.

In many of those I listed, there really wasn’t any discussion of how they are forgiven, other than prayer.

I do remember one service at the Assembly of God where a gentleman stood up in the middle of the service and offered his “testimony”.

He stood up, literally in the middle of the congregation and proceeded to let loose with every single thing he had done wrong. In a little more detail than I would have cared to know I might add.

As an adult, I was extremely uncomfortable with some of the things he shared, not only for myself, but for people that were there with their children. (some of the content was a little R or X rated)

I don’t know if that is the norm for them, or if it was totally unique, but to be honest, it freaked me out just a bit.

Give me the confessional anytime.

A testimony is not a confession, the confession has already done. When a testimony is given you are saying I have been saved despite these things that I have done and what you, the listening audience, have done was probably not as bad. Thus forgiveness and salvation is also open to you. Sometime a pastor will ask for volunteers to give their testimony at other times it is spontaneously offered.

 

[twopekinguys]

A testimony is not a confession, the confession has already done. When a testimony is given you are saying I have been saved despite these things that I have done and what you, the listening audience, have done was probably not as bad. Thus forgiveness and salvation is also open to you. Sometime a pastor will ask for volunteers to give their testimony at other times it is spontaneously offered.

If a person is standing up in front of a congregation and is saying “I did A, B, and C”, then he is confessing.

As I stated in my earlier post, many of the things this gentleman disclosed were inappropriate for the young people in attendance.

Asking someone to share their “testimony” is one thing, but I think there should have been a screening process.

 

[Darron_Steele]

I was just curious as to how Protestants deal with their sins and are they forgiven for their sins. I personally believe in confession, but why don’t Protestants confess ? Just to be clear I’m not trying to be disrespectful in any way, just curious…

Answer: a variety of reasons.

For some, it is as simple as `It is Catholic’ and since Catholic-style confession is not prescribed in Scripture, they refuse to do it. I suspect you see the passages you cited as prescribing confession as done among Catholics, but many non-Catholic Christians do not see them that way.

For others, their church group does not have a formal process whereby a clergyman listens to their sins, so they do not approach him for that. Their church group does not have it, so they do not do it.

Neither of these are my reasons.

From what I understand, in Catholicism the penitent goes to a mortal, tells him what s/he has done, and that mortal prescribes something by which the penitent can be forgiven. The mortal = priest is seen as an agent whereby Jesus Christ forgives sins.

Among my church group and similar church groups, we believe Jesus Christ forgives sins directly without the mediating agent. I believe that is what Scripture teaches. Since I do not want someone else knowing my private sins, and it is unnecessary, I will not do it.

Mind you, I have no problem with Christians who do go tell a priest their private sins. I just gave you the reasons of others, and I gave you my reasons. I understand that most priests never reveal what is said in confession, but I still am not telling my sins to someone who does not need to know them.

 

[4Squarebaby]

If a person is standing up in front of a congregation and is saying “I did A, B, and C”, then he is confessing.

As I stated in my earlier post, many of the things this gentleman disclosed were inappropriate for the young people in attendance.

Asking someone to share their “testimony” is one thing, but I think there should have been a screening process.

It is not a “confession” in the way EMD asked his question, it is a statement of what he did and have been forgiven for. In the end saying to the world no matter how badly you messed up salvation through Christ is possible, With the added benefit of telling the world that I am not a sinless virgin making a statement I have sinned too, probably worse then you. If i was saved God will accept you also. “Confessions” as EMD asked are between the individual and God.

 

[Janet1983]

I was just curious as to how Protestants deal with their sins and are they forgiven for their sins. I personally believe in confession, but why don’t Protestants confess ? Just to be clear I’m not trying to be disrespectful in any way, just curious.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

“As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. . . . Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:21–23)

Just as a remark… Anglicans as well as Lutherans do generally practice confession and absolution.
I know about the Lutherans specifically because I recently read that the Lutherans in Germany were called to remember that Martin Luther did not abolish it. The recommendation was that those who hear confessions should go to confessions too and that this should be practiced in more parishes than at present…

May God bless you.

In Him,
Janet

 

[lutherlic]

I was Lutheran and we only acknowledged our sins in general. The specifics were for your private prayers and I doubt that was confessed to God very often by most of us.

While I don’t remember it ever mentioned at the Lutheran churches I attended nor in my Lutheran catechism classes - Wikipedia reports that some Lutherans practice a form of confession.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about sin since starting RCIA. One of the things I have concluded is that most Lutherans, and for that matter Protestants in general, do not focus enough on the topic. I feel it is important that we face our sins head-on, one by one, consider each and its damaging effect, then we can have the contrite heart necessary to truly be sorry.

I have a few more thoughts on the topic in my blog if you are interested. See What harm is a little sin?

 

[JonNC]

I was Lutheran and we only acknowledged our sins in general. The specifics were for your private prayers and I doubt that was confessed to God very often by most of us.

While I don’t remember it ever mentioned at the Lutheran churches I attended nor in my Lutheran catechism classes - Wikipedia reports that some Lutherans practice a form of confession.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about sin since starting RCIA. One of the things I have concluded is that most Lutherans, and for that matter Protestants in general, do not focus enough on the topic. I feel it is important that we face our sins head-on, one by one, consider each and its damaging effect, then we can have the contrite heart necessary to truly be sorry.

I have a few more thoughts on the topic in my blog if you are interested. See What harm is a little sin?

Luther’s Small Catechism:

. Confession

How Christians should be taught to confess.

What is Confession?*

Confession embraces two parts: the one is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from God Himself, and in no wise doubt, but firmly believe, that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins should we confess?

Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those which we do not know, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. But before the confessor we should confess those sins alone which we know and feel in our hearts.

Which are these?

Here consider your station according to the Ten Commandments, whether you are a father, mother, son, daughter, master, mistress, a man-servant or maid-servant; whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, slothful; whether you have grieved any one by words or deeds; whether you have stolen, neglected, or wasted aught, or done other injury.

Pray, Propose to Me a Brief Form of Confession.

Answer.

You should speak to the confessor thus: Reverend and dear sir, I beseech you to hear my confession, and to pronounce forgiveness to me for God’s sake.

Proceed!

I, a poor sinner, confess myself before God guilty of all sins; especially I confess before you that I am a man-servant, a maidservant, etc. But, alas, I serve my master unfaithfully; for in this and in that I have not done what they commanded me; I have provoked them, and caused them to curse, have been negligent [in many things] and permitted damage to be done; have also been immodest in words and deeds, have quarreled with my equals, have grumbled and sworn at my mistress, etc. For all this I am sorry, and pray for grace; I want to do better.

A master or mistress may say thus:

In particular I confess before you that I have not faithfully trained my children, domestics, and wife [family] for God’s glory. I have cursed, set a bad example by rude words and deeds, have done my neighbor harm and spoken evil of him, have overcharged and given false ware and short measure.

And whatever else he has done against God’s command and his station, etc.

But if any one does not find himself burdened with such or greater sins, he should not trouble himself or search for or invent other sins, and thereby make confession a torture, but mention one or two that he knows. Thus: In particular I confess that I once cursed; again, I once used improper words, I have once neglected this or that, etc. Let this suffice.

But if you know of none at all (which, however is scarcely possible), then mention none in particular, but receive the forgiveness upon your general confession which you make before God to the confessor.

Then shall the confessor say:

God be merciful to thee and strengthen thy faith! Amen.

Furthermore:

Dost thou believe that my forgiveness is God’s forgiveness?

Answer.

Yes, dear sir.

Then let him say:

As thou believest, so be it done unto thee. And by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Depart in peace.

But those who have great burdens upon their consciences, or are distressed and tempted, the confessor will know how to comfort and to encourage to faith with more passages of Scripture. This is to be merely a general form of confession for the unlearned.

I regret that you were poorly catechized as a Lutheran, but also wish you His greatest blessing as you continue in RCIA.
Jon

 

[Lutheranteach]

Lutherans have both private confession if they have things that they feel particularly troubled about and there is, in every Lutheran service I’ve attended part of the service called a brief order of corporate confession

 

[adstrinity]

From what I understand, in Catholicism the penitent goes to a mortal, tells him what s/he has done, and that mortal prescribes something by which the penitent can be forgiven. The mortal = priest is seen as an agent whereby Jesus Christ forgives sins.

You understand wrong. The mortal does not prescribe something by which the penitent can be forgiven. One goes to the priest, confesses the sins, the priest, with the authority of Jesus Christ, tells the penitant s/he is forgiven, to say the Act of Contrition* (a prayer admitting that one does not like to sin, one does not wish to sin, and that, by following God, we hope to cease to sin). We may also be prescribed a penance. OUR FORGIVENESS IS INDEPENDANT OF DOING THIS WORK. Pennance is so that we can, in someway, whether by prayers or good deeds, continue to stay close to God. We have just mended the riff by going to Confession, we hope we can keep it that way and it is easier to do this if we have specific prayers to do, specific things to think about, specific actions to do or stay away from. Again, it is just because we choose to go to the priest in humility and confess our (mortal, venial do not have to be confessed) sins, out loud, and that we are truly sorry for having done the sins, and that we will try in the future to not do them (planning to sin again negates the validity of Confession as does not confessing all mortal sins) is what makes us forgiven. We have the strength, and the ability to admit that we have sinned and because we are doing what God told us to do, because we trust in God that much, we are forgiven.

Among my church group and similar church groups, we believe Jesus Christ forgives sins directly without the mediating agent. I believe that is what Scripture teaches. Since I do not want someone else knowing my private sins, and it is unnecessary, I will not do it.

We believe that, too. We believe that a perfect act of Contrition will sincerely be enough for forgiveness, BUT, since some people have more of a fear of ending up in Hell than dispising offending their Creator, we also have the option of Confession (God makes things so easy for us). BUT, how do you know your sins are forgiven? When one goes to a priest, and the priest says, “Your sins are forgiven,” accepting that one did not hold anything back…and one is not scrupulous, one knows. Did you know that St. Padre Pio wouldn’t give a woman absolution because he was blessed with knowing the sins of the penetant? She wasn’t making a full confession, and even after he told her to go and pray and ask God what she did wrong, after she came back she couldn’t get absolution. This happened one more time with this woman. It turns out she had an abortion (I’ve heard this story, I haven’t read it myself). Not all priests have this gift, but, with confession, we do know our sins are forgiven.

You bring up an interesting point, you do not want anybody else to know your sins. That’s what it’s really all about, isn’t it? You want to keep your sins to yourself. It’s bad enough you know them, it’s bad enough God knows them, why get somebody else involved, but, all sin is communal. You sins affect the rest of the world in some way. This is one of the reasons that in the confessional from the time the priest says, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” the seal of confession is in place. One can confess face to face or behind a screen, but, whatever you tell that priest stays in that room, or, within that confessional (there’s no doors for the penetant in the confession booths at St. John Cantius in Chicago). As a matter of fact, I, while in confession, asked the priest something and he told me to tell him again after he gave me absolution. After absolution, he can repeat what he says. This still, though, doesn’t affect that you don’t want the priest to know because you don’t want anybody to know; again, this goes to a humility issue. It’s not easy to tell somebody else (lest of all, admit, out loud, which makes it much harder) how you are weak and how you have failed. You also believe it unecessary; let me state somethings as to how this can be justified in the Bible. God already knows what you done, He still wants you to admit it. In the occurance of the Garden of Eden, God knew what had transpired, BUT, He wanted Adam and Eve to admit their sins. He gave them plenty of opportunity and they kept dodging the question, trying to alleviate themselves of disobedience. Same thing with Cain and Abel. God knew what had happened and He asked Cain, and Cain wouldn’t tell Him. Same thing in the New Testament with Jesus at the Well. Jesus wanted the woman to admit her sins to Him, but, again, she skirted around the issue. It is a VERY uneasy thing to do, to admit one is wrong in the presence of God

Mind you, I have no problem with Christians who do go tell a priest their private sins. I just gave you the reasons of others, and I gave you my reasons. I understand that most priests never reveal what is said in confession, but I still am not telling my sins to someone who does not need to know them.

I hope I have cleared up why we do what we do. I hope my explinations helped to clarify and should this ever come up at a dinner party, or, you’re ever on Jeopardy, and there’s some pennance question, you now have an answer.

*Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins because I dred the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but, most of all, because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. With your help I firmly resolve to go to Confession, to do my pennance, and to ammend my life. Amen.

 

[Darron_Steele]

You understand wrong. The mortal does not prescribe something by which the penitent can be forgiven. One goes to the priest, confesses the sins, the priest, with the authority of Jesus Christ, tells the penitant s/he is forgiven, to say the Act of Contrition* (a prayer admitting that one does not like to sin, one does not wish to sin, and that, by following God, we hope to cease to sin). We may also be prescribed a penance. OUR FORGIVENESS IS INDEPENDANT OF DOING THIS WORK. …

Thanks.

So if the priest’s prescribed penance is not done, the sin is forgiven anyway? Is that right?

We have just mended the riff by going to Confession,

Okay, now I am confused. If the person did not go to Confession to a priest, could s/he be forgiven for sins?

We believe that, too. We believe that a perfect act of Contrition will sincerely be enough for forgiveness, BUT, since some people have more of a fear of ending up in Hell than dispising offending their Creator, we also have the option of Confession (God makes things so easy for us). BUT, how do you know your sins are forgiven?

1 John 1:8-10 regarding acknowledgment of sin.

When one goes to a priest, and the priest says, “Your sins are forgiven,” accepting that one did not hold anything back…and one is not scrupulous, one knows. Did you know that St. Padre Pio wouldn’t give a woman absolution because he was blessed with knowing the sins of the penetant? She wasn’t making a full confession, and even after he told her to go and pray and ask God what she did wrong, after she came back she couldn’t get absolution. This happened one more time with this woman. It turns out she had an abortion (I’ve heard this story, I haven’t read it myself). Not all priests have this gift, but, with confession, we do know our sins are forgiven.

Okay, now I am even more confused. The priest refused to give absolution.

So, what would that mean to the penitent? That she was not forgiven because the priest would not give it? I thought you denied that the priest was an agent whereby Jesus Christ forgives sin.

It looks like my understanding that the priest is seen as an agent whereby Jesus Christ forgives sin is more correct than you give it credit.

You bring up an interesting point, you do not want anybody else to know your sins. That’s what it’s really all about, isn’t it?..

Okay, I am not going to take a lecture from you.

I answered another poster’s question. If want to rebuke me for my answer, refrain. I did not solicit your opinion.

The Bible does not tell me to go confess my sins to some individual who has nothing to do with it. It is none of a priest’s business. Likewise, his private sins are not my business. If sins affect other people, only those other people need to be aware of it.

If it makes you feel better to go spill your sins to a priest who will not reciprocate, do so with my blessing. I will not do so. I see no need for it, and nothing positive to be gained from it.

It is not open for discussion with me.

 

[aspirant]

The Bible does not tell me to go confess my sins to some individual who has nothing to do with it.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

 

[adstrinity]

Thanks.

So if the priest’s prescribed penance is not done, the sin is forgiven anyway? Is that right?

That is correct.

Okay, now I am confused. The priest refused to give absolution.

So, what would that mean to the penitent? That she was not forgiven because the priest would not give it? I thought you said that forgiveness is independent of the priest.

Forgiveness CAN be independant of the priest, BUT, confession is the easiest way to assure one IS forgiven. If the priest refuses to give absolution, the person is not forgiven. Forgiveness is independant of absolution.

It looks like my understanding that the priest is seen as an agent whereby Jesus Christ forgives sin is more correct than you give it credit.

Mmmmm…perhaps…

Okay, I am not going to take a lecture from you.

I answered another poster’s question. If want to rebuke me for my answer, refrain. I did not solicit your opinion.

The Bible does not tell me to go confess my sins to some individual who has nothing to do with it. It is none of a priest’s business. Likewise, his private sins are not my business. If sins affect other people, only those other people need to be aware of it.

If it makes you feel better to go spill your sins to a priest who will not reciprocate, do so with my blessing. I will not do so. I see no need for it, and nothing positive to be gained from it.

It is not open for discussion with me.

No, you are not going to get a lecture from me. It’s not easy to confess to another person or God. It is not easy out loud BUT, out loud makes sure it is done. I wanted to explain to you and to others how we see it and why we see it this way.

 

[Darron_Steele]

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

Well, I am not sick.

Further, it says “to one another” – not to one presbyter who keeps his sins to himself, or confesses only to a presbyter somewhere else.

If I sin against another Christian, I ought to confess that sin to that Christian. I do not see where that passage teaches me to go spill my sins to some person it does not involve.

You folks want to go spill your sins to some man who will not reciprocate, fine. I know the Bible well, and there is nothing in there that tells me to do so, and I am not doing it.

Is this what happens when one of us non-Catholics tries to answer one Catholics questions about what we do and why? Once again, to be clear, it is not open for discussion with me.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Thanks.

So if the priest’s prescribed penance is not done, the sin is forgiven anyway? Is that right?

Okay, now I am confused. If the person did not go to Confession to a priest, could s/he be forgiven for sins?
1 John 1:8-10 regarding acknowledgment of sin. Okay, now I am even more confused. The priest refused to give absolution.

So, what would that mean to the penitent? That she was not forgiven because the priest would not give it? I thought you denied that the priest was an agent whereby Jesus Christ forgives sin.

It looks like my understanding that the priest is seen as an agent whereby Jesus Christ forgives sin is more correct than you give it credit.

Okay, I am not going to take a lecture from you.

I answered another poster’s question. If want to rebuke me for my answer, refrain. I did not solicit your opinion.

The Bible does not tell me to go confess my sins to some individual who has nothing to do with it. It is none of a priest’s business. Likewise, his private sins are not my business. If sins affect other people, only those other people need to be aware of it.

If it makes you feel better to go spill your sins to a priest who will not reciprocate, do so with my blessing. I will not do so. I see no need for it, and nothing positive to be gained from it.

It is not open for discussion with me.

Please tell me what is meant by, “…and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

Someone was placed in authority, to act as His agent, in His earthly absence.

John 20, tells us something that happened after His resurrection; something that was only spoken to His disciples, that He had appointed. Clearly it was not spoken to multitudes.

I am only trying to explain an interpretation, since you’ve stated that a ‘formal’ confession, as explained by Catholics, is not in scriptures.

I do not assume myself to know who sins will be retained, or forgiven. There is only One that is our judge.

 

[aspirant]

Well, I am not sick.

The previous claim was that “The Bible does not tell me to go confess my sins to some individual who has nothing to do with it.” The quoted passage shows that it does.

Physical ailments should be attended, of course, but they are not the only or even the primary concern. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

it says “to one another”

Yes, in the earliest days of the Church, confession in the presence of the presbyter was public. The Church has since decided to make it private. This is the Church’s prerogative: “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

If I sin against another Christian, I ought to confess that sin to that Christian.

I agree. The sacrament of reconciliation certainly does not exclude that.

 

[Zenas]

I was just curious as to how Protestants deal with their sins and are they forgiven for their sins. I personally believe in confession, but why don’t Protestants confess ? Just to be clear I’m not trying to be disrespectful in any way, just curious.

The real true blue Baptist subscribes to the doctrine of eternal security of the believer (OSAS). He believes that if you are saved all your sins are forgiven, past, present and future. Therefore, forgiveness is not real high on their priorities. Ask him about 1 John 1:9 and he will tell you that this verse about God being faithful and true to forgive refers to restoration of fellowship with our Heavenly Father. It has nothing to do with being rescued from the danger of going to Hell because once you are saved there is no more danger.

This is not to say that Baptists don’t sometimes seek forgiveness, they just don’t emphasize it as an urgent necessity. When they do seek forgiveness, it can be in many settings: through private prayer to God, with or without seeking reconciliation with the person wronged by the sin; or by public confession before the church. It is also fairly common for people to come down front to kneel and pray during the altar call, and I imagine many of them are asking God for forgiveness in that public setting.

 

[adstrinity]

Is this what happens when one of us non-Catholics tries to answer one Catholics questions about what we do and why? Once again, to be clear, it is not open for discussion with me.

Unfortunately, yes, this is what happens. Even when we don’t intend for it to happen. Also, a pet peeve of mine, whenever somebody asks for a non-Catholic opinion, a Catholic is always, ALWAYS, the first to post…

BUT, you have been nothing but civil, and I hope you stay and that you continue to know, love, and serve God all the days of your life.

 

[Darron_Steele]

The previous claim was that “The Bible does not tell me to go confess my sins to some individual who has nothing to do with it.” The quoted passage shows that it does. …

No it does not.

You are reading into the text something that is not there. Catholic-style confession is not
prescribed in that passage.

Up to now, I have done my best to be polite and not be disparaging of Catholic practice. You folks are not convincing me to be more open to adopting your practice – but you are tempting me to get meaner.

I came to this thread to answer the THREAD CREATOR’S QUESTION – and NOT to argue with other folks. I would appreciate it if you would go bother someone else, or better yet no one at all.

If you want to go spill your guts to some person whose business it is not, fine. I am not going to do it.