Confession

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sadie2723:
The same reason that churches everywhere have a prayer list where we pray for the sick and the needy. If you had cancer, would you keep it to yourself and just talk to God, or would you ask others to pray for you. Let us remember that scripture tells us to confess our sins to each other. James Chapter 5
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There is a difference between having others pray for you, and someone tell you “your sins have been forgiven”

Just talk to God, He will listen.
 
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Faith101:
There is a difference between having others pray for you, and someone tell you “your sins have been forgiven”

Just talk to God, He will listen.
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I agree with your statement. And, were it not for the fact that the Bible tells us, in John that Jesus gives his deciples the power to forgive sins for him here on Earth, I would totally believe you. But, you can’t rewrite the book. It is that simple. And, through the years, that power has been passed down through the Catholic Church that Jesus started. I would submit that one of the reasons that Jesus started the church was for the very purpose of confession and absolution.
 
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sadie2723:
The same reason that churches everywhere have a prayer list where we pray for the sick and the needy. If you had cancer, would you keep it to yourself and just talk to God, or would you ask others to pray for you. Let us remember that scripture tells us to confess our sins to each other. James Chapter 5
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I would ask them to pray for me on their own, not pray to God through them.
 
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sadie2723:
I agree with your statement. And, were it not for the fact that the Bible tells us, in John that Jesus gives his deciples the power to forgive sins for him here on Earth, I would totally believe you. But, you can’t rewrite the book. It is that simple. And, through the years, that power has been passed down through the Catholic Church that Jesus started. I would submit that one of the reasons that Jesus started the church was for the very purpose of confession and absolution.
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So many things have been reformed in the Church, why can’t this be as well?
 
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Emad:
So many things have been reformed in the Church, why can’t this be as well?
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As I stated, because scripture demands that this be the way it is done.
 
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Emad:
That is a good answer for someone of the Catholic faith, but there must be some logic behind it right? If you want anything else from God do you go to Him or someone else? Let’s say you want to pray for God to bless you with a child, do you go to God through the priest or directly to God? If you can go directly to God sometimes, why not all the time?
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You keep asking the same question. I am sorry my and others answers are not satisfactory. I can certainly understand why may find it so, since you do not believe the New Testament to be inspired by God, since you do not believe Christ to be the incarnate God, and since you do not believe in the authority and promises to the Catholic Church.

But Catholic Christians believe all of the above. And since we do, we follow the words we believe God incarnate Himself gave us.

For a Catholic Christian, after all the above explanations, this is like asking "Yes, but why do you do what the prophet Mohammed told you to do?"

Ultimately, this comes down to a matter of faith. Faith in Christ, faith in scripture, and faith in the Church. All the explanations in the world cannot make up for a lack of faith in Christ.

But maybe, here is an possible logical reason you can understand.

Why does God ask us to confess this way?

Humbleness.

It is humbling to present your sins in front of others.

May God Bless you and keep you safe,
Maria
 
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Emad:
So many things have been reformed in the Church, why can’t this be as well?
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Oh, and one other thing. Don’t take this as a personal thing. It is not. This is a matter of faith for us. We believe in the scripture and what it says to do. We also believe in the Catholic Church as being the final work on interpretation of that scripture. But, even without the Catholic Church, the New Testament could not be more clear on this particular issue.

Salam Alaikum
 
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Emad:
How do you know your forgiven when you confess? God is all-Merciful, if someone is truly remorseful and they sincerely repent He will forgive them, no need to go to anyone else.
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Except that Jesus commanded His apostles to go out and forgive sins. If we could just confess to God privately and always be assured that our sins were forgiven, it seems like an awful waste of time for Jesus to have His apostle go out and forgive sins as well. Why do you suppose Jesus ordered His apostles to do this?
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Emad:
So you wouldn’t mind or care if you confessed to a priest who was a rapist, child molestor, drug dealer? Also will Jesus work through such a priest, whom after you confess is going to go to visit the prostitute around the corner?
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Because Jesus works throught the office that the priest holds and not the priest himself. Recall in scripture that Christ condemned the Pharises but told the people to follow their teaching saying to do as they say but not as they do. Even though Jesus condemned them individually, He still accepted the authority that their office held.
 
Emad, just wanted to let you and others know that you don’t have to confess to a priest behind closed doors. There is face to face confession and also what is called communal penance services where there are several priests and they each have a spot, out in the open and the people come and confess one on one. Everyone may see what is going on and everyone will wait a reasonable distance away so as not to overhear a confession. Even if you were to overhear one’s confession it is not to be repeated to anyone. The Grace God sends to you after absolution is given does wonders for the soul. If I explained this wrong some one else can clarify for me. In the bible there are passages about the wheat and the tares and God will sort them out at the end of time. It’s God’s job to Judge others and their sins not mans. May God be with you
 
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sadie2723:
Oh, and one other thing. Don’t take this as a personal thing. It is not. This is a matter of faith for us. We believe in the scripture and what it says to do. We also believe in the Catholic Church as being the final work on interpretation of that scripture. But, even without the Catholic Church, the New Testament could not be more clear on this particular issue.

Salam Alaikum
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:amen:
 
Nobody has addressed the issue of Repentance and Confession. Emad may be under the assumption that they are one in the same as most Protestants believe.

REPENT G3340
metanoeō
to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.

CONFESS G1843
exomologeō
to acknowledge or (by implication of assent) agree fully: - confess, profess, promise.

Repention is mental where as confessing is physical.

All scripture is telling you when it tells you to repent is to think differently about how you are living. It is a thing of the mind and heart. God alone knows if you are repentive or not.

Once you are in a repentitive state, then the next thing that should be done is a confession of those things you have done or failed to do prior to being repentive. And the only guide we have about confessing our sins is via James 5:16
Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.
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And couple that with the God-Breathed empowerment of forgiving sins and retaining sins in John 20:19-23
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
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you have the essence of the Doctrine.

The first instance of confessing sins was done at the River Jordan. John was baptising and hearing the confessions of sins.
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
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The only way anyone could have known they were confessing their sins is that they were doing it verbally and out loud to all present if not to John the Baptiser alone.

When you Sin against God, you sin against Christ.
I and all my church brethren are one with Christ.
When you sin against Christ you sin against me and my brethren.
In order to be forgiven by me and my brethren, you must first feel repentive. Then you must confess to me your brother and my other brethren. And since confessing to everyone would take a lifetime, then Priest accepts the confession and the gives a forgiveness on behalf of the all the brethren.

Note: If you are in a repentive state, then God has already forgiven you without the asking. The confession is required for the rest of the Body of Christ to forgive you.

I hope I covered the basics here… 🙂
 
I see, so what is the difference between confession and broadcasting your sins? Would anyone put up a billboard with their picture and a list of all the sins they committed?
 
Big difference. Think about it…

Some members of the Body of Christ are not so forgiving as they are suppose to be.
 
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Emad:
I see, so what is the difference between confession and broadcasting your sins? Would anyone put up a billboard with their picture and a list of all the sins they committed?
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The difference is the seal of the confessional - the priest (and anyone else who may overhear your confession) not only can’t reveal any of it to anyone else, they can’t even discuss it later with you without your permission.This is precisely because when they’re hearing confession they’re not acting as a person on their own behalf, but as a representative of Christ.
 
I was taught by a catholic ( a vey strong one) that sometimes in church you can confess in front of everyone. Also if God was Merciful enough to hide your sins from the sight of others, why reveal it to them? It is more like humiliating yourself instead of humbling yourself. Also if I understand correctly, confession has nothing to do with repentance or forgiveness of sins, rite?
 
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Emad:
I was taught by a catholic ( a vey strong one) that sometimes in church you can confess in front of everyone. Also if God was Merciful enough to hide your sins from the sight of others, why reveal it to them? It is more like humiliating yourself instead of humbling yourself. Also if I understand correctly, confession has nothing to do with repentance or forgiveness of sins, rite?
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Well, if that is what you think…after reading all of these posts…I can say that you have totally missed the point. Sorry. Take some time and read it again.
 
Also if I understand correctly, confession has nothing to do with repentance or forgiveness of sins, rite?
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I thought I had clarified that in that long post I did…hmmmmmm…I guess not. Sorry. 😦
 
Private confession has been the norm in the Church for hundreds and hundreds of years. I’m not sure why a “strong” Catholic would tell you otherwise.
As many have said in this thread, Confession is good for the soul and an excellent way for us to learn of our failings and our history of repeating offenses so that we can receive spiritual guidance to avoid those offenses. When we sin, we offend God, but He is merciful enough to give us this Sacrament so that our rift is healed. He never stops loving us and this is the way He provides for us to get back on track.
I feel so good whenever I leave the Confessional and am praying my prayers of penance or whatever the priest has me do. I know that I’ve had an intimate encounter with God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
God Bless You as you continue to learn about the love and mercy of Our Lord.
 
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