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Warrior89
Guest
I have a Lutheran friend who does not understand why we need penance. I am having a hard time gathering my thoughts. Can anyone help, please?
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thistle
Guest
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TheDoctor
Guest
I have explained it like this: For the same reason my kids have to do extra specific chores when they break a house rule. It is NOT to punish them for the sake of causing grief, but it is to reinforce that bad behavior has bad consequences. It is to help them make amends, be better people and to reinforce the positive behavior they should be doing. Same with penance. It is not to punish me - it is a learning tool that forces me to look at myself, to admit my sins, to make amends for them and to try to reinforce the positive’s that God wants me to have.
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Evan
Guest
We can also talk about how it helps us control our baser appetites.
The Apostle writes that What I want to do; I do not. What I do not want to do; that I do.
Through penance we can learn to control our body and strengthen our Will. Jesus is a good example of this, he went into the desert for 40 days, as did the Baptist. Denying what the body wanted so the will could be strengthened. If they, with strong wills, need to exercise and strengthen the will, we too, with weak wills, should do the same.
Welcome to Lent
The Apostle writes that What I want to do; I do not. What I do not want to do; that I do.
Through penance we can learn to control our body and strengthen our Will. Jesus is a good example of this, he went into the desert for 40 days, as did the Baptist. Denying what the body wanted so the will could be strengthened. If they, with strong wills, need to exercise and strengthen the will, we too, with weak wills, should do the same.
Welcome to Lent
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