Protestants: Do you ever confess your sins to another person?

[runandsew]

OK…

For those who say they confess their sins to one another…
Let’s say you think lustfully about your neighbors wife, and you are impure with yourself while thinking about her.

Do you confess this sin to your neighbor and his wife?

The Bible says to confess your sins to one another, and to ask for forgiveness from your brother before you come to the communion table.

In the early Church the Christians would have to publicly confess their sins in front of the whole assembly, but thanks to the Irish, we can now confess to the priest with some privacy.

As for those who say that confession to a priest in not biblical.
Why did Christ give the Apostles the authority to forgive sins, if not for the purpose of forgiving sins?

 

[Kitty_Chan]

OK…

but thanks to the Irish, we can now confess to the priest with some privacy.

pardon? what do you mean by this??

 

[jmcrae]

pardon? what do you mean by this??

There are some who believe that private Confession to a priest started in Ireland. Actually, it started a lot earlier than that.

Although the original practice of the Church was to have people confess their sins in front of the entire congregation, before doing that, they would consult privately with the priest, tell him what they planned to confess, and ask his advice. Sometimes, they would grant the Absolution privately without making the person confess in front of the whole congregation, and other times, they would require the person to do that before they would give the Absolution.

There is no way of knowing how early that began to happen, but Origen was already writing about it in 240 AD as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world, in the context of giving advice about finding a good Confessor, in his Homilies on the Psalms. (page 204, The Faith of the Early Fathers, vol. i, by William Jurgens.)

 

[Kitty_Chan]

hmm thats interesting, but if they were standing in front of the congregation, then isnt that similar to confessing in those groups? Im not arguing just asking.

I dont know standing in front of the congregation, hmmm would want to speak to the priest first before that, seems like a method that could get super political, if peoples hearts were not right on the matter. Possibly those small groups are better, all interesting.

Sides there are people who would rather die than speak in public and especially confess in public to a crowd. No wonder the priests spoke to them first, makes more sense.

Maybe the Irish made it popular? dont know just wondering

and final thought, when one is baptised that sorta happens its a testimony or a confession of sorts, wonder if its related??

 

[jmcrae]

hmm thats interesting, but if they were standing in front of the congregation, then isnt that similar to confessing in those groups? Im not arguing just asking.

I suppose it would depend on how big the congregation was. At my little parish, we typically get about 300 people to each Mass (we have 5 Sunday Masses each week) - we are the smallest parish in the whole city, but I still wouldn’t consider 300 people to be a “small group.”

I dont know standing in front of the congregation, hmmm would want to speak to the priest first before that, seems like a method that could get super political, if peoples hearts were not right on the matter. Possibly those small groups are better, all interesting.

Sides there are people who would rather die than speak in public and especially confess in public to a crowd. No wonder the priests spoke to them first, makes more sense.

I’m guessing this would be why the Church eventually dropped the idea of confessing in front of everyone. There are also practical considerations - once the congregation gets very large, it would take a long time for everyone to make their Confession in front of everyone before every Mass - and after a while, it would become rather boring, I think - most of the priests I know think that hearing Confessions is very boring.

Maybe the Irish made it popular? dont know just wondering.

Maybe. Irish priests are still the world’s greatest Confessors (meaning priests who hear Confessions), as far as I’m concerned.

and final thought, when one is baptised that sorta happens its a testimony or a confession of sorts, wonder if its related??

You mean when an adult gets up and gives a testimonial after he’s been baptized - I suppose it could be related - obviously, a testimonial isn’t a Confession, since they are free to leave out anything they want to leave out, and they can add details that aren’t related to the things they did wrong - but I suppose there could be a relationship between the two things.

I’ve heard a lot of testimonials over the years, and I know people try to make them very interesting, but after the tenth reformed drug addict, even listening to that starts to get boring. The best testimonial I ever heard was a lady who was taught to pray as soon as she learned to talk. She learned to say a very beautiful bed-time prayer, and when she became old enough to really understand the words of the prayer that she was saying, she fell madly in love with Jesus in her heart, and never looked back. I thought that was the most wonderful testimonial I’ve ever heard in my whole life, and I’ve always thought that that’s the sort of thing teenagers should hear, because a lot of what they hear makes it seem as though you can’t be a real Christian unless at some point in the past you committed some kind of really terrible sin, and then repented and converted after that.

I’m sure a lot of teenagers are thinking, “What about me? I’ve never done anything seriously wrong - how do I get to know Jesus?”

 

[Curious]

I do not confess my sins to other people.

question…what is penance like? You always hear jokes about priests giving 5 hail mary’s and 5 our fathers (for example) and that’ it.

What if you don’t do the penance? Are you not forgiven then? Is penance scriptural?

huh? huh? huh?

 

[teachccd]

I do not confess my sins to other people.

question…what is penance like? You always hear jokes about priests giving 5 hail mary’s and 5 our fathers (for example) and that’ it.

What if you don’t do the penance? Are you not forgiven then? Is penance scriptural?

huh? huh? huh?

Penance is like thanking God for the gift of Reconciliation. It’s, in a small way(cf. Romans 12:1), the ability to climb upon the Cross and hug Jesus for what He has done for us.It’s a way to make restitution to the community of believers, as all are hurt when we sin. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we not only ask for the forgiveness of God but also of the Church. It’s a way for us to show that we are truly sorry and last but not least another way in which we engage our minds, hearts, soul and body to God.

Is penance scriptural?? Does not one remember sackcloth and ashes?? (Matthew 11:21) Or the hairshirt?? Yes it is scriptural and we are forgiven whether or not we complete our penance but knowing that it is a part of the Sacrament one would only want to do this. What is important to remember is that Scripture was recognized as inspired because it mirrored the faith community and not the other way around. First there was a Church and that Church was inspired and from that inspiration we have written Tradition(Scripture). So as Catholics we say that the Bible says things because that’s the way they are. In Protestant theology it would be said that things are done because they are in the Bible. You see?? Big difference and only the Catholic view makles sense to me because there was no New Testament for a period when there were Christians. So their inspiration had to come from the Church and not the Scripture that didn’t exist yet. So, in brief, the Church practiced penance before anything was written or recognized as Scripture.

The penance should match up with the sins confessed so as to make one realize where his/her conversion journey.

One last thing. If you do not confess your sins to anyone then that is not Scriptural. See James 5:16. A Christian may not believe that he/she needs to confess to a priest (Cf. James 5 again for a counter to that) but it is explicit that you MUST confess your sins to one another and we Catholics know that to be the priest. See John 20:23.

God Bless, Curious and I’ll talk with you soon…teachccd

 

[Holly3278]

I have never really heard of confession being practiced in Protestant churches except for possibly some Lutheran and Anglican churches.

 

[jmcrae]

I do not confess my sins to other people.

Not even to those you have offended, when you are sorry for what you did?

question…what is penance like? You always hear jokes about priests giving 5 hail mary’s and 5 our fathers (for example) and that’ it.

Yep, most of the time that’s actually what it’s like - they also sometimes throw in a couple Glory Be’s and Act of hope, faith, charity, etc., just for variety.

I have sometimes had other penances, too; for example, one time I was asked to read Luke chapter 15, and another time I was asked to read Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. Another time, I was asked to give whatever I could afford to a food bank. The most unusual one of all was one time when I was asked to go to Mass and receive Holy Communion every day for a week.

What if you don’t do the penance?

Probably the same thing that happens if you go to the doctor, and he gives you some pills to take, and then you don’t take them - the penance isn’t a “punishment” - rather, it’s meant to help heal you of your spiritual sickness, whatever that may be.

Are you not forgiven then?

Yes, you are still forgiven. Penance is about spiritual healing; not punishment.

Is penance scriptural?

Yes. Nearly every chapter of the Bible includes at least a line or a phrase about someone doing penance for something.

 

[guardian1]

the bible tells us to confess to one another. teddy roosevelt said “No man is an island.” which pretty much sums it up. we all have our “demons” that we have to deal with (my demon is thin mint girl scout cookies). i’ve confessed to others and have asked them to forgive me and/or pray for me. in this we we can help each other, especially if it is something that the other person has dealt with in the past. besides, we’re supposed to help each other, and what better thing can we do than to pray for another christian who is struggling.?

 

[Kitty_Chan]

I suppose it would depend on how big the congregation was. At my little parish, we typically get about 300 people to each Mass (we have 5 Sunday Masses each week) - we are the smallest parish in the whole city, but I still wouldn’t consider 300 people to be a “small group.”

no not small especially when one adds it up all day.

I’m guessing this would be why the Church eventually dropped the idea of confessing in front of everyone. There are also practical considerations - once the congregation gets very large, it would take a long time for everyone to make their Confession in front of everyone before every Mass - and after a while, it would become rather boring, I think - most of the priests I know think that hearing Confessions is very boring.

makes sense

Maybe. Irish priests are still the world’s greatest Confessors (meaning priests who hear Confessions), as far as I’m concerned.

still fasinates me, have a for instance? One hears so much about the marriage bit so its nice to hear something positive.

You mean when an adult gets up and gives a testimonial after he’s been baptized - I suppose it could be related - obviously, a testimonial isn’t a Confession, since they are free to leave out anything they want to leave out, and they can add details that aren’t related to the things they did wrong - but I suppose there could be a relationship between the two things.

Right, didnt think about that part (leaving out things) so its a sorta confession only ahh my mind thinks of too much some times.

I’ve heard a lot of testimonials over the years, and I know people try to make them very interesting, but after the tenth reformed drug addict, even listening to that starts to get boring. The best testimonial I ever heard was a lady who was taught to pray as soon as she learned to talk. She learned to say a very beautiful bed-time prayer, and when she became old enough to really understand the words of the prayer that she was saying, she fell madly in love with Jesus in her heart, and never looked back. I thought that was the most wonderful testimonial I’ve ever heard in my whole life, and I’ve always thought that that’s the sort of thing teenagers should hear, because a lot of what they hear makes it seem as though you can’t be a real Christian unless at some point in the past you committed some kind of really terrible sin, and then repented and converted after that.

I’m sure a lot of teenagers are thinking, “What about me? I’ve never done anything seriously wrong - how do I get to know Jesus?”

Uh yea Im with you on this, Ive heard it joked about by Brad Stine, he goes “OH if only I was drug crazed then I could too have a great testimony!!” We have friends and the wife is crazy about testominals, she says its the strongest thing to speak to people. well umm I dont know, depends. I think the inspirational ones like you said are better, but then again Ive never been on drugs. Perhaps different things speak to different people I guess. One never knows when Gods gonna sneak something by you

 

[Curious]

I agree that confessing sins to one another is a scriptural practice. My husband and I are such hermits right now though that the only people we offend are each other…

I think I’d much rather confess to a priest and get absolution than just confess to a regular brother/sister in the Lord, or even a pastor and just get “good advice.” Not that there’s anything wrong with good advice.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

A confession is not valid if the one doing the confessing does not have a firm purpose of amendment.

I say that if one does not do the penance then they never had a firm purpose of amendment in the first place.

Does that negate a priest offering absolution much the same way that not confessing all of one’s mortal sins would also negate absolution?

 

[jmcrae]

A confession is not valid if the one doing the confessing does not have a firm purpose of amendment.

I say that if one does not do the penance then they never had a firm purpose of amendment in the first place.

Does that negate a priest offering absolution much the same way that not confessing all of one’s mortal sins would also negate absolution?

No, since if you deliberately avoid doing your penance, you don’t have to redo your whole Confession (as you have to do if you deliberately omit to confess a mortal sin), but you do have to confess that you deliberately avoided doing your penance.

Having never done this, I have no idea what the priest does with this information.

 

[Shlemele]

If I feel a relationship has been strained or broken by a sin (be it intentional/known or otherwise) then yes I confess my sin and try to make it right. If the sin didn’t fall in that criteria I confess directly to God (we Anabaptists aren’t big on middlemen ) . Either way to me confession isn’t about getting a stain off my soul, I believe that has been taken care of already, it’s about making sure the relationships that God has put me in are healthy. confessiong is me doing the best I can to keep them that way. If I confess to a priest and don’t follow the biblical example of leaving my sacrifice a the alter what good am I really doing?

 

[Jerry-Jet]

I’m just saying that if you go to confession having a firm purpose of amendment you WILL do the penance.

If you don’t do the penance I’m doubtful that you really wanted to amend your life in the first place.

And to be sure you should always leave your gift at the altar and make things right with your brother first before you confess those mortal sins to God through a priest.

And No–forgiveness of sin does not restore all the Remains of sin.

If someone is cut deep they can heal but a scare remains and sometimes it takes awhile for everything to be restored as it was before the injury.

When we confess our sins we are washed clean in God’s eyes–there is no doubt about that–but the Remains of that injury remain.

It would be like a murderer asking forgiveness from a family after he has murdered one of their members.

The “Remains” of that sin reverberate like the ripples of water do after you trhow a rock into a lake.

When David sinned God forgave him but said he would have to pay with the death of his child.

That’s inerrant biblical truth of having to “Pay” After God forgives you!

See sometimes we can’t make up for some of the Temporal effects for what we do.

Penance is like putting Neomycin on a cut. The cut heals better and quicker.

Actual forgiveness of sins is about our relationship with God and going to Heaven and avoiding Hell.

Penance is what we do to restore not the spiritual–God does that–but the Temporal order to how God wanted it without our sin.

But in healing the temporal our spiritual well-being can be increased to even greater than it was before we committed the sin in the first place.

Not to mention that in Confession God makes up for our lack of Total Contrition. Most of us aren’t perfectly contrited for our sins–we don’t confess out of only a pure love and regret for having offended God for the simple fact that He is love and is God.

We could be afraid of the consequences of our sin–we could be afraid of Hell.

That is not a bad thing–but it is not the pure healing balm of God that can restore us before we cut ourselves.

That is what God does in Confession and in Penance.

Once such healing has taken place and we aren’t living in a state of mortal sin then we can receive Jesus in the Eucharist and He can perform even greater graces in us.

The whole process isn’t about how we feel or about making us not feel guilty–though these are certainly good things–the Eucharist and Confession are All About making us become more like Jesus!

 

[mirandajb]

hmm thats interesting, but if they were standing in front of the congregation, then isnt that similar to confessing in those groups? Im not arguing just asking.

I dont know standing in front of the congregation, hmmm would want to speak to the priest first before that, seems like a method that could get super political, if peoples hearts were not right on the matter. Possibly those small groups are better, all interesting.

Sides there are people who would rather die than speak in public and especially confess in public to a crowd. No wonder the priests spoke to them first, makes more sense.

Maybe the Irish made it popular? dont know just wondering

and final thought, when one is baptised that sorta happens its a testimony or a confession of sorts, wonder if its related??

Kitty, what do you think you do when you say the “I Confess” during Mass. You are publicly confessing your sins. I think the Mass is awesome. Consider this, we actually confess our sins to one another in the “I Confess”. Sadly, we do it sometimes out of routine without realizing the real healing power behind it.

I want to invite ‘border line Protestants’ to come for Mass with an open mind - say the 'I Confess" during Mass and receive the absolution that the priest gives. Isn’t it awesome! Please refrain from the Eucharist though!

 

[LilyM]

Maybe. Irish priests are still the world’s greatest Confessors (meaning priests who hear Confessions), as far as I’m concerned.

The best-by-a-mile confessor I’ve ever had was from Poland. Shame he was only on loan and has left our diocese :crying: Some good Irish priests around here, but not a patch on him.

 

[jmcrae]

Kitty, what do you think you do when you say the “I Confess” during Mass.

Uh - Kitty is Protestant. She doesn’t go to Mass.

You are publicly confessing your sins.

Not in any kind of detail. though. We all recite the same thing.

I want to invite ‘border line Protestants’ to come for Mass with an open mind - say the 'I Confess" during Mass and receive the absolution that the priest gives.

Absolution during Mass?

 

[mirandajb]

Uh - Kitty is Protestant. She doesn’t go to Mass.

Not in any kind of detail. though. We all recite the same thing.

Absolution during Mass?

After you recite the 'I Confess" the priest says “May Almighty God, have mercy on us, forgive us or sins, and bring us to everlasting life” simultaneously imparting his blessing “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” . These very words speak ABSOLUTION. The problem with Catholics is that they get caught up with the 'Law" and miss the graces that God wants to pour on His people.The Pharisees and the Sanhedrin did the same thing and did not recognize Jesus, when He came, because they were caught in a “religious spirit”. Let’s go for Love and Compassion…think with the heart not the head…that is where the Holy Spirit speaks to us…to our heart.