Protestants how to you get by without confession

[AbideWithMe]

And now I must confess a sin to you: When I read, “My husband and I were Evangelical Protestants” I expected some shallow response on how poorly non-Catholics practice what Jesus taught, and how much better Catholics are. I must ask your forgiveness because I judged very poorly.

In fact, every point you made is like how my Church is; accountability, forgiveness, unending grace of Jesus Christ, and assurance of Salvation as we progress to be better.

Thank you for being humble and addressing the Evangelical perspective well, while being Catholic. I appreciate it more than you know.

I deeply appreciate all this about Cat as well. She, more than many converts to Catholicism, would have a decent reason to be embittered by her former Evangelical church due to being treated most unjustly, but I’m consistently impressed by her efforts to be a bridge builder instead.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Ultimately we all seek and receive forgiveness from God. Whether one hears that directly from a priest or in private prayer, it is the assurance that we are absolved by Christ, the Lord.

Lutherans believe the pastor acts ‘in persona Christi’ so we receive Christ twice in the Eucharist. Entering His Presence, we bow to the altar with the 5 crosses denoting the Wound of Jesus and kneel in contrition. Absolved by Christ as we enter His Temple and are fed with the holy Word and blessed Sacrament.

 

[QuestLove]

When I was an evangelical I always felt angry and distraught with what to do with my sins. I was raised catholic but don’t think it had a major influence regarding confession since I went only once as a 7 year old and didn’t go again until I was 33 returning to the church. I needed to go to counciling a lot when u was away from the church also.

So my question ?
Tonight I committed a sin; not mortal but looked back at the last week and noticed a had a string of venial sins that was out of character and am looking forward to confession tomorrow. If I was a Protestant I would feel completely unfulfilled and lost just talking to God without a priests help how do you feel at peace without the guidance of a trained theologian ?

I usually just confess my sins directly to God when I pray. It’s something I was taught as a child, when you are first taught how to pray.
I think some protestants do confession but my church does not. If you have issues that you need help with, you can go to your pastor for advice.

At the end of the day we have the same intention, to live our lives the way God wants us to. We just have different methods of confessing to him when we err.

 

[Adamski]

I was a Methodist for many years. Simply put, we just didn’t believe that a clergyman was necessary to confess to God.

Ok but didn’t you feel like you wanted to get some guidance today at confession the priest really helped me work on improving my prayer life

 

[Cat]

And now I must confess a sin to you: When I read, “My husband and I were Evangelical Protestants” I expected some shallow response on how poorly non-Catholics practice what Jesus taught, and how much better Catholics are. I must ask your forgiveness because I judged very poorly.

In fact, every point you made is like how my Church is; accountability, forgiveness, unending grace of Jesus Christ, and assurance of Salvation as we progress to be better.

Thank you for being humble and addressing the Evangelical perspective well, while being Catholic. I appreciate it more than you know.

Thanks. I think it’s extremely important that we are speak the truth about others. I think it was Archbishop Fulton Sheen who said that most people don’t reject Catholicism, they reject what they THINK Catholicism is. I think that the same is true for Catholics–they don’t criticize Protestantism, they criticize what they think Protestantism is. That’s why I prefaced by comment by making it clear that I was speaking of Evangelical Protestantism, not another brand.

Also, I’m aware that within Evangelical Protestantism, there are differences, and my comment might be incorrect when it comes to certain Evangelical Protestant denominations and fellowships.

 

[Cat]

I deeply appreciate all this about Cat as well. She, more than many converts to Catholicism, would have a decent reason to be embittered by her former Evangelical church due to being treated most unjustly, but I’m consistently impressed by her efforts to be a bridge builder instead.

Thanks, too.

We have to build bridges. We still have a quite a few relatives and friends who are Evangelical Protestant (none from the church that kicked us out, although through a very strange situation, I have come into contact with that Senior Pastor again–he left that church and started another church in the building of a club that I play at, and he’s so friendly–wow. I’m kind of not sure exactly how to handle it other than to be friendly right back at him. I’m not exactly sure how much he was involved in our ousting, and it’s possible that he left that church because of similar situations that might have cropped up. Maybe someday I’ll sit down with him and chat about it, but that’s going to wait until I have done a lot of observing first).

 

[Indifferently]

We have confession, both publicly in our liturgy, and privately if required by the penitent for “the quieting of his conscience, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness”.

“OUR Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: And by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

 

[captainrick]

Ok but didn’t you feel like you wanted to get some guidance today at confession the priest really helped me work on improving my prayer life

Yes! But when growing up protestant, you really don’t think of confessing to a clergyman - it doesn’t occur to you. I never saw the value of it until I became Catholic. It’s all in the way you’re brought up

 

[Theo520]

So my question ?
Tonight I committed a sin; not mortal but looked back at the last week and noticed a had a string of venial sins that was out of character and am looking forward to confession tomorrow. If I was a Protestant I would feel completely unfulfilled and lost just talking to God without a priests help how do you feel at peace without the guidance of a trained theologian ?

Personally, I urge you to repent as soon as you become aware of your sins, or save it for your daily prayer time. While your faith will have you confess it to the Priest as well, there is much benefit and no harm in bringing up the problem with God quick and repeatedly.

 

[SteveVH]

I don’t trust any man to hear my intimate thoughts and actions. It’s between God and I.

The sacrament of Reconciliation is not an option in the Catholic Church. It is a requirement, a minimum of once a year and immediately if one has fallen into serious sin. Monthly confession is recommended by every priest I have ever known.

Catholics cannot just pick and choose what they like and leave the rest behind because they may be uncomfortable.

I don’t know of anyone that is “comfortable” going to confession and it is easy to rationalize and procrastinate, but when you make a good confession and hear the words of absolution in the name of God, something truly amazing happens that is perceptible. I thank God for the sacrament each time I go, but always after and not so much before .

Try it. You’ll like it.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

The sacrament of Reconciliation is not an option in the Catholic Church. It is a requirement, a minimum of once a year and immediately if one has fallen into serious sin. Monthly confession is recommended by every priest I have ever known.

Catholics cannot just pick and choose what they like and leave the rest behind because they may be uncomfortable.

I don’t know of anyone that is “comfortable” going to confession and it is easy to rationalize and procrastinate, but when you make a good confession and hear the words of absolution in the name of God, something truly amazing happens that is perceptible. I thank God for the sacrament each time I go, but always after and not so much before .

Try it. You’ll like it.

The time times Penance is offered; ideally all-day on Sundays. Do many Catholic parishes have confession on Sunday? Holy Absolution is available before Mass in some Lutheran parishes. Traffic and busy lives prevent some from going to church more than once a week

 

[Sultan_Of_Swing]

It should be noted that confession is not “talking to a priest” about your sins, although you are indeed speaking to a priest. Confession is not counseling or simply an unburdening of one’s self to others. There is a much deeper reality happening at confession.
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm

Indeed, I am aware of the Catholic understanding of Confession. I was simply expressing that I feel no need to do so.

 

[Starrsmother]

My husband, a convert who grew up in the First Christian Church,still struggles with confession every time he goes—so I empathize with your idea of not needing a 3rd person to confess sin to. It is humiliating to admit your sins to a priest–but is that bad? Don’t we all need a little humiliation in our lives? Moreover, the priest sets in the place of Jesus–so when he forgives us, it is Jesus forgiving us. We see the priest as Our Lord in confession–and there;is something wonderfully magnanimous about it, and If you went, you’d understand–I’m not a great apologist.,But even my hubby who has trouble accepting confession has admitted that he feels very different when he goes to confession over simply telling God that he’s sorry.

 

[dronald]

Personally, I urge you to repent as soon as you become aware of your sins, or save it for your daily prayer time. While your faith will have you confess it to the Priest as well, there is much benefit and no harm in bringing up the problem with God quick and repeatedly.

Can’t argue with that.

 

[SteveVH]

The time times Penance is offered; ideally all-day on Sundays. Do many Catholic parishes have confession on Sunday? Holy Absolution is available before Mass in some Lutheran parishes. Traffic and busy lives prevent some from going to church more than once a week

Confession is normally available before each Mass. In addition, one can always make an appointment at anytime during the week. In short, Reconciliation is always available and is not restricted to a certain time.

 

[SteveVH]

Indeed, I am aware of the Catholic understanding of Confession. I was simply expressing that I feel no need to do so.

If you are considering Catholicism then this is something that needs to be considered. We do not base our faith on what we “feel”. We base it upon what has been revealed to us by Christ through the Apostles, even if that revelation may make us uncomfortable.

If we choose a faith that fits perfectly with our own “feelings” and desires then we have created a god of our own making. It takes courage to be a good Christian.

I wish you well on your journey.

God bless.

Steve

 

[whoisdiss]

When I was a Evangelical Protestant, we were taught that God will forgive all your future sins as long as you were “saved.” You didn’t need to do anything as a Protestant, because God already forgave you. They taught us just to move on and that’s it. They did say we should try not to sin, but that every time we do God will just forgive us… we did confess our sins to each other regularly because the Bible encouraged it, but we didn’t believe it actually forgave sins. But, like you, I never felt satisfied as a Protestant. When I became a Catholic and looked at the theology of confession and now do confession, it felt so right!

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Confession is normally available before each Mass. In addition, one can always make an appointment at anytime during the week. In short, Reconciliation is always available and is not restricted to a certain time.

That’s good. I’ve gone to confession outside, once sitting at a picnic table. The peaceful setting and words of assurance are unforgettable spiritual experiences.

That is why private confession is so important. We become real with God undeserving of His forgiveness. The act of contrition is vital to our Faith.

 

[SteveVH]

That’s good. I’ve gone to confession outside, once sitting at a picnic table. The peaceful setting and words of assurance are unforgettable spiritual experiences.

That is why private confession is so important. We become real with God undeserving of His forgiveness. The act of contrition is vital to our Faith.

 

[Tommy999]

I agree with others who said Cat nailed it. Great thread and great questions, by the way, Adamski. I also think Itwin summed it up well, also.

I must admit that I occasionally wish I could go to Reconciliation for the counseling aspect as well as for accountability reasons.

I know a lot of protestant men who don’t avail themselves of accountability groups and choose to go it alone, therefore becoming their own defacto counselor, confessing their sins to God but not having someone to counsel them unless they seek out a Christian friend or pastor for help.

They know God forgives them but they sometimes keep repeating a particular sin because there is no counseling or advice that accompanies forgiveness unless God reveals something through prayer or personal reflection.

To me, it sounds like Catholics have accountability and counseling built into the process of Reconciliation which is a good, provided that the priest is a good one (I assume most are).

However, I’ve heard some Catholics prefer to confess mortal sins in other parishes and not their own because they want more anonymity. If the priest is bound by confidentiality, why would they feel the need to go somewhere else? Just curious.