SPLIT: Why confess to a priest?

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carmenp1 said:
What about the Lord’s prayer
Our Father who art in heaven
…the part that says forgive us our trespasses

It is a template of how we should pray to God.
Worship Him
Thank Him
His will be done
Pray for our daily needs
Forgive our sins
Forgive others

Carmen
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That’s just fine Carmen, but what about the context of all the other scriptures that I gave you? and that John Martignoni offers. You cannot take a single verse or passage out of the context or all the rest of the scripture on that same topic because if you do then you are really not following the Bible are you?
 
What is interesting is that Paul doesn’t take the time to explain fully the ministry he speaks of. He assumes the reader knows what he is talking about.

I once saw Joyce Meyer pull out the phrase “We are ambassadors for Christ” and apply it to everyone. She overlooked that Paul states that it is a ministry and in Paul’s lists of “parts of the body” (i.e., Romans 12: 6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:8), ministers have separate and specific functions.

In a way she is right, that we all represent Christ in some way, but that is not what Paul was talking about. He was applying the term “ambassador” to himself and other ministers. He could mean nothing else within the context of the word “ministry”. This is a classic example of lifting a verse and applying personal interpretation.

Of course she would have no concept of what the ministry was, or is; it’s not on her radar screen. She would be forced to interpret it to the best of her abilities. However, she is responsible for her teachings and needs to do more research.

Subrosa
 
I think the Original Poster is asking, and I also would like to know, is why do you need to go to a priest? why can’t a person confess his sins to G-d and assume, that if he is sincere, he will e forgiven? Thank You. YYaadd
 
YYaadd said:
I think the Original Poster is asking, and I also would like to know, is why do you need to go to a priest? why can’t a person confess his sins to G-d and assume, that if he is sincere, he will e forgiven? Thank You. YYaadd
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You should read the whole thread. :tiphat:

Having written that, I see you have no religion. Were you brought up in a religious faith? Was it sacramental/liturgical or not? We can better answer your question if we have a few such details–so we know where you are coming from and what answers will help you the most. 🙂
 
YYaadd said:
I think the Original Poster is asking, and I also would like to know, is why do you need to go to a priest? why can’t a person confess his sins to G-d and assume, that if he is sincere, he will e forgiven? Thank You. YYaadd
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I have not been reading through the whole thread (more detailed answers will be found there) but here is a short version:
  1. Priests do not have the power to forgive sins. Only God has the power to forgive sins. Through the ministry of the Church, God has given the priests the authority to speak in His name to forgive or hold sins. So when a Catholic confesses to a Priest, we are in effect confessing to God (who knows what we have done anyway, right?) and we are receiving absolution from God through the priest.
  2. How do you know you are sincere? How do you know you are really forgiven? It is the priests task to judge our sincerity and to call us to task if we are not. When the priest says the words of absolution I know I am forgiven because God Himself has forgiven me through His Church.
  • What does God want for us? To be with Him in Heaven.
  • How can we be with Him in Heaven? By dying in his friendship and love.
  • What keeps us from living in his friendship and love? Sin.
  • How can we restore that relationship with God? By having our sins forgiven.
  • Who knows best how to have our sins forgiven, us or God? God.
  • What method did God Himself institute for the forgiveness of sins? Through the Sacrament of Confession in His Church.
As a Catholic, I cannot tell you that your way (of just asking God for forgiveness) is right or wrong; all I can say is that it is not the way that God wants it to be done.
 
Della: When someone writes God as G-d, that person is being superstitious about a completely safe urban myth. They have yet to figure out that the word God is NOT God’s name - whether it’s Jehovah or Yahweh is a different theme - it’s just a word to address a deity, IT’S NOT TAKING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN!
We have to get serious about important things and eschew such silliness!
 
To The Doctor: Great explanation! It is really simply a matter of faith AND acceptance of God’s wishes and Jesus’ command to the Apostles.
 
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