-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
T
Catholics believe that one should confess ones sins to God. In private confession with a priest, you are still confessing to God, and it is still God who absolves you. The priest is there to help you, and to hold you accountable. He may give you a penance, which is a way for you to make amends. For example, if your sin was lying to someone, he will remind you that you must come clean and tell the truth to that person. Most sins are involved with allowing your mind to stray away from God, which is why a priest may tell you to pray, so that your mind can stay focused on God.
I don't know any Christian denomination that doesn't have some form of communal, public confession, where the individuals confess sins, and the pastor, preacher, or minister pronounces a general absolution. The difference is, in private confession, you confess specific sins, whereas in the public confession, it's just general.
I would imagine that any pastor, preacher, or minister would be willing to hear a confession of a member of his or her church. I know it is done in many non-Catholic denominations, but it isn't as common as it is among Catholics.
Does that answer your questions?
I don't know any Christian denomination that doesn't have some form of communal, public confession, where the individuals confess sins, and the pastor, preacher, or minister pronounces a general absolution. The difference is, in private confession, you confess specific sins, whereas in the public confession, it's just general.
I would imagine that any pastor, preacher, or minister would be willing to hear a confession of a member of his or her church. I know it is done in many non-Catholic denominations, but it isn't as common as it is among Catholics.
Does that answer your questions?
P
Hi there Josh...
So, I was brought up Catholic and baptised in a Catholic Church. I don't really go there much these-days but it does make me able to speak about it honestly and with some experience behind me.
Confession has it's merits. Pride is a problem in todays world. Any man can say to almighty God that they have sinned, and name them all in Private. Confession differs because it's about overcoming that pride and saying to a brother "These are the things that I have done". He then prays for forgiveness. That's common, Christians pray for each other all the time.
To be honest, there are many things about the Catholic faith I dont quite agree with. One of those is praying to saints or mary to pass on a message to God. I still find that idea strange, and I always pray to Jesus. No-one has it perfect. My Pentecostal church once said that EVERY chirstian who has been baptised in the Holy Spirit can speak tongues. Which is a problem for two reaons, first Scripture doesnt actually say that, and secondly, as close as I am to Jesus, I can't speak Tongues.
I don't like the discord between denominations. However I know one thing, Jesus loves Catholics, just as much as he loves any other Christian.
So, I was brought up Catholic and baptised in a Catholic Church. I don't really go there much these-days but it does make me able to speak about it honestly and with some experience behind me.
Confession has it's merits. Pride is a problem in todays world. Any man can say to almighty God that they have sinned, and name them all in Private. Confession differs because it's about overcoming that pride and saying to a brother "These are the things that I have done". He then prays for forgiveness. That's common, Christians pray for each other all the time.
To be honest, there are many things about the Catholic faith I dont quite agree with. One of those is praying to saints or mary to pass on a message to God. I still find that idea strange, and I always pray to Jesus. No-one has it perfect. My Pentecostal church once said that EVERY chirstian who has been baptised in the Holy Spirit can speak tongues. Which is a problem for two reaons, first Scripture doesnt actually say that, and secondly, as close as I am to Jesus, I can't speak Tongues.
I don't like the discord between denominations. However I know one thing, Jesus loves Catholics, just as much as he loves any other Christian.
God knows every hair on your head and he knows your needs before you pray to him.
If you have a relationship with someone, you speak with them directly. The same goes for God.
Confession is a Pagan tradition. The practices both of confessing and forgiving sins are very ancient pagan rites and customs.
If you have a relationship with someone, you speak with them directly. The same goes for God.
Confession is a Pagan tradition. The practices both of confessing and forgiving sins are very ancient pagan rites and customs.
S
Dear Joshua, Do you agree that James 5:16 is in the Bible? Why don't you confess your sins to other people, when St. James in James 5:16 says to do that very exact thing? In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington PS Of course, we are to confess our sins to God, but not only to God, but to God's people, according to James 5:16.
S
Katy:
Talking about everything you disagree with or fail to understand being "pagan" is a false thing to do.
If we all sin (and the Bible says we have all sinned), then we all act as pagans, don't we? In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington PS I am not defending Roman Catholicism. I believe the truth of Orthodoxy (John 15:26 and all the verses in the whole Bible in Church Tradition).
Talking about everything you disagree with or fail to understand being "pagan" is a false thing to do.
If we all sin (and the Bible says we have all sinned), then we all act as pagans, don't we? In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington PS I am not defending Roman Catholicism. I believe the truth of Orthodoxy (John 15:26 and all the verses in the whole Bible in Church Tradition).
E
lol. you mean to tell me any brother in christ would not understand what it means to confess your sin?? We confess our sins to each other on a weekly basis in a cell group. I think we know what it means to confess.
And no powers or authority? This is not what I heard catholics say. Most I know believe has the power to forgive sin or to not forgive sin.
And no powers or authority? This is not what I heard catholics say. Most I know believe has the power to forgive sin or to not forgive sin.
I never said that another christian wouldn't understand. The priests are there for those who want to confess to a professional confessor. Someone who has spent years studying and understanding the bible, and whose job it is to hear confessions. Whoever told u that priests have some sort of spiritual authority is WRONG. They have no spiritual authority. What they do have is authority in the church. They get to preach and say mass and conduct the affairs of the church. Someone in the congregation can't just come up to the altar and start preaching.
Do you agree that you are twisting scripture to mean what you want it to mean?
When a Catholic goes into their litle box, there is a priest in there too, right? Does the priest confess their sins to the non-priest first and then the non-priest confesses? No, of course not. The non-priest confesses their sin and the priest tells them to go do WORKS to atone for it, ie hail marys and the Lords Prayer.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
oops. Am I being my own personal pope for pointing this out? Perhaps a mention of filoque and/or martin luther will draw everyones attention away.
When a Catholic goes into their litle box, there is a priest in there too, right? Does the priest confess their sins to the non-priest first and then the non-priest confesses? No, of course not. The non-priest confesses their sin and the priest tells them to go do WORKS to atone for it, ie hail marys and the Lords Prayer.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
oops. Am I being my own personal pope for pointing this out? Perhaps a mention of filoque and/or martin luther will draw everyones attention away.
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 18:18 NIV
This is what Jesus said to the apostles. This is the scripture that is believed to give the apostles (and the priests who succeed them) the power to forgive or not to forgive sins on earth. BUT we are ALL part of the common priesthood and this is recognized by the catholic church, so whoever told u that only ORDAINED priests had this power is wrong.
This is what Jesus said to the apostles. This is the scripture that is believed to give the apostles (and the priests who succeed them) the power to forgive or not to forgive sins on earth. BUT we are ALL part of the common priesthood and this is recognized by the catholic church, so whoever told u that only ORDAINED priests had this power is wrong.
Last edited:
- James 5:16
Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
James 5:15-17 (in Context) James 5 (Whole Chapter) - 1 John 1:9
If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
1 John 1:8-10 (in Context) 1 John 1 (Whole Chapter)
When we confess for one thing we are talking out loud to hear our own self. Admitting to our self and to God we did something wrong.<<<<<<<<<<lots of people never admit they do anything wrong and they never get better.
We don't go to some priest. Some have learned this and have tried to make a priest there intercessor to God. Jesus is our intercessor. No man is our go between to God. Jesus died for us and no one else did. His blood is important no mans.
The worst part of this lie is the person has been taught they don't go to God one on one.
Some have learned wrong so pray for them.
We can tell our pastor or our friends so they can help us in the situation and give us advice and pray for us. There is no rule in the bible telling us to go to a priest and he tell us we must do this and this or we are not forgiven. This is a very bad teaching.
There are also some who teach we must get up in front of the church and confess trying to make shame on a person. This is a lie too.
T
Ummm ... since I don't know any Christian denomination that does not have corporate confession, no Christian denomination comes to mind.
I could say that denominations I'm aware of that DO have corporate confession include Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Disciples, Baptists, UCC, and others.
I guess I honestly don't know whether people like Mormons or SDAs have corporate confession, since I have never been to a Mormon or SDA service. I would imagine they do.
I could say that denominations I'm aware of that DO have corporate confession include Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Disciples, Baptists, UCC, and others.
I guess I honestly don't know whether people like Mormons or SDAs have corporate confession, since I have never been to a Mormon or SDA service. I would imagine they do.