Rick Otto
The Dude Abides
- Nov 19, 2002
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It's an illegitimate authority being exercised.As a Reformed believer I've always admired the Catholic practice of confession. I think that it ends up having some theological pitfalls and my Catholic brothers are welcome to correct me if I'm misunderstanding them. But to me, the pitfalls are:
Reformed types, and by extension most Protestants, have rejected these theological pitfalls, but why have we rejected the practice of confession altogether? The idea of fixed hours wherein parishioners may come to the pastor or elders of the church in order to confess their sins seems to me to be a wonderful help against the corruptions of the flesh. Yet this is not advertised, encouraged, or even practiced among reformed believers and protestants alike.
- A notion of penance which appears to be a form of re-payment for our sins.
- The insistence that an ordained priest must hear confession in order for a person to receive forgiveness (extenuating circumstances aside).
Why not? Wouldn't we benefit from it?
People confess their sins to each other and or God, routinely, if not ritually... ya get my drift?
I don't disagree that pastors and ministers should be available and ready for that.
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