Does anyone repent anymore? Is it only a private matter?

Perhaps they go through phases in their prayers?

I know some who only pray to ask for things, which I find wrong as well. God loves praises too I try to follow the Lord's Prayer model generally - start with praises, then repentance and sins, then general talk, then I end with asking for blessings for those I pray for, and then more thanks. I did this to steer myself toward more productive prayers, otherwise I may leave out important stuff and become too self-centered, which is easy to do in prayer for me.

On public prayer, which I very, very rarely do - I can understand the repentance of sins being reserved for behind closed doors.

I don't like praying aloud because it always tends to be more prideful and horizontal than vertical. I think it's great for encouraging each other through thanksgiving and asking the Lord's blessing, but repentance and other matters are to be done more private or within a small group (one or two others) of people. That is, I believe we should confess our sins to others as well as God. It's not necessary for forgiveness, but we are called to live in the light so we shouldn't hide our sins. But in the same sense, I just don't like doing it publicly by people because it seems, kind of as you said, self-righteous or prideful.

If you notice, Jesus often only brings Peter and John to His more private prayers, or was alone (unless He was giving thanks -- for the most part anyways).

Repenting is means nothing unless someone obeys and understands the law.

Suppose Hitler repented for sins of being rude to his comrades but firmly believed that he was in his scriptural biblical rights to murder millions of people.

By our understanding reading the scriptures, do you think Christ Jesus would wash aways his sins & he be allowed to enter in the Kingdom in Heaven?

Answering the question in the thread title:
Most stuff that is spiritually is generally kept private, either between yourself and God, or yourself, your minister or confidante and God.

One of the problems I see in modern "Christianity" is that folks tend to think and act as though they quit being sinners when they " got saved." They talk about the "world" as sinners but never about themselves as such. When a person gets above being a sinner in need of the Savior he no longer needs a Savior. True repentance isn't laying out a list of sins to be turned from but simply taking sides with God against yourself. It is seeing in yourself what you really are and hating it. It is much more than a reformation but a principle within.

98cwitr said:

I've listened to the prayers of my Christian friends and it seems that no one repents anymore, or asks for forgiveness. They are always thankful prayers and nothing else. Does anyone else see this trend occurring? Or is this a private thing (to be really humble about it or just embarrassed). I feel like when I pray out loud, and someone hears me repenting, I am paranoid that they think I'm trying to be self-righteous or passively convict them of something.

haven't heard a preacher mention sin outside of literal scripture readings in I don't know how long, nor repentance for that matter.

Maybe a just need a new group of friends...or maybe a new church group to commune with, or maybe I'm just thinking about it too much

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Sadly, the idea of repentence is going by the wayside. You've got to remember that sin isn't sin anymore. Now, it's "negative life decisions".

98cwitr said:

In my mind it's like the need for acknowledgement of sin isn't important because they believe that God doesn't see their sins anymore.

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That is a direct result of the lack of Gospel preaching in far too many pulpits today. I lay this charge at the feet of most so-called pastors. The theology of the Gospel of Christ isn't preached any longer in most so-called churches. Therfore most of the members haven't a clue as to what they believe or why. Sin is made to be something outside that you can control instead of a nature within. Folks are told how to live but never told what it is to live. Folks are built up without ever being torn down. Christ is not preached as a comquerer but only as a crutch. I could go on but I hope you get the point.

Some Other Guy said:

Sadly, the idea of repentence is going by the wayside. You've got to remember that sin isn't sin anymore. Now, it's "negative life decisions".

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I agree, people today treat sin as if its no big thing anymore. My friends all think im far to hard on myself for being ashamed of my sins, it bothers me that they do not see the wickedness of it all the way that I do.

RobertZ said:

I agree, people today treat sin as if its no big thing anymore. My friends all think im far to hard on myself for being ashamed of my sins, it bothers me that they do not see the wickedness of it all the way that I do.

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2Cor. 4:3-4

That's one of the great aspects of liturgy; there is a prayer for and a calling to repentance at every service.