Avoiding confession

[Dominus Fidelis]

Have you ever avoided confession due to the fact that you know you will screw up again in the same manner?

I guess kind of like you feel that its dishonest to God or something like that?

 

[geocajun]

I've used that excuse for avoiding confession before... in fact, I am just now getting over a bout of a similar excuse.
Sometimes I think I should have been a lawyer, because I am great at proving myself innocent in my own head

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

I've used that excuse for avoiding confession before... in fact, I am just now getting over a bout of a similar excuse.
Sometimes I think I should have been a lawyer, because I am great at proving myself innocent in my own head

Oh, I don't think myself innocent at all.

 

[geocajun]

Oh, I don't think myself innocent at all.

I just threw that second part on on there for the heck of it. I know what you mean about avoiding confession because you think you'll just do it again.

 

[Benedicta00]

Have you ever avoided confession due to the fact that you know you will screw up again in the same manner?

I guess kind of like you feel that its dishonest to God or something like that?

No, not for that reason. I don’t avoid going anymore, the more go the more you'll want to go, the more you realize you need to go.

It doesn’t really matter why you don’t want to go, the end result is it is always due to pride one avoids it. The devil temps you to prideful feelings and disguises them as shame, fear or what ever. If you are ashamed, that isn’t humility, that is pride worrying about what the priest is going to think of wonderful you. If it’s fear you’ll jut end up doing it over again, it’s pride not trusting in God’s grace to deliver you, you want to deliver yourself because you’re so wonderful.

You just have to get over all that and go.

 

[EllenMoran]

Do you mean you think you'll fall again despite your best efforts not to? That's called being human, my friend.

I think there's a decent dose of pride involved in not wanting to have to confess the same sin again. I know I've felt that tug - no one likes to admit being wrong on the same thing once, much less multiple times. But, don't let that keep you away from the all that is made available to us in Confession -- for then you are letting yourself be kept away from receiving Communion and the spiritual nourishment it gives.

 

[Benedicta00]

You know what else? The enemy really don't want you to go, I mean he really don't want you to go. You have to stop listening the voices in your head rationalizing why you shouldn't go.

In all honesty, do you think there is ever a circumstance where God would not want you to go to confession? I mean really? How silly is it to think it would be better if you didn't go?

Get this, I used think I wasn't gong to go to confession unless I didn't have anything to confess. Now how stupid is that?

I realized over time that this is the most humbling thing God has given us and we need to be humbled because all sin is brought on by pride. The devils wants you to remain prideful so you will continue to sin and will suggest anything no matter how ridiculous it is to keep you from your humiliation.

 

[geocajun]

Michelle, I thought you might like this - I read it from Frank Sheed, not sure which book and I am paraphrasing.

Pride is as you know the "mother of all sin"
Pride is when we tell God we are something other than what He wants us to be.
All other sin, is when we do something other than what God wants us to do.

I thought that was a great way to distinguish pride from other sins.

 

[ZooMom]

Have you ever avoided confession due to the fact that you know you will screw up again in the same manner?

I guess kind of like you feel that its dishonest to God or something like that?

I haven't felt this exactly. I've been going to weekly Confession for a while now, and it is amazing. I still get the 'jitters' beforehand, because I start thinking the priest is going to go, "Not you again. Nevermind, I know what you are going to say. "

It's ok. Really. You know you can't fool God, and you know that He is waiting patiently for you to come to Him. My own kids can be truly sorry for something they have have done, and even I know that it will likely happen again. BUT, I still want them to come to me, and show that they recognize the fault and ask for forgiveness. Denying the fault or rationalizing the fault only stunts their spiritual and moral growth. I don't want that for them, or for me (!), and it's certain that God doesn't want that either.

You've fallen down and skinned your knee. Go and tell your Father where it hurts. The antiseptic might sting a bit, but then you get a cool band-aid and a kiss to make it better. He hates to see you hurting.


Peace be with you!

Sandy

 

[Benedicta00]

Michelle, I thought you might like this - I read it from Frank Sheed, not sure which book and I am paraphrasing.

Pride is as you know the "mother of all sin"
Pride is when we tell God we are something other than what He wants us to be.
All other sin, is when we do something other than what God wants us to do.

I thought that was a great way to distinguish pride from other sins.

and when we don't want to go to confession regardless of the reason, it's because we want to think we are something we are not.

 

[stray bullet]

Have you ever avoided confession due to the fact that you know you will screw up again in the same manner?

I guess kind of like you feel that its dishonest to God or something like that?

Yep! I am going this Saturday, but I am thinking I 'shouldn't' because I'll just screw up again... it is as though I shouldn't bother confessing something until I am over it.

And I realize that sounds silly and wrong, but it is true.

At any rate, I just remember it isn't about putting something behind you forever, it is about trying to put something behind you forever. Confession really does help me, so even if I worry I will still do it, I can at least let God know I am sincerely trying...

 

[Wiffey]

Confession is the time to receive God's mercy: we need it all the more when we are in sin. Confession is a great gift. We are all sinners and we will continue to each struggle with certain sins until the end of our lives. Who among us can say they have conquered jealousy, anger, fear, and pride? The important thing is to Confess frequently and keep seeking to do God's will and to get up when we stumble. God will not reject a repentant & contrite heart.
Recently I have come to see, with the help of my Confessor, that ALL sin stems from a lack of love for God. When we do not love and trust God, we become fearful. And what do jealousy, anger, and pride feed on? Fear. (Fearing we will not have enough, that we won't be loved if we don't engage in sexual activity, fear that we will not be happy or get our own way.) Perfect love drives out fear and removes much of the motivation for sin, IMHO.
Going to Confession and recounting your spiritual battles is an opportunity for you to think about what might be at the root of the challenges you face. Then you will be well equipped, with the help of God's grace, to meet those challenges with a new awareness and resolve.
Sorry for rambling...

 

[geocajun]

and when we don't want to go to confession regardless of the reason, it's because we want to think we are something we are not.

so you didn't just fall in love with that explanation huh? I loved it. I plan to use it in my confirmation class

 

[3toraiseup]

Have you ever avoided confession due to the fact that you know you will screw up again in the same manner?

I guess kind of like you feel that its dishonest to God or something like that?

Reminds me of the gospel reading frol last Sunday. The two who were sent out into the fields and one said, "Yes!", but he never went. The other said, "No!", but eventually he found his way to the vineyard.

I know you know all this already, but it is worth repeating. When you confess your sins, you also make a covenant to TURN from your sins. When you search your heart, is it really a matter of not wanting to TURN, or just that you know you are human and in your weakness will fail again? If you are avoiding confession because you are not ready to turn from you sin, then I would say stay away. Otherwise, you are being hypocritical. However, (and I suspect the case is really this) if you are desiring to TURN with all your heart, but afraid you might fail, you need to go to confession. God makes us strong in our weakness. When we fall down, He carries us up on eagles wings. Take comfort in that knowledge. Remember that even Paul carried a "thorn" in his flesh and was thankful because he could see God working in him because of it.

 

[Michael G]

No, not for that reason. I don’t avoid going anymore, the more go the more you'll want to go, the more you realize you need to go.

It doesn’t really matter why you don’t want to go, the end result is it is always due to pride one avoids it. The devil temps you to prideful feelings and disguises them as shame, fear or what ever. If you are ashamed, that isn’t humility, that is pride worrying about what the priest is going to think of wonderful you. If it’s fear you’ll jut end up doing it over again, it’s pride not trusting in God’s grace to deliver you, you want to deliver yourself because you’re so wonderful.

You just have to get over all that and go.

I agree. Confession is not a legal thing. It is not here is my list of rules of God which I have broken to present to the Great Judge, God. It is more like spiritual surgery. It is the spiritually sick person (and we are all spiritually sick because not one of us is justifiable) going to the Great Physician of our Souls, God, and presenting him the areas and ways in our lives which fall short of total love for God. If you sin again in the same manner as you have already confessed, get back up on your feet, repent, pray harder that God will grant you the grace to avoid this sin, and trust in the fact that we have a loving God and we are all his children and he loves us dearly. A good confession can lift a million pounds off your soul and your mind.

 

[Epiphanygirl]

Confession is the time to receive God's mercy: we need it all the more when we are in sin. Confession is a great gift. We are all sinners and we will continue to each struggle with certain sins until the end of our lives. Who among us can say they have conquered jealousy, anger, fear, and pride? The important thing is to Confess frequently and keep seeking to do God's will and to get up when we stumble. God will not reject a repentant & contrite heart.
Recently I have come to see, with the help of my Confessor, that ALL sin stems from a lack of love for God. When we do not love and trust God, we become fearful. And what do jealousy, anger, and pride feed on? Fear. (Fearing we will not have enough, that we won't be loved if we don't engage in sexual activity, fear that we will not be happy or get our own way.) Perfect love drives out fear and removes much of the motivation for sin, IMHO.
Going to Confession and recounting your spiritual battles is an opportunity for you to think about what might be at the root of the challenges you face. Then you will be well equipped, with the help of God's grace, to meet those challenges with a new awareness and resolve.
Sorry for rambling...

You don't ramble! I always enjoy reading your heartfelt and insightful posts!
As for confession, I'm never afraid to go, it's the sin of laziness that keeps me from going
Now that I've confessed that, I feel better already!