Better safe than sorry. Unsure on sins/ confession

[Pepbug]

I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on this. ..trying to learn about Christianity theres so much to it! Do you think God would mind if I confessed to something that I myself thought was a sin but to God it wasn't actually seen as a sin ..maybe I had misunderstood or been hard on myself. Do you think it's just best to cofness anyway if ever in doubt? Like there's no consequences to confessing to something you thought was a sin but god thinks its not..would He wonder why you are confessing as he doesn't class it as sinful? He wouldn't be mad for you notknowing would he? Sounds ridiculous but I'm trying to understand confession completely. So yeah the question is would he be angry and is there any consequence to confessing to something you think is a sin but god wouldn't class it as one? Please give as much opinion as poss to help me learn

 

[orangeness365]

So this passage in the Bible is about food, but I think it applies to other things as well. If it is a sin in your mind and you do it, then it is not out of faith and probably something you should confess to God. It's better to be safe than sorry. I don't think we have to have a perfect record of confessions, but it is good to try to confess and repent when you can. That doesn't mean you have to do it 24/7, but doing it often is probably a good idea. There's no penalty for confessing.



Romans 14:13-23

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

13Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

20Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.c 22The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.d

 

[ldonjohn]

I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on this. ..trying to learn about Christianity theres so much to it! Do you think God would mind if I confessed to something that I myself thought was a sin but to God it wasn't actually seen as a sin ..maybe I had misunderstood or been hard on myself. Do you think it's just best to cofness anyway if ever in doubt? Like there's no consequences to confessing to something you thought was a sin but god thinks its not..would He wonder why you are confessing as he doesn't class it as sinful? He wouldn't be mad for you notknowing would he? Sounds ridiculous but I'm trying to understand confession completely. So yeah the question is would he be angry and is there any consequence to confessing to something you think is a sin but god wouldn't class it as one? Please give as much opinion as poss to help me learn

Pepbug, after reading your post I have a question. Please don't be offended but may I ask what is the basis for your Christianity? How do you know your sins are forgiven and your eternity will be in heaven?

Don

 

[ViaCrucis]

I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on this. ..trying to learn about Christianity theres so much to it! Do you think God would mind if I confessed to something that I myself thought was a sin but to God it wasn't actually seen as a sin ..maybe I had misunderstood or been hard on myself. Do you think it's just best to cofness anyway if ever in doubt? Like there's no consequences to confessing to something you thought was a sin but god thinks its not..would He wonder why you are confessing as he doesn't class it as sinful? He wouldn't be mad for you notknowing would he? Sounds ridiculous but I'm trying to understand confession completely. So yeah the question is would he be angry and is there any consequence to confessing to something you think is a sin but god wouldn't class it as one? Please give as much opinion as poss to help me learn

I think you're trying to think of God as an accountant or like He's got a pair of scales weighing your sins. That's not who God is.

The reason we can freely confess our sins isn't because He's there with balancing scales waiting to see if there's some way we can mess up and He can get us; it's because He loves us and--in Jesus Christ--freely forgives us of all our sin. We can confess because He loves us, because He is kind and merciful. One important dimension of confession is that soothes our conscience--and if your conscience is bothered, then yes take it to God, but because He is good and kind.

There's a scene in the 2003 movie Luther wherein Martin Luther when he was still a monk has a conversation with his confessor John Staupitz, Staupitz says to Martin, "Your sins are so very boring, Brother Martin" or something to that effect. It highlights the fact that Martin Luther was a man plagued by the terror of his sins, it is Staupitz his superior in the Augustinian Order who is a major catalyst in trying to get the troubled Luther to look to Christ for comfort, instead of seeing in Jesus an angry judge (that was true in history, not only in the movie here).

-CryptoLutheran