Confession of sins. James 5:16

I think we have to ask ourselves if confessing a sin publically will hurt someone else. Confession of those sins should be done to a trusted mature Christian if at all.

Confessing sins and being forgiven is what the Catholics have been doing all along. I thought it was nice the other day on the local TV a Catholic Church said their doors were open to receive confessions from anyone ... no membership required.


LOVE

that was nice. I always feel sorry for priests. I am not very good at keeping secrets--but I try really hard.!

Yes bananaman,

This is the catharsis process. It goes back to ancient times. A 'purging and purification' by opening up to one person, or even to a group of people. And, it is not limited to clergymen. Anyone you trust can be used as the cathartic 'listener'.

John

Well, I disagree with the Catholic idea of confession. The confession to GOD is what forgives-1 John 1:19.

But, we SHOULD, as shown in James 5:16, confess our sins to one another most definitely. But, like someone said above, you should only do it with someone you trust... and someone who is a believer who can minister strength to you.

As far as the Catholic confessions, they believe their priest offers that forgiveness of sin, and that's antiGod. Only God can forgive sins. He doesn't give someone else the authority to do it and neither does He do it THROUGH someone else. There is only one mediator between God and man and that is our High Priest forever, Jesus the Christ/Messiah.

So no, confession is not limited to clergymen, but it should be done with someone trustworthy and Christian most definitely. According to the world system, sure-anybody can listen. But, according to the God system, we should not sit in the seat of the scornful nor stand in the way of sinners-Psalm 1:1.

That is wonderful news and thanx for sharing...

Its good to be part of a church. But that dosn't mean a building- but a gathering of 2 or more people. Not only is confessing with them good, but also talking to someone helps a lot. God knows we need a physical lifeform there with us as well, because it is very hard to pray to someone we cant see, considering how stubborn we are sometimes. And it is true when you pray with another person you do feel so much better.

God bless

a4c

I think that it can be good to share your sinfullness with other people (I mean talking, not the actual act). However, some sins are too painful too talk about, or should be kept private for the sake of the people who have been wronged.

I also think you should think carefully about who you share you sin with as it could all to easily be turned into a subject for gossip.

Finally I feel it is important to reiterate what has been said before. It is God who forgives sins and only Him, it is only through God's grace that we can even think about being forgiven for the awful things that we do all too easily.

Your sister in Christ

Jay

There is a sacrament in the Orthodox Church called the sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a practice founded in Apostolic times and is part of the Apostolic Tradition. It is commonly called "confession". The priest does not usurp God's authority in any way, this is some myth that Protestants continue to believe. The practice is quite biblical, as Christ gave the Apostles (and their successors) the authority to remit sins.

It is quite freeing and wonderful, and the priest gives advice too, sort of like Christian "therapy". I heartily recommend it to all partakers! However, in the Orthodox Church you must be Orthodox to receive sacraments, and I'm surprised to hear the RCC is opening it up to nonmembers. Perhaps more as just "talking" and not sacramental?

besides confessing to a trusted mature christian, what James said also involves confessing to those you've sinned against. This way, it mends and strengthens relationship.

.

Originally posted by brewmama
There is a sacrament in the Orthodox Church called the sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a practice founded in Apostolic times and is part of the Apostolic Tradition. It is commonly called "confession". The priest does not usurp God's authority in any way, this is some myth that Protestants continue to believe. The practice is quite biblical, as Christ gave the Apostles (and their successors) the authority to remit sins.

It is quite freeing and wonderful, and the priest gives advice too, sort of like Christian "therapy". I heartily recommend it to all partakers! However, in the Orthodox Church you must be Orthodox to receive sacraments, and I'm surprised to hear the RCC is opening it up to nonmembers. Perhaps more as just "talking" and not sacramental?

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I really admire the Orthodox Churches.  I actually have a question also.  Is the basic procedure for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Orthodox Church the same as in the Catholic Church.  Also, do the Orthodox Churches make the same distinctions of mortal and venial sin.  I assumed they always did, but I just would like clarification. 

As far as the RCC opening the Sacrament of Reconciliation to those not in communion with the Church perplexes me and the validity of these confessions seems doubtful.  I would say it would have to be more of a "talking" thing as you put it.

Hey bananaman,

I don't necessarily agree with Catholic doctrine, but I don't disagree with it. I definately believe that we all have our own walks with god, so therefore we are not forced to confess our sins with the people, nor are we under the old testament law anymore so therefore we no longer need to be ceremonially cleaned. I do believe that we should confess our sins privately, but once again, that is between you and god.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in the time of need.

Notice how it never prescribes exactly how you draw near, but it does imply that we, christians, are all able to draw near.

Don't get me wrong, I think that its awesome that you are able to confess your sins and have your temptations decrease, but I'm just saying that it is not the only way. The body is very helpful but just remember, your walk with the Lord is your own, be lead by the spirit, not by the body. =D

Also, if you read the verse 5:16 in context, he doesn't say that this is the only way for you to alleviate your sin, so therefore if you are in sin, don't feel compelled to confess in front of everyone, just do it when your ready, but in the mean time, draw close to his throne through prayer, study, and whatever else. 

Just something from my walk though, a little prayer can go a long way in bringing you back to him.

In his grace and love =D

 

PS:  I really would not like to debate Catholic Theology, I agree with a certain amount of it, but there is parts which I disagree with.  Most of it, I can see the viewpoint and the scriptural background although some, I don't see it as the right viewpoint.

Just to add to the explanations here of how confession is not to the priest but to God, and forgiveness not from the preist, but from God... Christ ordained the Apostles when He breathed on them (the only other time it says God breathed is in Genesis when He gave man spirit), and said "receive ye the Holy Ghost":

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." Jn 20:22-23.

The Apostles ordained thier successors, the bishops. To this day when an Orthodox priest is ordained (I don't know about how Catholics do it), the bishop ordaining him breaths on him, and prays for him to receive the Holy Spirit.

We believe that in this Sacrament of Holy Orders the preist receivs the Holy Spirit in a very special way, and that this makes him able to be a minister of the Sacraments. The ordination lines go unbroken back to the Apostles, and through them to Christ. In Baptism we meet the Holy Spirit in the waters and by the working of the Holy Spirit we are cleansed from sin and restored. The Holy Spirit does this by working through the priest who is the minister of the sacrament, who received the Holy Spirit in this special way at ordination. Similarly in confession the person confesses their sins to God, witnessed by the priest, and then the priest says the prayer of absolution, and it is Christ who forgives the person, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who works through the priest. The preist does not say "I forgive you", but "God forgive you".

I don't have the text for the absolution after confession with me, but here's an absolution from the Liturgy, you can see that it is God who does the working, and not the priest:

priest: Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son and Logos of God the Father, Who has broken every bond of our sins through His saving, life-giving sufferings; Who breathed into the face of His holy Disciples and saintly Apostles, and said to them, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit. Whose sins ye will remit, they are remitted to them, and those which ye will retain, they shall be retained."
Thou also now, our Master, through Thine holy Apostles, hast given grace to those who for a tiem laboured in the preisthood in Thine Holy Church, to forgive sin upon the earth, and to bind and to loose every bond of iniquity.
Now, also, we ask and entreat Tye Goodness, Lover of mankind, for Thy servants, (signing the people once and twice) my fathers, and my brethren, (sigining himself) and my weakness; those who bow their heads before Thine Holy glory. Dispense unto us Thy mercy, and loose every bond of our sins, and, if we have committed any sin against Thee, knowingly or unknowingly, or through anguish of heart, or in deed, or in word, or from faint-heartedness, do Thou, the Master, Who knows the weakness of men, as a Good One, and a Love of mankind, O God, grant us the forgiveness of our sins; (signing himself) bless us, (signing the clergy) purify us; make us absolved, (signing the congregation) and all Thy peole absolved. (Here he mentions the names of those whom he wishes to remember.)
Fill us with Thy fear, and straighten us unto Thine holy, good will, for Though art our God, and the glory, and the honour, and the domintion, and the adoration are due to Thee, together with Thy Good Father and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, Who is of One Essence with Thee, now, and at all times, and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

great stuff, man was that good stuff Praise God Halleluia

Anyone know anything about a part in the Bible that says we should confess our sins to a few people but no more than 6??! Someone was apparently told that by her (Christian) counselor/therapist, but I can't find any reference for that...??

Thanks!

cool: that’s a new one on me since the early church often made public confession before the whole congregation.

I think where they are getting this notion is from the instructions on how to approach a brother who is in sin - first as an individual, then with a few witnesses THEN to the whole body all subject to a lack of repentance.

i confessed my sins to another beliver at my church,but the very next day as i arrived at church to speak with my pastor with my bible in hand i was arrested by the police and excommunicated from the church.

Troas said:

i confessed my sins to another beliver at my church,but the very next day as i arrived at church to speak with my pastor with my bible in hand i was arrested by the police and excommunicated from the church.

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wow that's deep

"i confessed my sins to another beliver at my church,but the very next day as i arrived at church to speak with my pastor with my bible in hand i was arrested by the police and excommunicated from the church."

As a Catholic, I know that would never happen, as priests are sworn to keep anything said in confession in the strictest confidence, regardless even of personal penalty to them. Not that it is bad to confess your sins to a trusted christian, but apparently there are risks. Many of you also mentioned the possible spread of gossip as a risk. Also, it seems to me that a regular christian would have no power to remit or retain sins, so it is not the same thing referred to in John 20: 22-23. What do protestants make of that scripture? I think CopticOrthodox did a good job explaining the catholic and orthodox position on it.