your sins to a priest? Why can't you pray to the Lord youreslf? How can you have faith that your priest won't be the next one on the news getting arrested for his sins/crimes?
2006-07-02 16:56:41 · 18 answers · asked by kimsss717 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It sound like you may want to join a different church. In my religion you can confess your sins to the Lord without going to a priest. God wants to have a personal relationship with you.
2006-07-02 17:01:03 · answer #1 · answered by Kitty Katt 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think you are referring to a Catholic tradition. Certainly, there are many ways people atone for their sins. That is just one. I suppose someone might say that a certain group doesn't confess often enough or about the "right" sins, and so on. So, it's okay that Catholics go to their church and do that confession thing... They have no guarantees about the priest... I guess that is what having faith is all about.
2006-07-03 00:03:15 · answer #2 · answered by Lazy Charlie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im Catholic, but Ive stopped going to confession a LONG time ago. I found it useless. I would always say the same stuff to the priest and he always gave me the same penance. For the longest time now, I just pray to God before I go to bed and confess any sins that I may have.
2006-07-03 00:03:01 · answer #3 · answered by hapi82 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Priest is a trained facilitator of a conversation between you and God. I know that there are bad priests and there are good priests. On the average, more good than bad. What they can do is give you help with your link to God. They've practiced their whole career to do this. Just like a chef can cook a great dinner from the same scraps that you can't figure out, a priest can help you tell God what's on your mind.
2006-07-03 00:02:37 · answer #4 · answered by recoveringscientist 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the Catholics, I believe it is supposed to be an accountability. It's not that the priest can absolve you of your sins, it's that once you have confessed it with your mouth to another human, it makes you accountable to repent it. Does that make sense? I'm sure there is a Bible verse somewhere to suppot confessing by mouth.
But sure, talk to God direct, as often as possible. He's been missing you, remember, you are His precious child. :)
2006-07-03 00:03:22 · answer #5 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a Catholic thing to confess to a priest. I believe as a Christian if I confess by prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ He knows my heart and the forgiveness will follow.
2006-07-03 00:03:20 · answer #6 · answered by gentlebreeze 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Sikhism, a great emphasis is laid on Sat sang(intercessors or say priest).By joining congregational prayers and making contacts with saints the devotee comes to divine knowledge.The inspiration given by good people leads to development of the spiritual personality.H oly people preach purity through personal example and kindle the heart with universal love. They warn the individual of the five great vices.Psychologically, the association with holy men helps as a deterrent against evil thoughts and deeds. just as a tree which grows near a sandalwood tree acquire the fragrance of sandal in the same way , an ordinary man becomes ennoble and heroic in the company of holy men. In the company of The Truthful. a devotee learns the value of "The Truth".
Joining the company of saints, is also conducive to the discipline of the mind.One learns how to serve the community and work for the good of humanity.One acquires the technique of "The
Name" and and so comes to enjoy inner tranquility.According to Guru Nanak,"the company of saints is also the school of the Guru, where one learns Godly attributes."There evil is purged and destroyed, as if by a divine spark. Guru Arjan says, "The society of saints removes sin; the society of saints bring comforts in this world and next."
Again and again, in the Guru Granth Sahib , a Sikh is required to seek the company of noble souls. A man is known by the company he keeps.In good company, he becomes good and sheds his evil tendencies. He will learn to be ashamed of doing anything which may bring him reproach.
Man's actions are so often motivated by the herd instinct.He does certain things as a matter of social convention, if his society becomes an instrument of his progress, he can rise to greater heights. For this reason, the Sikh in his general prayer- the Ardas- seeks the company of the holy and to contact virtuous men -Sadh ka sang, Gurmukh da mel.(In the company of holy people one can find the God).
So you see, the mediator eases the way to the God.In Islam also every friday devout Muslims listen to the quranic stories and agree with the reciter that they have listened properly.
2006-07-04 09:50:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can confess your sins to a priest or to another Christian or only to God Himself. The Bible does say to confess your sins to one another but all forgiveness from sins ultimately comes from God. If you confess your sins to a priest, Christian or God without true sorrow and without a desire to change do you think your sins are forgiven? No. God wants true repentance and true worship. Belong to Him in your heart and the Holy Spirit will come and empower you to obey His commandments.
2006-07-03 00:08:09 · answer #8 · answered by J-Artist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to go to a priest. God hears your prayers and He wants you to confess your sins to Him, not necessarily to a priest.
2006-07-03 00:05:38 · answer #9 · answered by Elizabeth G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you dont need a preist to confess, just a person with whom you know is following the word of God. The Bible does teach us to confess our sins to one another it keeps us from hiding things and striving to be a united body of Christ. There are quite a few passages of scripture that teach on being cleansed from sins.
2006-07-03 00:05:05 · answer #10 · answered by glowchild7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋