2006-09-28 07:43:04 · 40 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
I think this passage suggests that confessing to another human serves an important function. God hears the confession either way, but this kind of confession demonstrates courage and humility.
While confession is a clear acknowledgement of guilt, we all believe God already knows what we've done, and exactly how guilty we actually feel about our transgressions.
Confessing to others might seem unnecessary after knowing this, but confessing one's sins to others, rather than the private comfortable secretive one-on-one with God proves that one is humble and obedient, and acknowledges a responsibility to society.
2006-09-28 07:50:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are several good reasons to confess to a priest:
After He rose from the dead, Jesus gave His disciples the authority and power to forgive or retain sins (John 20: 21 - 23). In order for the disciples to forgive or retain sins, they must hear the confession of another person.
Confessing to a priest is an exercise in humility, which is needed in order to be truly sorry for ones sins to be forgiven.
Sin is an offense to God and fellow members of the Body of Christ. If I sin and harm my relationship with God or others, I have been a poor example to all people and I need to ask forgiveness from the community. The priest is a representative of that community.
When you confess to a priest, it is an opportunity to get spiritual advice on how to refrain from sinning again.
When you confess to the same priest each time, you have someone who will hold you accountable for what you do.
When you confess to a priest, you get to hear the most wonderful words, "Go in peace. You are forgiven"
Even if you are not a Catholic, I suggest you confess your sins to your spiritual advisor.
Please contact me if anyone has any questions or comments.
2006-09-28 07:52:28 · answer #2 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
All sins should be confessed and asked forgiveness from God.
Now depending on the sin, there could be others that you may want to ask forgiveness from. If you have harmed or hurt anothers feelings, then you should also ask that person for forgiveness.
I guess the only time that you would want to confess to a priest is if you had stolen from him or hurt his feelings in some way.
Jesus said the only way to the father is through the son, not the priest or any other living breathing sinful human flesh like our own.
2006-09-28 07:51:12 · answer #3 · answered by cindy 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says that one should confess to both the community and to God. The priest is not serving as a substitute for god, he's the substitute for the whole community -- could you imagine how long church services would last if every single person had to stand up and list their sins for the previous week?
2006-09-28 07:47:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You confess to God with a priest as a witness and to help with any problems.
2006-09-28 07:46:26 · answer #5 · answered by travelguruette 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both:
To God:
1 John 1:9 (King James Version) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Nehemiah 1:6
let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father's house have sinned.
To other men:
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
And at least with a priest you get confidentiality.
2006-09-28 07:57:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
To God himself! Christ's death on the Cross took away the need to get 'absolution" from a priest. The Apostle Paul said, "behold, I go before the Throne of Grace BOLDLY", meaning he could approach God himself and petition Him for his needs.
2006-09-28 10:10:12 · answer #7 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One should confess to God Himself, but the way Jesus provided for doing that is through the ministry of His priesthood. Jesus, after breathing on the apostles, the first priests of His Church, indicating a special outpouring of the Spirit upon them, told them "whose sins YOU forgive, they are forgiven them". The Apostles had the divine charism of forgiving sins but they did not have the power to read minds. Therefore the only way they could use this divine power Jesus had given them was if people confessed their sins to the one with the power to forgive them in Jesus' name, the priest.
Why confess to another sinner? Well, why be baptized by another sinner? Why listen to another sinner preach or teach about God? Why receive Christian counsel from another sinner? Because God assigned other sinners to pastoral positions, that's why. And He expects us to make use of the gifts He has given us in such individuals. If you don't interact with other sinners you don't interact with anyone.
2006-09-28 07:51:16 · answer #8 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You needn't go to a priest, because our High Priest, Jesus Christ, goes directly to God for us. Take your issues up with God, pray and confess to Him. After all, no priest can forgive you for your sins. Only God can, and through Christ, He will if you repent of your sins (that is, realize how evil sins are, turn away from them and change your ways, and ask forgiveness for them).
2006-09-28 07:51:02 · answer #9 · answered by seraphim_pwns_u 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Skip the middleman. Confess directly to God.
I John 1:9
2006-09-28 07:47:55 · answer #10 · answered by Char 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋