Another one for you??

Question

First of all thank you all for answering my last question. Even though I'm a believer Im not a basher of those who dont beleive (I married one) My hubby and I have decided that the children dont need there first communion. I dont realy believe that I need to speak to a priest about my sins and of course neither does my hubby. Well my father is a deacon and he has really been getting on my back about this one..What is the best way to explain to him that my kids can just pray to speak to god instead of going to confesion. And that first comunions really arent that important to my husband and I just as long as they have knowlege of our faith(my faith). What is the least harshest way to break this to my father? Please dont be biased in your comments.

Answer 1

I don't think there is a kind way to put it. Just say it. He will be disappointed, But there's no way to help it.

I'm an unbeliever. My mother is a believer but, just like you, she doesn't agree with her church 100%. In fact, I don't think she has been to a church in the last 30-40 years or so, other than to take her mother there. And my grandmother (my mum's mum) was a sincere Christian. She never accepted that my mother walked away from her church, and that I and my brother don't even believe in god. But she had to accept it. I guess that the fact that my brother and I are not too bad people, and that we stand for about the same values (minus the strictly religious ones) as she stood, may have helped.

In your case, it may be different, if your father is a deacon. But eventually what he will care about is that his grandchildren are good people. He'll take comfort in that...

Answer 2

I am not here to bash Roman Catholicism, but this teaching directly contradicts the main message of the New Testament. The good news is not that God doles out forgiveness week by week through a priest prescribing penance--but that God grants you complete and permanent forgiveness once and for all when you confess your guilt before him and receive Christ's full payment for it (read Rom. 5:1). This is the basis for all biblical confession to other people. When you have received Christ and know that God now accepts you apart from your works (including rituals like this), you can afford to be honest with him and other people. If you want to experience the benefits of confession to other people (and there are many, as we will see), you first need to experience the benefit of God's complete forgiveness.

The second most prevalent misconception is that "since God alone ultimately forgives sin, there is no need for confession to others." This is the Protestant over-reaction to the Roman Catholic error. Confession should always begin with God because all sin is first and foremost cosmic treason--an act of rebellion against God (Ps. 51:4). But the Bible teaches that we should often confess our sins to other people (Jas. 5:16) for reasons we'll discuss in a moment. To use God's forgiveness as an excuse for not confessing to others betrays a serious misunderstanding of God's grace.

This same passage corrects another widespread misconception: "Only professional Christians should handle confessions." With many people, this professional is the pastor or priest--the old unbiblical clergy-laity distinction. With others, this professional is the counselor--the new priests of our therapeutic culture.

You may need some special advice from vocational Christian workers for special issues, but you need to get to the point that you experience the liberating comfort and power of confessing most of your sins to other Christian friends. Jas. 5:16 does not say "to the professional"--but "to one another." All Christians should be involved in reciprocal confession whenever it is needed. Otherwise, you will lead a defeated Christian life.

This is one of the most practical ways to gauge whether your involvement in Christian community is on a biblical level. Are you involved enough with other Christians that you are sharing your sins and defeats with them and asking them for help? Are you involved enough that they do the same with you? Then you aren't involved enough--and you're missing out on one of the most wonderful provisions God makes for your spiritual growth.

Be Blessed and Blessed Be

Answer 3

Tell him that you can agree on one thing, that you disagree about how to carry out your duties to your God. And leave it at that. Ask him where in the Bible God says you have to confess your sins to a priest, and go to catechism and dress in white some Sunday for Mass and take the Host with the whole frigging church staring at you?
Then take your children to a church that offers the Eucharist (Baptist, Methodist, etc) and have your children receive it there.

Answer 4

Ugh, he's a deacon? That's a tough one. Maybe tell him you think they're too young to appreciate the significance of the sacraments, and you're just going to wait until they get a little older? And then keep waiting?
Good luck =)

Answer 5

why dont you believe you need to speak to a priest about your sins? dont think it would be a good idea to talk to someone so close to Christ and the Father? not to mention, its a blessed sacrament! whatever, its your call when it comes down to it, so God bless.

Answer 6

Explain it to him the way you explained it too us and if he cant except it so be it. After all you aren't worried what God thinks so why worry what your father thinks? Not trying to be rude just truthful. Peace too you.

Answer 7

SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER

FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS;
WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL, TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME-1 Tim 2:5,6.
WHOSOEVER DENIETH THE SON, THE SAME HATH NOT THE FATHER: (BUT) HE THAT ACKNOWLEDGETH THE SON HATH THE FATHER ALSO-1 Jn 2:23.
(For) HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON OF GOD HATH THE WITNESS IN HIMSELF: HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT GOD HATH MADE HIM A LIAR; BECAUSE HE BELIEVETH NOT THE RECORD THAT GOD GAVE OF HIS SON.
AND THIS IS THE RECORD, THAT GOD HATH GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON.
HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE; AND HE THAT HATH NOT THE SON OF GOD HATH NOT LIFE-1 Jn 5:10-12.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD IS COME, AND HATH GIVEN US AN UNDERSTANDING, THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM THAT IS TRUE, AND WE ARE IN HIM THAT IS TRUE, EVEN IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS THE TRUE GOD, AND ETERNAL LIFE-1 Jn 5:20.

AND JESUS CAME AND SPAKE UNTO THEM, SAYING, ALL POWER (or authority) IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH-Mt 28:18.
THAT ALL MEN SHOULD HONOUR THE SON, EVEN AS THEY HONOUR THE FATHER. HE THAT HONOURETH NOT THE SON HONOURETH NOT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT HIM-Jn 5:23.

THERE IS ONE BODY, AND ONE SPIRIT, EVEN AS YE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING-Eph 4:4.
ALL THINGS ARE DELIVERED UNTO ME OF MY FATHER: AND NO MAN KNOWETH THE SON, BUT THE FATHER; NEITHER KNOWETH ANY MAN THE FATHER, SAVE THE SON, AND HE TO WHOMSOEVER THE SON (which is also the Word) WILL REVEAL HIM-Mt 11:27. The Son reveals Him. It may be said also, the Word reveals the Father.

NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED-Acts 4:12.
JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME-Jn 14:6.
(And) BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS-Ro 3:24

Answer 8

I don't know your dad, so I wouldn't know the best approach. Don't get angry, but be firm about your beliefs. Be prepared that he WILL get angry and will not agree with your methods.

Answer 9

i don't know looks like your father controls your life

Answer 10

explain this to your father just as you did to us.