Hi... I just wanted to know what exactly is the degree of impact of a confession upon a person's life in Christianity? Does going to confession redeem you of the sins you confessed or is it a step closer to forgiveness.
Secondly, do all Christian sects practice/believe in confession or just Catholics?
Thank you.
2007-01-10 15:32:55 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Catholic church takes the matter of sin very, very seriously, just as Christ and the apostles did.
In the Catholic Church, the priest has been authorized by God and his church to evaluate both the sins and the sinner, to determine if true contrition for sin is present, to determine if a firm purpose of amendment and a real chance of repentance exists, to make certain that all sins have been properly and completely confessed, and to proceed accordingly, offering absolute forgiveness from God for all offenses, or no forgiveness at all.
Due to the grace, power, and authority of the church, the requirements for absolution within the sacrament of reconciliation are also more lenient, yet still completely effective.
Other groups treat the matter of sin much more lightly. So much so that there is considerable doubt as to whether God's definitive standards for forgiveness are even met.
You are welcome.
2007-01-10 18:37:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
In the Catholic faith a person would go a booth to practice confession. Sitting and talking with the priest or father, you would confess your sins to him and leave your burden upon this man, expecting him to lift your sins to God.
In the Christian faith we do not do a formal confession , but look upon a more scriptural position where we would "carry one anothers burdens." Galations 6.2
many christian groups have aplace of prayer called the "altar", a kneeling rail down in the front of the sanctuary. Many will come to pray here during the service and if any need assisstance in prayer or someone to talk with before praying, there are other availble to help and pray, including the pastor.
Hope that helps some
Jesus Loves You
2007-01-10 15:44:50 · answer #2 · answered by revshankumc 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Confession as a practice differs among Christian religions. Confession is viewed by most as a step toward forgiveness. Confession can be done through prayer, to an individual or in my religion for serious sins to the Bishop. It is a step towards forgiveness and he cannot absolve one of sin, but rather gives counsel on how to continue the repentence process.
Catholics tend to use confession different and feel the priest can absolve them of their sins.
2007-01-10 15:37:26 · answer #3 · answered by whozethere 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholic here:
The sacrament of confession is one of the most blessed sacraments of the Church. Through this grace, we receive forgiveness for our sins, and healing. The sacrament reunites us with God. I was not always Catholic, previously having been a Jehovah's Witness. I went to my first confession in 15 years a while back; the confession was 2 pages long in small print. Everything that I had done wrong I confessed, even the most embarrassing and humiliating things. When I was finished, I heard the most beautiful words I'd heard in a long time, "I absolve you of yours sin, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
When I walked out of the confessional I felt like I was floating. My family said I looked white, as if I'd seen a ghost. For a while I actually couldn't believe that I'd been forgiven. It was the most foreign thing to me, the love that I was feeling. Knowing that God had washed away my sins, that I was in His graces... I felt I could have died right then and gone to my Father with a bursting heart.
It took me a while to understand that though my sins up to that point were no more, I still had to deal with the consequences of my actions. That was my penance. I am still healing from the past, but in my heart I have a quiet joy knowing that God forgave me. No matter what anyone else continued to say or think about me, God... forgave... me.
As far as other denominations, no, I'm not aware of others that practice confession. However, it would give me the greatest joy if they went to the Church and partook of this wonderful gift from God.
Thanks for your question. God bless and take care.
2007-01-10 15:48:26 · answer #4 · answered by Danny H 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As usual, most of these people are ignorant of what Catholics actually teach and believe about most things. Confession is the idea of being reconciled with God, as well as with the person/people we may have hurt. The priest is someone who helps people be reconciled with God, who is a channel of God's forgiveness. In other Christian sects confession is more personal and less formal than in the Catholic Church.
2007-01-10 15:44:45 · answer #5 · answered by keri gee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Confession is an act of disclosing one's sins. In Catholicism, it is telling sins to a priest and the Lord forgives the person through the priest.
Biblically, confession of sins is done to the one offended without the mediatorship of a priest.
2007-01-10 15:38:59 · answer #6 · answered by Jo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Peace!
Sorrow for love of God does forgive our sins even before we confess them, although if they are mortal we are bound to confess them as soon as possible.
A priest forgives sins by listening to a person's confession, giving him a penance and absolving him in the Name of the Trinity. This authority to forgive was given by Christ to his disciples and continues to this day just like baptism and other sacraments instituted by Jesus. (See Matt. 18,18; 16,19; John 20,22f; 2 Corinthians 5,18-18-20)
2007-01-10 15:53:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I go to confession because I want to be able to recieve the Eucharist with a clean heart and be reconciled with God.
Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to his own disciples
"Peace be with you. . . As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” (John 20: 19-23)
2007-01-10 16:03:48 · answer #8 · answered by paxicogirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We confess our sins but to no man. Man has no right to judge or forgive.
2007-01-10 15:38:04 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ONLY ONE who can forgive sins is GOD.... Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man... never does the bible say Mary is... but it says JEsus Christ is the mediator. Don't waste you time confessing to a man who sins like you and me... Go to Christ Jesus and ask for forgivness.....make sure you trust Christ for your salvation and nothing else.
2007-01-10 15:38:55 · answer #10 · answered by musingaloud 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋