On God and Confession?

Question

Right now, I don't know whether I believe in God or not. There's evidence for both sides.

I'm very frightened by going to hell though, and I've read many times that you can't get to heaven unless you truly believe, regardless of your behavior. This doesn't seem very "fair." How am I supposed to force myself to believe something that completely goes against common sense.

I do pray though. Sometimes I pray that God will show himself to me in some way, so that way I'll know for a fact that he exists. However, I'm afraid that if he exists, he's not hearing my prayers because they are somewhat half-hearted because of my questioning of his existance. They have an air of "If you really do exists, please listen to this."

I've read athesists go to hell because their sins are not forgiven because they don't go to Confession. If I was to go to confession, would God find this acceptable? Would he forgive me even though I question his existance and I feel that I might be confessing to nobody?

Answer 1

Do not fret, everyone at some time has doubts. It comes from the gift of free will. I suggest you read the bible and seek answers from others and let God speak to you (kinda like you are doing)

As far as Confession goes:

Catholics did not "make up" the act of confessing to a priest, Christ instituted it:

John 20:19-23:
(KJV, Capitals in lieu of red lettering)
"Then came the day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, PEACE BE UNTO YOU. Ans when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, PEACE BE UNTO YOU: AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, EVEN SO SEND I YOU. 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"

A more modern, and most Biblical Scholars will agree more accurate translation from the Greek, the St Joseph's Translation (also known as the New American Bible, the translation used by the Catholic Church in America) reads as this:

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them "Peace be with you". When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you". And when he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain are retained".

Clearly Christ was giving the disciples an instruction to go out and forgive sins in the name of the Father. He gave the disciples the power to forgive sins through the reception of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were the apostles who through Apostolic Succession became the Bishops and Priests of today.

I have read just about every translation of the Bible and cannot find any contradictory passages. This includes interlinear and latin and greek.

The early church practiced the Sacrament of Reconcilliation (Confession) in public, that is everyone confessed their sins openly in front of the entire Church. The practice of private confession came about in Ireland during the Middle Ages as a result of taunting and ridicule and persecution of sinners at the hands of their fellow Christians.

There is much more to be said about this subject and if you want to discuss it more please feel free to drop me an email.

Answer 2

Well the first thing is to have a sense that you are a sinner. If you do not have that, then you will not have much to say to God. If you feel, though, that you need him, even if you doubt his existence, just pray for him to forgive your sins and to show you his Holy Spirit. I cannot tell you how to "find" God, you have to come to know the Spirit, only then will you know God. But the situation you are in is when most people take a "leap of faith" as the saying goes. But once you become familiar with the Spirit, if you do at all, then you will no longer be living by faith but by experience.

Answer 3

From your comments, I believe you are of a Catholic faith background. You are questioning your belief system and attempting to coordinate that which you have heard and read with how you "feel". To do so is commendable and, indeed, necessary if one is to come to any truly useful conclusion to the matter. God will certainly NOT hold that against you.
The Bible does say that there is a broad way to walk through this life...and a narrow way as well. The latter is the least trod, for certain, but it is the way to salvation. Few will follow it and you have to decide for yourself if you are up to it. The ramifications of your decision are critical.
To know that there is a God, I step out on a moonlit night and view all the stars and constallations...that alone, for me, reaffirms that there is One who made me and is still in charge of what happens to me.
I am not of the Catholic faith, but I fully respect the stand that the church takes. Personally, I would also be uncomfortable confessing to another mortal man. My Bible is clear that this is not useful or even necessary. If you want to pursue that idea farther, click on my icon and email me...we'll chat with some helpful Scripture.
Will God forgive you? Only God can answer that. Each one of us, individually, have the inherant capacity to know deep inside where we are in relation to God. He has instilled within us our own personal spiritual GPS system. Sadly, The difficulty comes when we refuse to deal with how we look to ourselves during those introspective moments of self-analysis.

Answer 4

I'm fuzzy on your 'evidence for both sides.' I have not seen any evidence at all for the existence of God. Plenty for how unlikely one might be.

Prayer does nothing and you have been proving that to yourself for some time now.

As for confession, there is NOTHING in the Bible that says tell your secrets to a priest. The Catholics made that up (you figure out why). IF there is a God and He is all knowing, then he knows what you did and how you feel about it without any middle man.

God may or may not be nonsense but religion CERTAINLY is and confession is all the proof of that you need.

Answer 5

Regardless of your behavior does NOT mean you can willingly continue to sin, thus disobey God. You seem to be attempting to have faith, understand, pray etc ON YOUR OWN!! The Lord said the Word (Bible) seems foolish to our human understanding as it seems to be for you. It is thru the Holy Spirit that we can understand, pray, and receive the gift of faith. So, first, ask Jesus into your heart with sincerity, repent and be WILLING TO CHANGE, forgive anyone that you harbor anger, bad feelings towards and finally obey the Lord. With this personal relationship with Jesus, will come the Faith you need to believe. The Lord will remove the doubt veil that's covering your eyes and will open your ears so that you will hear Truth and open your heart for the Holy Spirit to dwell. Be careful of the roaring lion (satan) who comes to rob, steal and destroy your newfounded faith. Satan will tempt you more as a new believer. He wants to take as many people to hell with him (after the final judgment) as he can, but "If God be for us, who can be against us"?(biblical). Means that if you are a true christian, NO ONE can pluck you out of the Saviors hands, but you must use the Word as a weapon when satan tries to tempt you. Prayer is a powerful weapon against the enemy. The Lord promises He will never leave or forsake you. If your heart is ready to receive the Lord, force won't even be an issue for you. Confession is between you and God. When Jesus died, the curtain was torn, thus we no longer need to go thru a priest, or any other man to receive forgiveness. Jesus is our intercessor to God(biblical). Remember, Jesus loves you just the way you are, but refuses to leave you that way. Don't doubt the Lord (this doubt is from satan). TODAY is the day of salvation. Don't put it off. Praise God for your desire to believe.

Answer 6

You need to seek for God as well as pray that He will reveal Himself to you. Read the Bible and pray. Find good Bible studies to help you understand. These are some of the best I've seen:

http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/study_guides.asp

Pray each step of the way as you seek Him. It's OK to have questions about Him; He will answer what you need to know to have a relationship with Him, but you need to seek for Him.

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
Luke 11:9-13

"Who (God our Savior) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:4

Answer 7

we believe......a survey of the catholic faith by oscar lukefahr,c.m has a good explanation of confessions,a catechism will also help,to expalin the concept to you would take some time and alot of space so i will give you these references

scripturecatholic.com
salvationhistory.com
catholicanswers.com
fisheaters.com

and ofcourse the bible.

so far it seems that you want god through fear of hell,try seeing his love for you and that he,if you allow him to,offers you eternal life. despite some answers you may receive going to a priest is very important the references i have given will elaborate more on this.

Answer 8

Only God can forgive sins, and you can only obtain God's forgiveness if you are seriously penitant.

If you don't believe in God, you cannot seriously ask him for anything.

All you can do now is pray for God to open your eyes and send the Holy Spirit to dwell with you.

Answer 9

My heart is open to the lord and he knows my sins of which i repent of daily. Lord i am a sinner and with an open heart i repent of them forgive me.

Answer 10

You must be a Catholic to receive absolution in Confession, if that's what your talking about.