Protestants: Regarding James 5:16?

Question

According to James 5:16, we are to confess our sins/faults/trespasses to one another, and pray for one another. At Mass, we Catholics pray:

"I confess to Almighty God
And to you my brothers and sisters,
That I have sinned through my own fault,
In my thoughts and in my words,
In what I have done, and what I have failed to do.
I ask Blessed Mary, ever virgin,
And all the angels and saints,
And you, my brothers and sisters,
To pray for me to the Lord our God."

How do you Protestants live out James 5:16, and how often?

http://bible.cc/james/5-16.htm

No, it is not "vain repetition." Don't forget Jesus went to synagogue regularly (Luke 4:16) where the service consisted of ritualized prayer, and our Lord prayed repetitiously in the garden (Matthew 26:44).

Jayson:

>>I think where we differ from Catholics is the belief that you have to be forgiven of man (priest).<<

We believe Jesus authorized agents to act in His name and forgive sin (John 20:21-23).

>>We also believe no man can get to heaven by his works.<<

As do we.

>>Correct me if IM wrong. But Catholics believe that salvation can be lost once gained and must be justified by works. Am I right? That is the diffrence, Baptist believe it is a gift freely given and can never be earned through works, and once gained can never be lost.<<

We do believe you can lose your salvation. That is just common sense to me; I can't imagine God dragging someone kicking and screaming into Heaven who doesn't want to be there! God respects our decision if we change our mind and decide we don't want to serve Him anymore.

Here's a link to what the Church teaches regarding justification. Note that we do not believe in justification by works.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm

Answer 1

Thank you, Meg. That is a very beautiful reflection on James 5:16. It makes me proud to be a Catholic! Indeed, we have the consolation of knowing that we pray for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. It makes me think of 1 John 4:11 : "Beloved, since God loved us so much, we ought also to love one another".

We also live out that love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Answer 2

IM a Baptist I confess every day to anyone that will listen that I have sinned. I try to give my sins every day to Jesus. I think where we differ from Catholics is the belief that you have to be forgiven of man (priest). We also believe no man can get to heaven by his works.

Romans 3: 21-28

Righteousness Through Faith
"21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law."

Correct me if IM wrong. But Catholics believe that salvation can be lost once gained and must be justified by works. Am I right? That is the diffrence, Baptist believe it is a gift freely given and can never be earned through works, and once gained can never be lost.

I believe Catholics are Christians too and will go to heaven too as long as they have accepted Christ as thier Savior.



p.s. well I respect your thought on the matter but we will just have to agree to disagree about loosing salvation. Hope to see you up there someday. God Bless you. :)

Wow I just read some of your other answers and have to say IM shocked by your lack of respect for me as a Baptist. Sad really

Answer 3

When I fellowship with my mentors (ladies who are farther along in their walk then I am).
We hold each other accountable for things, just as I hold my friends whom I mentor accountable. Meaning I check up on them and ask how are you doing with "xyz" situation and such?

I don't think just repeating a ritualized prayer does it, that is vain repetition and it forbidden in the Bible, yes? (BTW I'm not one of those people who thinks that Catholics are not Christians).