In the NT it says that no one goes to the Father except through Jesus. When it comes to confessing our sins to God, we go to Jesus to confess, who in turn informs His Father, God. How does confessioning our sins to a priest come in? Do Catholics confess to a priest who in turns informs Jesus who in turn informs His Father, & then your sins are forgiving?
2007-08-26 10:53:44 · 24 answers · asked by ZORRO 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you're a Catholic, you go into the confessional & behind the wood screen, you say, "Father, forgive me for I have sinned." Then the priest gives the sinner absolution by having him or her recite an x number or Hail Marys and/or Our Fathers or something else as sort of punishment (a good punishment) for the sins. The sins are mentioned to the priest at the beginning. This may be right for Catholics, yet the Bible says different. I have nothing against priests. I've attended their churches many, many times even though I'm not Catholic.
2007-08-26 12:49:57 · update #1
You never confess your sins to another person which they would offer up with their prayers. That's nonsense!
2007-08-26 16:19:54 · update #2
i am not a Catholic but its Jesus who is the mediator between man and God. i don't need a priest to talk with God. That was the whole point of the cross. to get ride of human priests and open the communication between God and humanity. Remember, that after Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple ripped from the top to the bottom. it symbolized that people have access to God without priests. And remember when Jesus was talking to the Sumerian women. they were discussing where is the right place to worship God. Jesus told her that a time is coming when a true worshiper will worship in spirit and truth. there is no need for a temple, mountain, or priest. How great is that!!!
2007-08-26 11:08:03 · answer #1 · answered by Ilona 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the Bible is read every day of the year in Masses around the world. There are four (sometimes only 3) readings from the Bible in each Mass. First reading is an Old Testament reading, then a Psalm, then a New Testament reading (not a Gospel reading), and finally a Gospel reading. The Mass is divided into two main parts, the Liturgy of the Word (when the Bible readings are read), and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, part of the Last Supper is recited by the priest, Matthew 26:26-28. That is, according to Catholic belief, when the priest consecrates the bread and wine into the Holy Eucharist. During a period of 3 years, the entire Bible is read in the Mass. Mass is said daily in every country of the world. There is a 3 yr scriptural cycle (I forgot the name of this cycle, if any). If you go to Mass every day for 3 yrs straight, you will have heard the entire Bible, Old Testament and New Testament. Do Catholics read the Bible? In the Mass, yes, daily. In private, many do. It depends on the person. Before Vatican II, Catholics were not encouraged to read the Bible as much as they are today. Nowadays, yes, Catholics are very much encouraged to read the Bible daily. True! I was a devout Catholic from 1987 to 2000. Bible reading was encouraged very much.
2016-05-18 21:11:27 · answer #2 · answered by carmelita 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The priest is a middle man that the Catholic church made up for you to confess to.
No where in the Bible dose it say that. It says that ALL prayers are to God only.... To no one else. Exodus 20:3-4. God takes all the prayers. Jesus is handling most else. It gives God some relieve.
John 4: 24 "God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth."
John 5:22 "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the son."
2007-08-26 11:07:14 · answer #3 · answered by geessewereabove 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus empowered the apostles and their successors to forgive sins in his name.
The process eventually became an official sacrament of the church ... and EVERY sacrament is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The priest facilitates the process ... "sitting in" for Jesus, who remains our High Priest, and the one mediator between God the Father, and man.
Joh 20:20 And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.
Joh 20:21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.
Joh 20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
Joh 20:23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
All of this is the result of Christ's singular and totally unique propitiatory sacrifice, which provides all the necessary grace.
And since Jesus was given all power in heaven, on earth, and under the earth ... and since Jesus and his Father are one ... Jesus really doesn't have to go to anyone else ... for permission to forgive our sins ... no matter what some people might claim.
2007-08-26 11:34:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No!!!Read I John1:9.
There is a passage in James 5:16-" Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." This is not to a priest but to fellow Christian's that send their prayers to God along with your prayers.
2007-08-26 11:49:31 · answer #5 · answered by RK 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought we confess our sins to the almighty God the father and ask the prayer in the name of Jesus are ransomer and redeemer. So all prayers are directed to the father and how the priest comes in is anyone's guess.
2007-08-26 11:00:17 · answer #6 · answered by Steven 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes, catholics do confess to a priest who unfortunately is a carnal sinful man just like us and cannot grant you absolution.
Your right about John 14: 6, all you need to get to God is Jesus! no saints, no middlemen, no virgin! Just Jesus!
2007-08-26 15:45:30 · answer #7 · answered by jojo9 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
THE ONLY Mediator between GOD and Man is Jesus Christ.
Nowhere, in God's Holy Word , are we commanded to confess our sins to one person so they can tell Jesus and Jesus can tell God.
we are told to pray for one another and to confess our faults to one another , so that we can pray for each other . BUT this doesnt mean that , that person or persons become our mediator between us.
No one on earth has any power to forgive or tell us our sins are forgiven ONLY God can forgive our sins no earthly human being has been given that power EVER
2007-08-26 11:02:09 · answer #8 · answered by Penny Mae 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Just confess them in private pray to god through the sons name. Unless It is a major sin or a reoccurring problem them maybe ask for help and advice from someone in your congregation in a position of leadership.
2007-08-26 11:07:33 · answer #9 · answered by pestie58 the spider hunter 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Back in the day Catholic's did not believe they were worthy to talk to God directly, so it was the Priest's job. It has now changed. It may also be that it helps to talk to someone about your problems/sins, someone who you can trust, that was their belief.
2007-08-26 11:03:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋