why confess.....?

Question

why confess to somebody you dont know ??? like a "priest" i haven't confessed since i was 8 i am 23 now ....

Answer 1

According to the bible if you are a Christian then you are a priest and therefore you confess only to God with the exception of becoming a christian then that confession is just saying you believe Jesus to be the son of God, not confessing your sins.

BB

Answer 2

Princess, The real "plan of salvation" is confession, repentance and reforming one's behavior. Independent of the mythology and dogma, this is good sound mental hygiene.



Confession to man or "god" is less important that confession to yourself. The thing is that a person won't correct his/her behavior if they won't admit it is wrong, causes problems, etc.



Repentance, is simply recognizing that one has screwed up and regretting it. It is made simple by the fact that real "sin" isn't punished by some big nobodaddy master puppeteer in the sky, it brings about its own disasterous result. That is, we aren't punished "for" our sins, we are punished "by" our sins.



Reform is more problematic. Often our counter-productive behavior is done out of habit or deep-seated psychological conditioning. (think of the mind as an operating system, and as "sinful" behavior as a bad, corrupted program.) One of the best tactics is to replace a bad habit with a good one. Another good one is learning to be aware. That is the heart Buddhism, (which, by the way, was not intended as a "religion" and the Buddha pointedly denied his divinity.)



Peace. Confess to yourself as needed.

Answer 3

I was raised Catholic. I have always felt better after confession (I've only gone twice). Is not jus confessing, the priest gives you advice about it. Is pretty much like therapy except is free. I have left the church recently but if you still consider yourself Catholic then maybe you should go. Is your choice, you don't have any obligation to it. I guess I still have a soft spot for Catholicism.

Answer 4

Read 1 John 1:7:10. We say our confession to men, and confess them to God.

Answer 5

The trouble with priests, which you could also find with a pastor of a non-Catholic Christian path, is that they are given too much power for a human being to handle correctly in all situations. Placed in that position, you are going to find a fair number high on their own authority, or at least not totally pure speakers of Truth. Again, people need to go deeper within instead of deeper without to have a relationship with God.

Answer 6

what a contradiction!



why confess?



that in itself is a good question...



if those of you who are religious follow the "word of God," how come you find the need to confess sins, should you not be making sins in the first place??



partake in a sin (which is bound to hurt someone, maybe not directly, but nonetheless will hurt someone) then ask for forgiveness for doing such?

Answer 7

That is a matter of faith. You must trully have faith in what ever religion uses confessions to get pardon for the sins you have committed.



Of course, Catholics and Orthodoxs are not the only religions that practice confessions.

Answer 8

confess nothing to anyone! i went to a church before that had a cop in the membership. everytime someone gave a testimony about how jesus changed their life, this little cop would head to the cop shop and run a warrant check to see if there was a chance he could arrest the guy that gave the testimony. confess nothing to no one!

Answer 9

When it comes to sin, such confession is not meant for anyone but God. A man cannot forgive sin - only God can. The idea of a priest giving absolution is completely contrary to scripture.



Now, there is a type of confession we do with one another - these would be the types of sins we need help with. For example, a man I once knew revealed he had a problem with pornography. It was so serious, he was using computers at work, on working time, to "fill" his need. Once he lost his job (a really good job, too), he realized that he was in deep trouble. He went to his pastor and revealed everything after having gone to God in repentance. His pastor spent some time counselling him in order to get him on track again, as well as counsel for his wife and family. So, for this type of instance, it was good this man confessed to someone in authority.



However, confession to man does not bring forgiveness. If a person has given their life to Jesus, having accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, this same person can go to God directly without the aid of anyone. It says in the Bible that "there is only one Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus now gives me the same privilege as a priest (like the priests of the old Levitical order), in that I can go to God for anything, any reason, any time.

Answer 10

in the catholic ideology confession is literally good for the soul. when you confess to the priest you are not only admitting that you've done wrong but are asking for forgiveness and the priest by interceding with god and by giving you things to do as atonement, such as our fathers and hail Mary's, can grant you that absolution. i think you kinda have to mean though for it to really work.

Answer 11

You shouldn't, unless you want to somehow ease your mind. But even then, it should be someone you know and trust. Not someone who remains concealed behind a partion. Confession, as a theistic ritual, is cultish and just plain disgusting. Share your life experiences with someone close... not someone who may or may not have molested little children.

Answer 12

Its not necessary to confess to a priest, he cant forgive your sins, there is only one mediator between God and man and that is Christ, that is scripture. Confess to Christ and find a bible based church-- I see I have gotten some thumbs down for my answer so let me explain my point.



1 Tim 2:5-6, For there is only ONE God and ONE mediator who can reconcile God and humanity- the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everybody.



Though some people think there are many ways to God, in practise, each person must choose a single way. We can stand on one side of a gorge and discuss the possibility of many bridges across the abyss, but if we are determined to cross, we will have to commit to one bridge.



This scripture uses the terms ONE God, and ONE mediator. Religion can find a way to make other scriptures fit into their doctrines but the bible is the final authority. I would say to those "religious"people that they need to read the word themselves along with a concordance, commentaries, and alternate translations and paraphrases. A typical englisch translation of the bible uses 6000 words whereas the original hebrew greek and aramaic texts use 11,280 words, is it not possible that some religions have used this little nuance to write their doctrines for their purposes???

Answer 13

Well, you confess when you want to receive absolution for your sins. I thought that was clear

Answer 14

I confess my sins to God

Answer 15

I do know Jesus, and I have a personal relationship with him. I wish your confession could have lasted =[

Answer 16

The only person you truely have to confess to is Jesus. You do not need a man to forgive you in Jesus' place. Yes, if there is a particular person you have wronged then going to them, telling what happened and truely asking forgiveness is a very positive thing to do. I was raised Catholic so I know what you mean. I know now that I have a direct line to God and I do not need an intermediary.

Answer 17

I feel there's no need for a middle man. If you have sinned it should be only between you and G-d. Though some people like to hear other people's thoughts on the situation. and will seek help from them. Though only G-d can forgive your sins.

Answer 18

priests have seal of confession, others don't

Answer 19

when jesus died on the cross, he ran interference for us. we do not need priest to pray to him. when can pray and confess individually. It is called piercing the veil. I have no idea why catholic people speak to a man and not to GOD. But if it makes them feel closer to God to do that, more power to them. The priest cannot forgive you. only God can forgive you and you have to forgive yourself.

Answer 20

Because Catholics believe that the priest is acting as a conduit between them and god and providing forgiveness. No other reason.



According to my Sociology Professor, Catholics have the 2nd lowest rate of suicide after Jews, primarily because of their ability to confess and receive absolution. Not sure I agree with him but that's what he said.



EDIT: I really don't see how this answer is as offensive as it apparently is! Because I mentioned a comment made by a professor from 1996!? Weird!

Answer 21

Good for you. The bible says there is just one mediator between God and man, our Lord Jesus. The church has set up their priests as your mediator between you and God. It is unbiblical. You did the right thing.

Answer 22

I don't confess to anyone but God.

Answer 23

The Bible teaches us to confess our sins to God alone, not a priest.



Anyone willing to challenge that is not very learned in Bible teachings....

Answer 24

does anyone know what scripture Jesus speaks of the power of forgiveness given to "men", he had forgiven someone and the pharasies were grumbling again about him forgiving someone when they said Only God can forgive sins, Jesus said it was given to "men". Jesus breathed on them and said receive ye the holy spirit, who's sins ye shall forgive, they are forgiven, whos sins ye shall hold bound, they shall be held bound.

Answer 25

Confess to the Lord not to a Priest



I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.



Psalms 32:5

King James Version



"I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD"

Answer 26

I confess directly to God,I'm a recovering catholic.Shalom

Answer 27

Confess to Jesus personally, from your heart. Forget child molesting priests.

Answer 28

I get so much out of confession. Why not try it?

Answer 29

Personally I never would accept someones confession, to many liability possibilities involved. If you screwed up then go fix it, ask for advice if need be, but go fix it.

Answer 30

There is only One Priest who can forgive sins against God, and that is Jesus Christ.



We are all called to repent of our sins to Christ as He is the One who paid for our sins, and God is the Only One who can forgive sins. This includes confessing that we are guilty, that what we did was wrong and that we are sincerely sorry, and it means that we turn away from it, praying for God's help to do so. This is what we are to do when we sin.



Confessing to "each other" is for our benefit...it is a blessing to us...so that we can support our brothers and sisters in their struggles with this world, and the sins we all have problems with. It provides opportunity for accountability and prayer. We can all relate to each other's confessions because we all have something to confess at all times as no one is perfect while we live in these fleshly bodies.



James 5:12-20

12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.



Take Care and God Bless!



Addition, there is "NO" amount of penance that a person can do to be forgiven their sins. No one deserves salvation and no one earns it by doing penance. If penance were a way to be forgiven for our sins, then we could all simply pay the fee on our own and Christ would never have had to die on the cross to pay the penalty for us.



Ephesians 2:4-10

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.



Also the Holy Spirit was given to us to "help" us in our struggles with sin, and to sanctify us. Human beings cannot forgive one another's sins against God. If we break God's law, there is only "One" sacrifice for our sins. One for all. Jesus Christ.



Also: When the Apostles were given the ability to forgive men their sins, the context was that they had the ability to give the offer of salvation to the Jews "and" the Gentiles which according to the Jewish understanding, were not allowed to be offered salvation because they were not Jews.



The apostles were also given the ability to cure disease, heal the blind, the lame, the deaf, cast out demons, and even resurrect the dead.



All of these gifts are of course possible with God, but they are not commonplace in this age because we are to have "faith" in Christ according to His word.

Answer 31

God had sent Jesus to forgive sins, but after his resurrection Jesus told the apostles, "‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20:21-23). This is the establishment of the Sacrament of Penance (Confession). Christ told the apostles: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John 20:21). Just as the apostles were to carry Christ’s message to the whole world, so they were to carry his forgiveness: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 18:18). This power was understood as coming from God: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18). Indeed, confirms Paul, "So we are ambassadors for Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20). Some say that any power given to the apostles died with them. Not so. The powers necessary to maintain the Church as a living, spiritual society had to be passed down from generation to generation.It would take much time. And he promised them assistance: "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20). The Catholic Bishops (and Eastern Orthodox Bishops) are the direct successors of the Apostles through the laing on of hands. There is an unbroken line of 265 popes going back to Peter himself. In this way, the authority to forgive sins was handed down. But again, this power is understood as coming from God: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18).

Question: Comments anyone?

SOURCE:

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

Answer 32

I don't. I confess to God. Only Catholics do that. AM I correct?

Answer 33

I don't confess anything unless it is to Penthouse letters :D

Answer 34

I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”



You see we confess our Sins to God.... not Man.

Answer 35

Repentance is correct.



Confession to mankind, well God is judge.

Answer 36

Get to know God and confess to him...

Answer 37

if ur uncomfortable, make somethin up like, "me n my mom had a big fite this week" unless it's front of the congregation but im methodist so i wouldnt know

Answer 38

you don't need to confess to another human being to be forgiven... people just want to hear your secrets...

Answer 39

Some ask why Catholics confess to a priest rather than just going straight to God. Some claim that confessing to a priest is not biblical. But that is not true.



We confess to a priest because that is the way Jesus instigated the sacrament. It is at his command that we confess to one another. When we sin against the Father our sins also affect our Christian family. Confessing sins to a priest is something that was a universal practice and never debated in the Early Church.



Jesus himself was able to heal not only the physically sick, but the spiritually sick as well. Christ had the power to forgive sins (see Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:5-12).



He passed on that power to forgive sins in his name to his Apostles.



"Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father." (Matthew 18:18-19)



"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I sent you." And when he had 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." (John 20:21-23)



Jesus entrusted his Church with the power of forgiving sins through this most wonderful sacrament. The priest is simply the one who acts in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) in the confessional, but it is our Lord who forgives our sins. The priest grants absolution (sets us free from our sins) using the power Jesus entrusted to his Church. It is through Christ, however, that our sins are forgiven.



St. Paul tells us, "And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us." (2 Corinthians 5: 18-20)



Does this mean that we shouldn’t speak and pray directly to God and express sorrow for our sins? Not at all! In fact for daily faults that is exactly what we should be doing. But for more serious offenses, for grave and mortal sins, we must repent and confess through the Sacrament of Reconciliation because that is what Christ commands us to do.





Reconciliation (also known as Confession and Penance): Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed after Baptism are forgiven.

Biblical references: Matt 9:2-8; Jn 20:22-23; 2 Cor 5:17-20; James 5:13-16;

Matt 18:18; 1 Jn 5:16

Answer 40

Never will to a man!