I used to belong to a church choir. Not sure how, but I fell out with the central clique, a group of laissez-faire Catholic women who believed in gay marriage and spoke often of lascivious behavior. I suppose the final straw came when I noticed that they took a cigarette break during the homily.
How do I forgive these people? I am but slightly more reformed than they are and that by the hard knocks of life. When I saw their behavior going unchecked, I quit the choir. Talking to them, or debating them, doesn't seem to work. I feel a nasty streak in me just waiting to have at it whenever I run into them. It's even keeping me from church.
Response :
Never give another human being the power to keep you from Christ. If you cannot worship in peace at the church you've been attending, then find another parish, but do not abandon Christ or allow these people to rob you of your spiritual peace.
Catholic apologist Frank Sheed once said:
We are not baptized into the hierarchy; do not receive the cardinals sacramentally; will not spend an eternity in the beatific vision of the pope. Christ is the point. I, myself, admire the present pope, but even if I criticized him as harshly as some do, even if his successor proved to be as bad as some of those who have gone before, even if I find the Church, as I have to live with it, a pain in the neck, I should still say that nothing that a pope (or a priest) could do or say would make me wish to leave the Church, although I might well wish that they would leave.
Source : http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=382248
Friday, October 9, 2009
Can I attend a Protestant Bible Study?
I am in the Christian Union in college. They run bible study groups every week, and they tend to be run be Protestants of various denominations, as the CU is very ecumenical. I attended a 3 week study of Habbakuk and learned a fair bit. They are about to embark on a study of the Gospel of Mark, and there is a lot more contention about interpretations in the Gospels than in the OT Prophets, so I'm looking for advice as to whether I should take part?
Response :
Hi,
Catholics have no business attending non-Catholic Bible studies. Our understanding of Scripture differs considerably, even though on the surface it may seem not to. I strongly encourage you to pursue a Catholic understanding of Scripture.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
Source : http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=381647
Response :
Hi,
Catholics have no business attending non-Catholic Bible studies. Our understanding of Scripture differs considerably, even though on the surface it may seem not to. I strongly encourage you to pursue a Catholic understanding of Scripture.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
Source : http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=381647
Can my bishop order me to receive Communion in the hand?
My bishop made an announcement that he wants all to receive Communion on the hand rather than the tongue due to the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. Is this okay?
Response:
Communion on the tongue is the universal normative discipline for receiving Communion in the Latin church. Communion in the hand is allowed by dispensation in some areas, including the United States. Your bishop may ask communicants to receive Communion in a particular manner when there is just reason to do so; and, out of respect for his office and for the just reason given, communicants should consider doing so, whatever their personal preference. So far as I know, a bishop cannot require a communicant to receive the host in the hand, but a communicant should not refuse such a request simply because he prefers receiving on the tongue or thinks it more reverent for him to do so.
Response:
Communion on the tongue is the universal normative discipline for receiving Communion in the Latin church. Communion in the hand is allowed by dispensation in some areas, including the United States. Your bishop may ask communicants to receive Communion in a particular manner when there is just reason to do so; and, out of respect for his office and for the just reason given, communicants should consider doing so, whatever their personal preference. So far as I know, a bishop cannot require a communicant to receive the host in the hand, but a communicant should not refuse such a request simply because he prefers receiving on the tongue or thinks it more reverent for him to do so.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION (Science and Faith)
An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has
with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . ..
Professor : You are Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
(Student was silent )
Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . .. . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?
(Student did not answer)
Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ?
(Student had no answer)
Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.
Tell me, son .. . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No, sir. There isn't.
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )
Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )
Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the Absence of Something
You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it's called Darkness, isn't it?
In reality, Darkness isn't.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.
It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument was going )
Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavour,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
(The Class was in Uproar )
Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?
(The Class broke out into Laughter )
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?
(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)
Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly !
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . .
You'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you?
Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH.
That student was Albert Einstein!
with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . ..
Professor : You are Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
(Student was silent )
Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . .. . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?
(Student did not answer)
Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ?
(Student had no answer)
Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.
Tell me, son .. . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No, sir. There isn't.
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )
Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )
Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the Absence of Something
You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it's called Darkness, isn't it?
In reality, Darkness isn't.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.
It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument was going )
Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavour,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
(The Class was in Uproar )
Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?
(The Class broke out into Laughter )
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?
(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)
Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly !
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . .
You'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you?
Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH.
That student was Albert Einstein!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Confess to God, where in the Bible?
Confess to God, where in the Bible?
I'm having a discussion with a co woker former Catholic about confession, he says it is in the Bible to Confess directly to God. True? Also what scriptures talk about confession?
- Dana Ray
Confession
Are all of our sins—past, present, and future—forgiven once and for all when we become Christians? Not according to the Bible or the early Church Fathers. Scripture nowhere states that our future sins are forgiven; instead, it teaches us to pray, "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt. 6:12).
The means by which God forgives sins after baptism is confession: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Minor or venial sins can be confessed directly to God, but for grave or mortal sins, which crush the spiritual life out of the soul, God has instituted a different means for obtaining forgiveness—the sacrament known popularly as confession, penance, or reconciliation.
This sacrament is rooted in the mission God gave to Christ in his capacity as the Son of man on earth to go and forgive sins (cf. Matt. 9:6). Thus, the crowds who witnessed this new power "glorified God, who had given such authority to men" (Matt. 9:8; note the plural "men"). After his resurrection, Jesus passed on his mission to forgive sins to his ministers, telling them, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. . . . 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).
Since it is not possible to confess all of our many daily faults, we know that sacramental reconciliation is required only for grave or mortal sins—but it is required, or Christ would not have commanded it.
Over time, the forms in which the sacrament has been administered have changed. In the early Church, publicly known sins (such as apostasy) were often confessed openly in church, though private confession to a priest was always an option for privately committed sins. Still, confession was not just something done in silence to God alone, but something done "in church," as the Didache (A.D. 70) indicates.
Penances also tended to be performed before rather than after absolution, and they were much more strict than those of today (ten years’ penance for abortion, for example, was common in the early Church).
But the basics of the sacrament have always been there, as the following quotations reveal. Of special significance is their recognition that confession and absolution must be received by a sinner before receiving Holy Communion, for "[w]hoever . . . eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27).
- JanetF
I would also add that during confession you are directly confessing to God because the priest sitting there is in persona Christi. Being in persona Christi it is the reason that gives him the authority to absolve you from your sins.
"Domine, ad quem ibimus? Verba vitae aeternae habes. Et nos credimus, et cognivimus, quia tu es Christus Filius Dei."
- Cristiano
Of course, we have missed the best scriptural reference to Confession, the Gospel that we just heard this past Sunday:
Quote:
21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
This comes from John 20:21-23 and it clearly states that Jesus gave his own authority to forgive sins to the Apostles. Remember that Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees, Scribes, Chief Priests and elders for forgiving sins. They said that only "God" had the authority to forgive sins. Little did they realize that it was, in fact God, the Second Person of the Trinity, forgiving these sins. Jesus then passes on his own authority by breathing on the Apostles.
It's funny. Protestants will claim to take the Bible literally, especially regarding the end times, but, when Jesus says concrete statements regarding the Holy Eucharist and Penance, they write off his words.
- Benedictgal
It is also important that we look at the early church - which Protestants like to claim they are closer too than Catholics. If they would indeed read the earliest of writings they will find confession in them. It is not like confession now where it is one on one - it was in front of the whole community! It is also important to remember the way that cities/towns were at that time. Cities were much smaller - kind of like small towns in the US now. In these environments often everyone in town knows what is going on....unlike large cities where one can mortally sin more or less anonymously.
Another thing that I find interesting is that some (certainly not all) Protestants recommend that you have an "accountability partner" that you tell your sins to and they can keep you accountable, you are not confessing for forgiveness though. Of course this mirrors the sacrament of reconciliation, but takes away the aspect of grace.
- Steve
Also what scriptures talk about confession?
The only verse I know (?) besides 1 John 1:9 noted in post#2 having to do with confession is
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much
- John7
Dana Ray, I do not think there is any part of Scripture that says we are to go straight to God for confession. You can, of course, since God is our Father, and you can go to Him about anything. But God (Jesus) established the Sacrament of Confession. IF we follow Jesus Christ, we do things the way HE wants us to. See John 20:19-23. Only two times in all Scripture did God "breathe" on man. Once in Genesis when He created man (Adam) and once in John 20. In Genesis, God gives life to man. In John 20, God gives new life to man. And, when Jesus established Confession in John 20, He did it in the SAME room in which He instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist? A coincidence? Hardly.
- Scoobyshme
I'm having a discussion with a co woker former Catholic about confession, he says it is in the Bible to Confess directly to God. True? Also what scriptures talk about confession?
Yes and No.
Apparently we are commanded to confess to God, by confessing our sins to each other with God present. "Confess your sins to one another" combined with the parable of the Prodigal Son, shows that this is what we should confess to each other in the presence of God, thus confessing to God(Our father).
Nothing in protestant theology comes close to forfilling this. Only the Catholic and Orthodox teach that we are to confess our sins to someone who is in "Persona Christi".
- Colliric
So there is no actual biblical text or support that directly, or even remotely says, confess your sins directly to God? I always thought there was something that would at least support part of that argument. But really, nothing?
- 1edyson
1edyson, nothing. Now this isn't to say that we can't talk to God about anything. But, speaking from a Biblical viewpoint, the normative method of having our sins forgiven is by confessing them to an Apostle (or one of their successors) and receiving absolution. But nowhere does it say to just go straight to God and bypass the Sacrament Jesus established in John 20:19-23.
- Scooby
To follow the conversation click on the link
I'm having a discussion with a co woker former Catholic about confession, he says it is in the Bible to Confess directly to God. True? Also what scriptures talk about confession?
- Dana Ray
Confession
Are all of our sins—past, present, and future—forgiven once and for all when we become Christians? Not according to the Bible or the early Church Fathers. Scripture nowhere states that our future sins are forgiven; instead, it teaches us to pray, "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt. 6:12).
The means by which God forgives sins after baptism is confession: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Minor or venial sins can be confessed directly to God, but for grave or mortal sins, which crush the spiritual life out of the soul, God has instituted a different means for obtaining forgiveness—the sacrament known popularly as confession, penance, or reconciliation.
This sacrament is rooted in the mission God gave to Christ in his capacity as the Son of man on earth to go and forgive sins (cf. Matt. 9:6). Thus, the crowds who witnessed this new power "glorified God, who had given such authority to men" (Matt. 9:8; note the plural "men"). After his resurrection, Jesus passed on his mission to forgive sins to his ministers, telling them, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. . . . 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).
Since it is not possible to confess all of our many daily faults, we know that sacramental reconciliation is required only for grave or mortal sins—but it is required, or Christ would not have commanded it.
Over time, the forms in which the sacrament has been administered have changed. In the early Church, publicly known sins (such as apostasy) were often confessed openly in church, though private confession to a priest was always an option for privately committed sins. Still, confession was not just something done in silence to God alone, but something done "in church," as the Didache (A.D. 70) indicates.
Penances also tended to be performed before rather than after absolution, and they were much more strict than those of today (ten years’ penance for abortion, for example, was common in the early Church).
But the basics of the sacrament have always been there, as the following quotations reveal. Of special significance is their recognition that confession and absolution must be received by a sinner before receiving Holy Communion, for "[w]hoever . . . eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27).
- JanetF
I would also add that during confession you are directly confessing to God because the priest sitting there is in persona Christi. Being in persona Christi it is the reason that gives him the authority to absolve you from your sins.
"Domine, ad quem ibimus? Verba vitae aeternae habes. Et nos credimus, et cognivimus, quia tu es Christus Filius Dei."
- Cristiano
Of course, we have missed the best scriptural reference to Confession, the Gospel that we just heard this past Sunday:
Quote:
21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
This comes from John 20:21-23 and it clearly states that Jesus gave his own authority to forgive sins to the Apostles. Remember that Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees, Scribes, Chief Priests and elders for forgiving sins. They said that only "God" had the authority to forgive sins. Little did they realize that it was, in fact God, the Second Person of the Trinity, forgiving these sins. Jesus then passes on his own authority by breathing on the Apostles.
It's funny. Protestants will claim to take the Bible literally, especially regarding the end times, but, when Jesus says concrete statements regarding the Holy Eucharist and Penance, they write off his words.
- Benedictgal
It is also important that we look at the early church - which Protestants like to claim they are closer too than Catholics. If they would indeed read the earliest of writings they will find confession in them. It is not like confession now where it is one on one - it was in front of the whole community! It is also important to remember the way that cities/towns were at that time. Cities were much smaller - kind of like small towns in the US now. In these environments often everyone in town knows what is going on....unlike large cities where one can mortally sin more or less anonymously.
Another thing that I find interesting is that some (certainly not all) Protestants recommend that you have an "accountability partner" that you tell your sins to and they can keep you accountable, you are not confessing for forgiveness though. Of course this mirrors the sacrament of reconciliation, but takes away the aspect of grace.
- Steve
Also what scriptures talk about confession?
The only verse I know (?) besides 1 John 1:9 noted in post#2 having to do with confession is
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much
- John7
Dana Ray, I do not think there is any part of Scripture that says we are to go straight to God for confession. You can, of course, since God is our Father, and you can go to Him about anything. But God (Jesus) established the Sacrament of Confession. IF we follow Jesus Christ, we do things the way HE wants us to. See John 20:19-23. Only two times in all Scripture did God "breathe" on man. Once in Genesis when He created man (Adam) and once in John 20. In Genesis, God gives life to man. In John 20, God gives new life to man. And, when Jesus established Confession in John 20, He did it in the SAME room in which He instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist? A coincidence? Hardly.
- Scoobyshme
I'm having a discussion with a co woker former Catholic about confession, he says it is in the Bible to Confess directly to God. True? Also what scriptures talk about confession?
Yes and No.
Apparently we are commanded to confess to God, by confessing our sins to each other with God present. "Confess your sins to one another" combined with the parable of the Prodigal Son, shows that this is what we should confess to each other in the presence of God, thus confessing to God(Our father).
Nothing in protestant theology comes close to forfilling this. Only the Catholic and Orthodox teach that we are to confess our sins to someone who is in "Persona Christi".
- Colliric
So there is no actual biblical text or support that directly, or even remotely says, confess your sins directly to God? I always thought there was something that would at least support part of that argument. But really, nothing?
- 1edyson
1edyson, nothing. Now this isn't to say that we can't talk to God about anything. But, speaking from a Biblical viewpoint, the normative method of having our sins forgiven is by confessing them to an Apostle (or one of their successors) and receiving absolution. But nowhere does it say to just go straight to God and bypass the Sacrament Jesus established in John 20:19-23.
- Scooby
To follow the conversation click on the link
The Prayer by Pete Dimaculangan
Prayer
Each and every one of us is going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can Keep the faith.
This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let ' s continue to pray for one another.
The prayer:
Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace.. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus 'precious name. Amen.
(If the Lord lays upon your heart to send this to more than
four people, you are truly blessed).
Each and every one of us is going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can Keep the faith.
This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let ' s continue to pray for one another.
The prayer:
Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace.. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus 'precious name. Amen.
(If the Lord lays upon your heart to send this to more than
four people, you are truly blessed).
Faith Explained Blog
This is my personal blog pertaining to Catholic Faith.
In this blog you can see some conversation thread from different forums and sources on the Web, I find it helpful to post it in my blog so as to remind me the sources of this opinion, ideas and suggestion.
Also I indicate the source link below each blog so you can also follow the conversation if you wish.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Chester Lim
In this blog you can see some conversation thread from different forums and sources on the Web, I find it helpful to post it in my blog so as to remind me the sources of this opinion, ideas and suggestion.
Also I indicate the source link below each blog so you can also follow the conversation if you wish.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Chester Lim
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