hmm. depending on the nature of my confession, I don’t know that I would be comfortable with that. Then again, not being catholic I don’t really agree with confession in the first place. If you are going to confess your sins to someone, do it to the guy who can do something about it.
I don’t want to be argumentative and I really don’t have the stomach to get into an Internet squabble and further, I don’t belong to a Christian tradition that makes use of codified confessions, but I think the fifth chapter of James makes a good case for confessing sins to someone other than God and also for the power and authority of the “elders.”
It would probably be better to read the whole chapter – it’s too easy to take things out of context with just a verse here and a verse there. I guess if I had to pick the most relevant it would be verse 16, but again, cherry picking is a bad practice when it comes to reading Scripture.
Ok so I see where you’re coming from, but I still don’t think that the catholic church has the right idea with their confessionals and having the priest forgive sins. I read once somewhere (dunno if it is true) that they can even forgive sins in advance, provided you provide the proper “penance” (or fine, basically)
In my opinion, this passage is more an admonition to get together with prayer meetings, or to confide in each other and find strength through each others walk with Christ, rather than a structured and mandatory confessional system. That’s just what I gather from the passage.
As a Catholic, I think I can at least clarify two points (not to start a debate, just to throw in my two cents).
1. The Church, in defending the Sacrament of Reconciliation, looks more at John 20:22-23 than the passage in James.
2. A priest can never, ever, under any circumstances, for any reason, at any time, for any person, ever forgive sins in advance; nor can anyone, from Benedict on down, ever, for any reason, in any situation, pay a fine to have their sins absolved, whether past or future.
Also, I don’t think you were being argumentative, you saw an error and corrected it, citing reference. I, being a logical Christian with powers of reason, respect that. Thank you for pointing out my error.
I don’t know whether the priest forgives sins or simply announces God’s forgiveness to repentant sinners. I honestly don’t know enough about it to say either way. It would probably be better to ask a knowledgeable, practicing Catholic than to guess. As far as penance goes, I think it’s more complicated than most Protestant understand. Having been round this Carousel a time or two, I’ll say that we’re further apart and closer together than most people realize.
In the Lutheran church (LCMS) the pastor announces the good news of God’s forgiveness and if you were listening with only half an ear or didn’t understand for some reason, you might very well think that he was claiming the power to forgive sins.
totally gossiping
“Oh my goodness, did you hear that so-and-so has had… CARNAL RELATIONS?”
“I wonder if he will mention that to Father Murphy this evening”
@Ben
Thank you for clearing up my misconceptions, like I said, I read that somewhere once, it may have been in a novel even, I’m not sure. Also, I’ll read John 20 when I get a chance, thank you for the citation :)
Human beings are weird creatures. We hurt one another or ourselves and then set up a rule that tells us we need to confess these things to someone else to be forgiven. If aliens landed and saw this picture I think they’d decide to push on…
hmm. depending on the nature of my confession, I don’t know that I would be comfortable with that. Then again, not being catholic I don’t really agree with confession in the first place. If you are going to confess your sins to someone, do it to the guy who can do something about it.
Bingo .. my thoughts exactly
I don’t want to be argumentative and I really don’t have the stomach to get into an Internet squabble and further, I don’t belong to a Christian tradition that makes use of codified confessions, but I think the fifth chapter of James makes a good case for confessing sins to someone other than God and also for the power and authority of the “elders.”
well, perhaps it’s time I reread the passage. Can you give me verses?
It would probably be better to read the whole chapter – it’s too easy to take things out of context with just a verse here and a verse there. I guess if I had to pick the most relevant it would be verse 16, but again, cherry picking is a bad practice when it comes to reading Scripture.
James 5:14-20 ish
ok, thanks
Ok so I see where you’re coming from, but I still don’t think that the catholic church has the right idea with their confessionals and having the priest forgive sins. I read once somewhere (dunno if it is true) that they can even forgive sins in advance, provided you provide the proper “penance” (or fine, basically)
In my opinion, this passage is more an admonition to get together with prayer meetings, or to confide in each other and find strength through each others walk with Christ, rather than a structured and mandatory confessional system. That’s just what I gather from the passage.
As a Catholic, I think I can at least clarify two points (not to start a debate, just to throw in my two cents).
1. The Church, in defending the Sacrament of Reconciliation, looks more at John 20:22-23 than the passage in James.
2. A priest can never, ever, under any circumstances, for any reason, at any time, for any person, ever forgive sins in advance; nor can anyone, from Benedict on down, ever, for any reason, in any situation, pay a fine to have their sins absolved, whether past or future.
Also, I don’t think you were being argumentative, you saw an error and corrected it, citing reference. I, being a logical Christian with powers of reason, respect that. Thank you for pointing out my error.
Thanks, I just never know how what I say will be taken out here. Your reply was gracious.
I don’t know whether the priest forgives sins or simply announces God’s forgiveness to repentant sinners. I honestly don’t know enough about it to say either way. It would probably be better to ask a knowledgeable, practicing Catholic than to guess. As far as penance goes, I think it’s more complicated than most Protestant understand. Having been round this Carousel a time or two, I’ll say that we’re further apart and closer together than most people realize.
In the Lutheran church (LCMS) the pastor announces the good news of God’s forgiveness and if you were listening with only half an ear or didn’t understand for some reason, you might very well think that he was claiming the power to forgive sins.
The next lady in line is TOTALLY listening!
sure does look like it!
That was my first thought, too haha. For shame.
The two ladies around the corner are clearly gossiping.
totally gossiping
“Oh my goodness, did you hear that so-and-so has had… CARNAL RELATIONS?”
“I wonder if he will mention that to Father Murphy this evening”
@Ben
Thank you for clearing up my misconceptions, like I said, I read that somewhere once, it may have been in a novel even, I’m not sure. Also, I’ll read John 20 when I get a chance, thank you for the citation :)
And thank you for not starting an argument. The internet can be a dangerous place to introduce nuance and deal with controversial topics haha
aw, yeah, I hate that shit.
Human beings are weird creatures. We hurt one another or ourselves and then set up a rule that tells us we need to confess these things to someone else to be forgiven. If aliens landed and saw this picture I think they’d decide to push on…