Posted on 07/03/2008 10:06:26 AM PDT by NYer
A. In obedience to Christ."
Whose obedience to Christ?
In the scripture you cite, Jesus does not command people to confess to priests.
Just where is it, exactly, where Jesus says, "Don't confess your sins to me (or to my Father) directly. Instead, I command you to confess your sins to other human beings, ordained for that purpose. If you do that with a pure and contrite heart, you sins shall be forgiven"???
Which of Hahn’s books is that excerpt from? I haven’t read any of his books, but I relate to those emotions.
Sorry ... I'm not following you. Are you suggesting that people pay for remission of their sins?
Because a duly-ordained priest has received his authority directly from Christ, through Peter, down through each pope to bishop. When you receive absolution from a duly-ordained priest, you are in essence receiving absolution from Christ Himself -- same goes for all the Sacraments.
Believe/accept this or not, but this is the reason for Roman Catholics.
I suspect he’s referring to the old medieval and Renaissance practice of the Church selling plenary indulgences.
In John 20:21, before He grants them the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to the apostles, "as the Father sent me, so I send you." As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins. In the next line, John 20:22, the Lord "breathes" on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord "breathes" divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place. Jesus then says in John 20:23 "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.
I notice a lot of that in Catholicism.
:O)
The missalettes are filled with Scripture.
John 20:22-23
You're talking about liturgical practice during services, aren't you? There's nothing preventing lay people from reading the Gospels for themselves....
The Breath of God creating the priesthood for His Church!
His Church that will not be destroyed or fall away from him. With the Holy Spirit who will guide the Church to always teach the Truth, and He will always be with us. The Church with the teaching authority and the authority – given by Christ- to bind and loose in matters of faith. The Church of the apostles was definitely one: " One body and one Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. (Eph. 4:4-6).
The Catholic view of the Church is the only one that is consistent with all of Scripture.
The view that the church is based on the Bible is supported nowhere in the Bible itself, and was created by men 1,500 years after the resurrection of Christ.
Are you a priest, NYer? That’s hoe I interpret your message.
Confession to a priest is a wonderful grace-filled act. Unfortunately most Catholics, myself included do not make use of the sacrament as often as we should. After I’ve been to confession, I have a deep feeling of closeness to God. It’s wonderful!
Previously posted:
On Salvation Outside the Catholic Church
The Great Heresies
SALVATION PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
JUSTIFICATION IN CATHOLIC TEACHING
Hermits and Solitaries [Ecumenical]
THE PRIESTHOOD DEBATE
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERIT
A Well-Rounded Pope [Ecumenical]
A Monastery to Last 1,000 Years [Ecumenical]
Explaining Purgatory from a New Testament Perspective [Ecumenical]
In the Crosshairs of the Canon [How We Got The Bible] [Ecumenical]
'An Ordinance Forever' - The Biblical Origins of the Mass [Ecumenical]
Beginning Catholic: Church Authority In Scripture [Ecumenical]
Beginning Catholic: Catholic Tradition: Life in the Spirit [Ecumenical]
Christian Atheism
Vatican plea to uncover Virgin Mary and show her breast-feeding baby Jesus
If the confessional were for counseling, I’d have no problem with it.
I’d probably have no problem if it were made clear that forgiveness comes from God, but the minister is simply there to pray with the person and to point out the need to change one’s life.
You probably shouldn’t have any problem with it.
Probably not...in the long run that is not where I find disagreement with the RCC.
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