caww: Why would you argue with the guidance issued by our Lord and Savior? The author of the article posted the very clear guidance issued by Jesus in Gospels and other books of the New Testament on confession and the forgiveness of sins by his apostles. Here are a few of the excepts:
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“The Sacrament of Confession has been with us from the beginning, coming from the words of Christ Himself:
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. 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)
Notice that Jesus gives His apostles the power to forgive sins. Of course, they wouldn’t know which sins to forgive if they weren’t told what sins were involved.
The practice of confession is also evident in the Letter Of James:
“Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:14-16)
It’s interesting that nowhere does James (or Jesus) tell us to confess our sins to God alone. Rather, they seem to think that forgiveness comes through some means of public confession.
And it’s not difficult to understand why. You see, when we sin, we rupture our relationship not just with God, but with His Body, the Church (since all Catholics are interconnected as children of a common Father). So when we apologize, we need to do so to all parties involved — God and the Church.
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)...
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.”
.....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 theDidache (A.D. 70) indicates. “
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Similar arguments/ proofs can be made of each of the Sacraments instituted by Jesus. Baptism (which Jesus accepted from Saint John the Baptist), Confession (already addressed by the author), the Eucharist (the Last Supper), Confirmation (adult acceptance of our Baptismal vows), Marriage (wedding at Canna & multiple quotes “two become one flesh), Holy Orders (those called to religious life) and Anointing of the Sick/Last Rites (Jesus cures all forgives their sins). Yes, over time, the forms in which the sacraments have been administered have changed a bit, but have remained true to Christ’s teachings.
Jesus is the un-refuted source of all the Sacraments. What are the sources you have which would refute Him?
Take Care & God Bless.
Bill
Matthew 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,....
Matthew 6:12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
Dwight D. Eisenhower said.... “An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.”
What you have written comes clearly from the basis and percepectives of catholicism teachings, rituals, and practices... which I do not believe our Lord taught us.... That’s how I can argue against them....
....and Foremost because catholicism twists everything biblical to adapt to their teachings rather then let the scriptures determine so....and then attach Jesus as if to seal what they have chosen to deliver.
Everything you stated was to explain the catholic position which I do not adhere to...because it’s twisted to conform to catholicism rather than to Christ Jesus.
Just because you “say” these are based in Christ...the evidence they are not is clear from His Word. Which have been time and again exposed on these threads.
Over-emphasis on extra-biblical material is an implicit denial of the sufficiency of Scripture and a subtle, but disastrous drawing of the reader ever further afield from the inspired Word of God in search of gold which, more often than not, is fool’s gold. Catholicism does this all the time by flooding people with all these ancient catholic rituals, practices and literature that simply is not necessary nor were instructed by our Lord.
Dwight D. Eisenhower said.... “An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.”