ok Supernova... you asked the question about why only catholics go to confession.
NOT only catholics confess. There are some protestant religions that require you to confess in front of the whole congregation, because in their doctrine you have sinned not only agains GOD but also the church. The most important thing to remember about confession is that the confession is NOT the important thing--- it is the repenting for your sins and the forgiveness being granted to you for those sins. JAMES 5:16 says to confess your sins to one another-- each religion has their own interpretation as to how this should be done-- the catholics choose a priest, but the priest hears you then prays to God WITH you to ask God for your forgiveness-- the priest then grants you absolution (the sin you committed is now abolished as if it never happened, not to be held against you at a later date, like judgement day)
Methodists do a Congregational Confession, in which the entire group recites the following prayer during service... they do not "confess" each individual sin as catholics do, but a "generalized" confession of "im sorry, i was bad" type of thing. However, some methodist ministers online state that while giving spiritual cousel to people, many DO confess directly to them--- it is just not a sacrement/requirement as it is with the catholics.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your name. Amen
some religions specifically state that you confess a sin to either GOD or someone else. For example, if you lusted after someone you would confess to God right there and then because there was no impact upon the person you wanted--- however, if you lusted for someone and then stole something of theirs as a token, then you need to confess to BOTH God and the person.
Hope this helps you....
NOT only catholics confess. There are some protestant religions that require you to confess in front of the whole congregation, because in their doctrine you have sinned not only agains GOD but also the church. The most important thing to remember about confession is that the confession is NOT the important thing--- it is the repenting for your sins and the forgiveness being granted to you for those sins. JAMES 5:16 says to confess your sins to one another-- each religion has their own interpretation as to how this should be done-- the catholics choose a priest, but the priest hears you then prays to God WITH you to ask God for your forgiveness-- the priest then grants you absolution (the sin you committed is now abolished as if it never happened, not to be held against you at a later date, like judgement day)
Methodists do a Congregational Confession, in which the entire group recites the following prayer during service... they do not "confess" each individual sin as catholics do, but a "generalized" confession of "im sorry, i was bad" type of thing. However, some methodist ministers online state that while giving spiritual cousel to people, many DO confess directly to them--- it is just not a sacrement/requirement as it is with the catholics.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your name. Amen
some religions specifically state that you confess a sin to either GOD or someone else. For example, if you lusted after someone you would confess to God right there and then because there was no impact upon the person you wanted--- however, if you lusted for someone and then stole something of theirs as a token, then you need to confess to BOTH God and the person.
Hope this helps you....
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