Two Possible Functions of Confession
(This is a Religious post but I was traveling yesterday and won’t be doing anything secular today so…)
I was talking with a Catholic friend and the topic of the sacrament of Confession (or Penance) came up. I said that besides the theological arguments for and against, one could argue that the act of confessing your sins out loud to somebody could provide psychological relief, let you “forgive yourself,” and get on with your life. My friend said something like, “Yeah and just knowing that you would have to admit what you did to somebody might keep you in line.”
I chuckled and pointed out that he and I had given entirely different justifications for the activity, which (perhaps not coincidentally) related to our doctrinal views. As someone who (now, after years of study and transformation) endorses salvation through faith alone (sola fide), the way I handle the obvious, “So if a serial killer confesses on his death bed?!”-type objections is to say that once you have been freed from the slavery of sin, you have no desire to inflict pain on others except if you are harboring feelings of insecurity, shame, guilt, etc. One of the easiest tricks the devil can play is to convince you that you’re worthless, God doesn’t actually love you, etc., and that drives you to seek comfort in alcohol, strip clubs, and so forth.
Catholics teach that God has given us sacraments as a source of grace. Catholics who go to frequent confession will tell you that they repeat the same sins confession after confession. That is actually a good thing because we are creatures of habit constantly struggling with the same weakness. (You do NOT want a new and exciting different confession every time.)
In my own case, I receive immediate graces necessary to avoid my sins, as long as I do not put confession off too long.I could easily find analogies in pop psychology (or even in the business world) but an acceptance of God’s grace through channels that He has provided is adequate for my faith.
“One of the easiest tricks the devil can play is to convince you that you’re worthless, God doesn’t actually love you, etc.” Bob, how exactly do Christians believe the Devil interacts with humans? Does he plant thoughts in their heads, or what?
Well, for one thing, he creates almost countless counterfeit religions, like Hinduism, cults like Mormonism, the JWs, etc. As Jesus said, he’s the father of lies.
So how does he do that? Does he walk up to the founders? Does he plant thoughts in the founders’ heads? Or what?
Good question. A few articles that hopefully provide what you are looking for.
http://www.equip.org/article/does-satan-have-access-to-our-minds/
https://bible.org/question/can-satan-put-thoughts-our-minds-can-be-used-tempt-us-sin
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/can-devil-read-my-mind/
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/satans-ten-strategies-against-you
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/1356/satan-how-does-he-operate
K: Great question.
Keep in mind that CS Lewis (or otherwise the source of the quote) is non-biblical so a Christianm does not need to accept your premises
A few thoughts (Catholic tradition) possession is still acknowledged (rare). Biblically the devil talked to man, directly, and tempted man to get him to reject God by multiplying difficulties.
A good theology demands good philosophy (true of but not necessarily understood by Protestants). It is safe to say that there is no definitive agency by which the devil works. Within the Catholic tradition one is far more likely to see the theology of devil through art than through treatises.
Back to your quote: the devil works through pride – his big fault – rather than directly causing despair.
To be clear, I was just quoting Bob.
I am interested in Bob’s answer, too. It just seemed to me that the comments you were getting were not moving the discussion forward.
>One of the easiest tricks the devil can play is to convince you that you’re worthless, God doesn’t actually love you, etc.,
Not as impressive as convincing you of his non-existence though!
I agree more or less with the deathbed confession thing, as long as there is a requirement for the contrition to be genuine. If I commit sins with the intention of confessing them and have no intention to stop committing these sins, am I forgiven whatever the priest says?
I think that a lot f Catholics believe they are forgiven if they go through the motions, whether there is genuine contrition and desire to stop sinning. My questions are, am I right in thinking that, and am I right thinking that going through the motions is not sufficient?
What is the point of confession? Both Catholics with their confession booths and Protestants with 1 John 1:9, claim confession is for forgiveness of sins. Both of those are a terrible understanding of confession and a faulty understanding of what Jesus’ work on the cross accomplished. To better understand confession, take seven minutes and watch this explanation.
https://basicgospel.net/video/answers/confession-and-forgiveness/
Mark, out of curiosity what denomination of Christianity do you belong to, since you’re criticizing both Catholics and Protestants?
I’m a non-denominational Protestant. Catholic theology is not Christian, and on this subject, by and large Protestants don’t understand the grace message and have built a doctrine on getting forgiven based on one verse when there are tons of verses that show everyone was forgiven at the cross. Spend some time at basicgospel.net if you’d like a more complete explanation.
The long standing debate amongst many theologians, those whom have authority to delineate what would be the interpretation of scripture through one’s high level of exegesis, has been to define the important bywords which have been left over the centuries by other exegetics in the past.
I find this topic here in your blog very fascinating as sola fide in and of itself is a latin term all Christian denominations can agree upon denotes that our faith, our acceptance of the true existence of Christ, will provide us the proper reconciliation we require in our lives according to God’s will. In these respects what I can promulgate here is that the order which has stood the test of time, which has been in place since Jesus was here in flesh, has made it clear to it’s parishioners that it is through the Mass where find that necessary forgiveness and righteousness at it’s greatest vigor.
Indeed it is true that one may practice lectio divina, or the individual approach to prayer, rumination and scripture reading, and one is constantly admonished to do so consistently, although what we are aware is of the utmost importance is the following of the order of which the Bible has established. Mass is pertinent, Mass is necessary, and Eucharist is for those priests whom have given everything up to live at the Highest level of Agape to impart to us during this most lofty event.
Comprehensively a secular priest may make the claim indeed at his bible studies, as any deacon or church organizer may utter, that one alone must make his choices with prudence as is enjoined by Christ. This would include repenting indiviualisticaly, as one does when they take responsibility for their actions in the first place and extends the olive branch of peace. This admonishment would not at all be incorrect. The most essential piece of our lives as Christians is the Sabbath, where we receive the Eucharist.
The point of which to contemplate then becomes how in fact the Christian will decide to partake in the self-oblation, as well as the infusion of Jesus we require: Will it be through the more secular approach, or through the historically established order which has been in place for centuries?