Josh, why do you go to the confession?
1. I'm a sinner.
2. I want to confess my sins to God.
3. As a sinner, I want to confess my sins to God the way that God wants me to confess my sins.
4. The way that God wants me, a sinner, to confess my sins is by going to a priest for the Sacrament of Penance.
Josh, that seems fair. However, don't you believe that God forgives sins?
That's a fair question. Yes, I believe that God forgives sins. Now I have a question for you: do you believe that God has the authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people?
Josh, that's a fair question. Yes, I believe that God has the authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people because Matthew 19:26 says But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." But just because Jesus said that with God all things are possible it doesn't mean that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people. Is there evidence in the Bible that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people?
That's a fair question. Yes, there is evidence in the Bible that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people. Consider Leviticus 19:22 And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the LORD for his sin which he has committed; and the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him.
Josh, that is pretty convincing and I accept your point. After all, that's what the Bible says and the Bible is true. But I have a funny feeling about that. Maybe because it's in the Old Testament it's not really important anymore. Is there evidence in the New Testament that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people?
That's a fair question. Yes, there is evidence in the New Testament that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people. Consider John 20:21-23 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."
Josh, that is pretty convincing and I accept your point. After all, that's what the New Testament says and the New Testament is true. Is there more evidence in the New Testament that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people?
That's a fair question. Yes, there is more evidence in the New Testament that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people. Consider James 5:14-16 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. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.
Josh, that is pretty convincing and I accept your point. After all, that's what the New Testament says and the New Testament is true. But that passage uses the word "elders" - what does "elders" mean?
That's a fair question. According to the Catholic Dictionary, "elders" means: The older men in a community acting as a governing body (I Samuel 16:4). The Sanhedrin, for instance, was made up of elders (Exodus 3:16). They were mentioned in Matthew as joining the chief priests in challenging Jesus during his ministry (Matthew 27:12). The traditional system carried over into Christian communities. The Apostles appointed elders to take charge of each church (Acts 14:23). According to the Council of Trent, the elders mentioned by St. James as administrators of the sacrament of anointing (James 5:14) "does not refer to the older men nor to the more influential men in the community, but to the bishops or the priests duly ordained by the bishops through the laying on of hands of the presbyterate" (Denzinger 1697).
Josh, that is pretty convincing and I accept your point. Is there more evidence in the New Testament that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people?
That's a fair question. Yes, there is more evidence in the New Testament that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Josh, that is pretty convincing and I accept your point. After all, that's what the New Testament says and the New Testament is true. I understand that there is evidence in the Bible that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people. But I don't think I believe it.
That's fair. But just because you don't believe something it doesn't mean that it's not true. Plus, the New Testament tells us that sometimes people don't believe the truth. Consider Acts 28:24 And some were convinced by what he said, while others disbelieved. Also, consider Acts 28:26-27 `Go to this people, and say, You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.'
Josh, wow. I guess that I should believe that God used his authority and power to establish a priesthood to communicate his forgiveness to his people. But I think that this is a hard saying.
That's fair. Yes, you should believe it's true. Also, just because something is a hard saying doesn't mean that it isn't true and that you shouldn't believe it. Consider John 6:60 Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" Something can be a hard saying and still be true and something that you should believe.
Josh, wow. Thanks. You are really smart.
That's fair. But I'm not really smart; I'm just pointing out what the Lord has revealed to us.
Josh, wow. Thanks for pointing out what the Lord has revealed to us.
You're welcome.
Pope Benedict XVI:
In the Sacrament of Penance Christ crucified and risen, through his ministers, purifies us with his infinite mercy, restores us to communion with the heavenly Father and our brothers, and makes a gift of his love, joy and peace to us.
Is this true?
pax tecum
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