Christianity is not about having a confession stand.

[Brasspen]

You will find that in the modern church in the USA, they have the confession stand. Confess your sins before men and God to be forgiven of them. I do not believe in this practice, I believe it causes evil.

For example, the Roman Catholic church has been known to practice the confession stand for thousands of years. They have been known to become corrupt and use the confession stand for blackmail. I heard about this one church that was having sex with all the women because of the confession stand.

Today, I see the church of God being used as a snare, a trap, a pit for men to fall into. When someone comes to the church confessing their sins, coming to repentance, there is a police officer in each of these church, and he takes them to jail. They are convicted. This has given the Christian church a very bad image. The police officer gets rank up he's badge and pay rate, the church staff glory in catching someone with a sin.

There was a scripture but I do not know where to find it, it talked about this very thing, about using God's word to trap men, putting a snare before men, a pit for them to fall into. God hates that type of thing.

The apostles never had to confess their sins to Jesus. It was never about anything like this. People where called to repentance, but it was nothing about confession.

Have you heard any about the history of God church, before 0 BC in Israel. They never confessed their sins either. It was prohibited to ask or say anything about a man's sin in those church.

I would love to start my own church, for this very reason.

I believe the confession stand is Dogma.

 

[Dino246]

Today, I see the church of God being used as a snare, a trap, a pit for men to fall into. When someone comes to the church confessing their sins, coming to repentance, there is a police officer in each of these church, and he takes them to jail. They are convicted. This has given the Christian church a very bad image. The police officer gets rank up he's badge and pay rate, the church staff glory in catching someone with a sin.

I have never seen nor heard of such a thing… to the point that I suspect you are exaggerating significantly.

 

[Brasspen]

I have never seen nor heard of such a thing… to the point that I suspect you are exaggerating significantly.

I have seen them do this thing. The police do sit inside the church, under cover. They listen in on people confession. It was made a law that if anyone makes a confession of any broken law, then it's the law you have to report that person. The law enforcement hold this law against the priest, and make him tell.

These events have taken place in Florida. Northeast.

 

[Brasspen]

The police will have a meeting with the priest after church, probably after Sunday. And then ask him for any information that he might know about anyone.

It's for that reason I want to change the rules, I want to make the church like it used to be. No confessions are to be made. And no one is ever to ask. You would know if they are the police, because they would ask.

 

[Brasspen]

So to go further with my topic. Wound't they want to know everyone's little dirty secrets? That's what the enemy wants. Is to know your dirty secrets.

 

[pinebeach]

I would love to start my own church, for this very reason.

well that's interesting

we do have this verse:

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone 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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.[b] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

It's in the context of healing though so.....

 

[Gideon300]

You will find that in the modern church in the USA, they have the confession stand. Confess your sins before men and God to be forgiven of them. I do not believe in this practice, I believe it causes evil.

For example, the Roman Catholic church has been known to practice the confession stand for thousands of years. They have been known to become corrupt and use the confession stand for blackmail. I heard about this one church that was having sex with all the women because of the confession stand.

Today, I see the church of God being used as a snare, a trap, a pit for men to fall into. When someone comes to the church confessing their sins, coming to repentance, there is a police officer in each of these church, and he takes them to jail. They are convicted. This has given the Christian church a very bad image. The police officer gets rank up he's badge and pay rate, the church staff glory in catching someone with a sin.

There was a scripture but I do not know where to find it, it talked about this very thing, about using God's word to trap men, putting a snare before men, a pit for them to fall into. God hates that type of thing.

The apostles never had to confess their sins to Jesus. It was never about anything like this. People where called to repentance, but it was nothing about confession.

Have you heard any about the history of God church, before 0 BC in Israel. They never confessed their sins either. It was prohibited to ask or say anything about a man's sin in those church.

I would love to start my own church, for this very reason.

I believe the confession stand is Dogma.

"Confess your faults to one another". James 5:16. According to one of the wisest believers ever, Watchman Nee, public sin should be confessed publicly. For example, if someone has stolen from the church funds, it should be brought before the assembly. However, if the sin is not public, maybe an unforgiving attitude, that is between the offender and the Lord.

The church must decide what to do, not the law of the land. The law of the land may have to get involved. In Australia, if you do not report some offences, you are breaking the law yourself. Fundamentally, the church deals with church matters.

I will say that I've never come across a church that has police officer waiting to take someone to prison.

 

[Dino246]

I have seen them do this thing. The police do sit inside the church, under cover. They listen in on people confession. It was made a law that if anyone makes a confession of any broken law, then it's the law you have to report that person. The law enforcement hold this law against the priest, and make him tell.

These events have taken place in Florida. Northeast.

That's a terrible abuse of Christian practice.

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

I learned to not confess anything to my pastor. it completely ruined our friendship.

 

[Solitude]

You will find that in the modern church in the USA, they have the confession stand. Confess your sins before men and God to be forgiven of them. I do not believe in this practice, I believe it causes evil.

For example, the Roman Catholic church has been known to practice the confession stand for thousands of years. They have been known to become corrupt and use the confession stand for blackmail. I heard about this one church that was having sex with all the women because of the confession stand.

Today, I see the church of God being used as a snare, a trap, a pit for men to fall into. When someone comes to the church confessing their sins, coming to repentance, there is a police officer in each of these church, and he takes them to jail. They are convicted. This has given the Christian church a very bad image. The police officer gets rank up he's badge and pay rate, the church staff glory in catching someone with a sin.

There was a scripture but I do not know where to find it, it talked about this very thing, about using God's word to trap men, putting a snare before men, a pit for them to fall into. God hates that type of thing.

The apostles never had to confess their sins to Jesus. It was never about anything like this. People where called to repentance, but it was nothing about confession.

Have you heard any about the history of God church, before 0 BC in Israel. They never confessed their sins either. It was prohibited to ask or say anything about a man's sin in those church.

I would love to start my own church, for this very reason.

I believe the confession stand is Dogma.

2 Timothy 4:3
For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears:

 

[Deuteronomy]

You will find that in the modern church in the USA, they have the confession stand. Confess your sins before men and God to be forgiven of them.

Hello Brasspen, my work has taken me into almost every kind of Christian church and Jewish temple in existence today, but I've never heard the term "confession stand" before, nor was I able to get anything to pop-up about via either a basic or an Ai search. Perhaps you could point us to an article or two on the internet so that we can read about it

I have, of course, heard of the practice, not only in the Bible, but in churches as well (especially in RC and EO churches, though it is only a legalistic requirement in Catholic churches). I have witnessed it being done, public confessions, that is, but only on special days (particularly on Good Fridays and sometimes during testimonies and/or adult baptisms), but it was never a requirement for any of the congregants. Also, the only place that I've witnessed this is in Protestant churches (I've never seen anyone making a public confession in a Catholic church, only private ones in a confessional).

I do not believe in this practice, I believe it causes evil.

The verb "confess" in James 5:16 is in the present, imperative, which means that it is an ongoing command that is given to us as a benefit and blessing. This certainly removes it from any sense of being an "evil" practice (take note of the surrounding context in James 5, which @pinebeach has already posted for us here), since God is hardly in the business of commanding us to do "evil"

For example, the Roman Catholic church has been known to practice the confession stand for thousands of years. They have been known to become corrupt and use the confession stand for blackmail. I heard about this one church that was having sex with all the women because of the confession stand.

Please point us to the articles on the internet that you've read about these two practices by the RCC and/or one of its parishes.

Today, I see the church of God being used as a snare, a trap, a pit for men to fall into. When someone comes to the church confessing their sins, coming to repentance, there is a police officer in each of these church, and he takes them to jail. They are convicted. This has given the Christian church a very bad image. The police officer gets rank up he's badge and pay rate, the church staff glory in catching someone with a sin.

Again, please give us links to the articles that talk about these things, because again, I've never seen or heard about it before (I have read of abuse by priests and pastors, and the consequences they've faced, as well about churches excommunicating impenitent members for publicly known sins that they steadfastly refuse to confess and repent of, but again, I have never heard or read about any of the things that you mentioned in your OP).

The apostles never had to confess their sins to Jesus. It was never about anything like this. People where called to repentance, but it was nothing about confession. Have you heard any about the history of God church, before 0 BC in Israel. They never confessed their sins either. It was prohibited to ask or say anything about a man's sin in those church.

Both the OT and Jewish Tradition teach the necessity of a sinner to confess his/her sins. Jewish tradition even has a name for it, vidui (IOW, Jewish "confession") which is the final step in the process of teshuvah (or Jewish "repentance"). This (teshuvah) is a word that literally means "return", because it is through, teshuvah, that a Jew repents of their sins and returns to their true Jewish essence. I've also read that Confession is a Jewish as the Bible is (you can check all of these things out at Jewish learning sites, like MyJewishLearning.com and Chabad.org, if you'd care to).

And, of course, the OT is simply with both commands and examples of men/women confessing and being forgiven of their sins, as well as specific instructions about what to do/how to be redeemed for one kind of sin or another. For instance,

Leviticus 5​

4 If a person swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, in whatever matter a man may speak thoughtlessly with an oath, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty in one of these. ​

5 So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned. ​

6 He shall also bring his guilt offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin. ​

​

Numbers 5​

6 “Speak to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the LORD, and that person is guilty, ​

7 then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.'"​

Wound't they want to know everyone's little dirty secrets? That's what the enemy wants. Is to know your dirty secrets.

As Christians we are no longer people of the night (IOW, people who choose to live their lives in secrecy and darkness), rather, we have been made, "children of the day" instead .. 1 Thessalonians 5:5, and we need to live our lives as such (e.g. we have been called both the salt and the light of this world by the very light of the world Himself, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ .. e.g. Matthew 5:13-16).

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy

 

[Skittle]

You will find that in the modern church in the USA, they have the confession stand. Confess your sins before men and God to be forgiven of them. I do not believe in this practice, I believe it causes evil.

For example, the Roman Catholic church has been known to practice the confession stand for thousands of years. They have been known to become corrupt and use the confession stand for blackmail. I heard about this one church that was having sex with all the women because of the confession stand.

Did you know people make things up?

If a priest acts on or discloses anything in confession he is instantly excommunicated. It does not need any human determination. Even if a person confesses they are going to kill someone the priest can do nothing. Confession actually goes back to the early church. Jesus commanded us to confess our sins to one another but I guess you know better. Back then you would confess serious sins to the congregation.

 

[Brasspen]

When I said confession stand, I mean to talk about the confessional. Also, I have been in churches who the first thing they want, is for you to speak out all your sins to them. This was not written in an article, it's from being there.

About the church I talked about that had blackmailed the women. This was something I learned about on the radio back in the 2010's. It was a story about the history of a specific church from long long long ago. A church that was over seas. In that story the whole town found out what had been going on, and they came after the church staff. They barricaded themselves into the church and committed suicide. After the town people took the church back, they found loads and loads of documents talking about what they had been doing.

These are not from articles I have been reading, it's from witnessing it in life.

But I agree with what people have been telling me, about the confessions because I know these are written. One of those says, To confess your sins before Men and God, and it will be forgiven.

 

[Skittle]

When I said confession stand, I mean to talk about the confessional. Also, I have been in churches who the first thing they want, is for you to speak out all your sins to them. This was not written in an article, it's from being there.

What churches do that? That is creepy and not how it is done in the Catholic Church.

About the church I talked about that had blackmailed the women. This was something I learned about on the radio back in the 2010's. It was a story about the history of a specific church from long long long ago. A church that was over seas. In that story the whole town found out what had been going on, and they came after the church staff. They barricaded themselves into the church and committed suicide. After the town people took the church back, they found loads and loads of documents talking about what they had been doing.

It must be true if on the radio. If you believe that I have some ocean front property in Arizona you might like.

These are not from articles I have been reading, it's from witnessing it in life.

It would not have involved any mainstream churches.

 

[Brasspen]

What churches do that? That is creepy and not how it is done in the Catholic Church.



It must be true if on the radio. If you believe that I have some ocean front property in Arizona you might like.



It would not have involved any mainstream churches.

So the churches that I seen do this thing, with the confessions where those small churches with very limited number of members.

It was official christian radio station on AM radio, but the station went out of business years ago. I loved listening in.

No those where not mainstream churches.

 

[Skittle]

So the churches that I seen do this thing, with the confessions where those small churches with very limited number of members.

It was official christian radio station on AM radio, but the station went out of business years ago. I loved listening in.

No those where not mainstream churches.

Okay, that makes sense as I do not know of any mainstream groups like that. That I do have an issue with. Catholics are not pressed into confessing. There is a screen or something to avoid being known. It is very common for people to go to another parish so they can't even be identified by voice. The priest cannot say anything but I guess they don't want their pastor to know.

 

[homwardbound]

I read all posted here to this point

I see, Father by Son took away all sin for us to stand in belief he is risen to enter in with Father and Son and be taught new, how to not sin and harm others ever again. To be able to let go of sin, errors to self and others as still goes on today, anyways at least can being in a body not yet redeemed. Yet is in Father's Spirit and Truth only. John 4:23-24, Unfortunately, people continue in sin. We all are reprobates, especially those in belief sincerely in risen Son for them.
God Father desires a relationship personally with each person personally to learn from Father what is best for thee, Jeremiah 29:11, and what is not good for thee. For me it took willingness to even begin new in trust to God alone. Which was hard, since I had so many others that cLimed they were good with God deceive me, I bet many others have experienced this also.
Now prior to being willing for Father to lead through me, I was under Law and when I did well, so I thought I was better than others as in Luke 18:9-14, when I sinned again, I overlooked it since I was a better person than others forgiven by God, I could get away with drinking too much, drugging myself, having unmarried sex with whoever I wanted.
Today, I see differently, thanks to God, not self or anyone else. I can truthfully only trust God
I have experienced the confession booth. I found out, when others found out by my confessing, it helped me to do it for me between God and me. yet from others wow, woe is me

I went through a confession in a church. where the Pastor got me to confess to the entire church. I did, I am now glad I did, not at first from all the reactions of the people
No wonder people hide from confessing publicly. Yet it can be used evilly and I have seen that as well
So I confess to God Father in my own closet and trust God to let me know what to do.
I heard many years ago now, to go to the people, I had done wrong and confess.
That was an exhausting list. I did as much as possible to as many as could find. Even those that did not know I did wrong to them.
Talk about freeing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh boy yes, no skeletons in my closet. They dance in my front yard and I see in trust to God to faithfully between God and me to not do them anymore they are past gone forever in trust to God
Phil 3, I put past behind me now as fast as it is done. seeing if I do harm others to confess it and be sincere in that confession to them.
Yet there are those here that claim I harmed them, and I reread to see if I have. I see people being guilty and wanting to pass that onto others as in. Adam and Eve tried t do that too
I confess, "I" nered God Father and Son as won for me to be able to enter in, otherwise under Law t get in I would become a torso to be able to enter u under Law, just what I see thank you Brasspen
There is a double edged sword in this world, that is used by people to get thier ways, Where God Father is stronger and better with mercy and truth for us all, to change willingly and be new in God's Spirit and Truth only

 

[Underd0g]

I learned to not confess anything to my pastor. it completely ruined our friendship.

That's funny.
My wife and I made friends with a couple who were new to the church. He was a rugged individualist and would make money by doing things like setting up roadside stands and selling fruit/vegetables/shrimp, or whatever. His comment after people in a small group asked for prayer was that they are asking for prayer for things like not reading the Bible for days in a row.
He didn't think they'd appreciate his need for prayer, not to punch them in the face.

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

That's funny.
My wife and I made friends with a couple who were new to the church. He was a rugged individualist and would make money by doing things like setting up roadside stands and selling fruit/vegetables/shrimp, or whatever. His comment after people in a small group asked for prayer was that they are asking for prayer for things like not reading the Bible for days in a row.
He didn't think they'd appreciate his need for prayer, not to punch them in the face.

I think i can recall three major church hiccups in my life so far, that has caused me to go on a church break for a while. maybe those breaks are needed sometimes, not sure.

 

[pinebeach]

The verb "confess" in James 5:16 is in the present, imperative, which means that it is an ongoing command that is given to us as a benefit and blessing. This certainly removes it from any sense of being an "evil" practice (take note of the surrounding context in James 5, which @pinebeach has already posted for us here), since God is hardly in the business of commanding us to do "evil"