As you leave the Motel 6 and seek out confessional, the light will be on for you in both places.

Confess your sins to no man, Jesus Christ is the Mediator between you and God the Father, Jesus is the door, no man can come to God but bye Jesus Christ.

1st Christ didnt intend a man to confess to another man, 2nd humility, humility by coming back and back, thats not humility that's stupidity, a catholic that keeps sinning can have all the sacraments of grace and penance of sins but, there still sinners and not forgiven by God until they come to Jesus. The same applies to those that pray directly to Jesus, keep sinning over and over your a sinner. The Word says call no man Father if you understand the Word of God you know this means, Spiritual Father and a priest is not above any other man on this Earth.  As far as trusting another to go to God for me, no way, I want my prayers coming from me, too Jesus so that He can come back to my heart and insure me they were heard.

Christ didn't intend man to ask for forgiveness from his brother he has sinned against??  Really??

So, I guess if you sin against a person, you don't have to apologize and ask that person to forgive you.  You just silently ask Jesus to forgive you and everything is hunky dory.  Feel free to commit the sin again.

Catholics believe we are a community of believers.  We live as a community, we eat as a community, we pray as a community, we die as a community.  We believe a sin is a sin against the community.   The priest is a proxy for the community that you have sinned against, not a telephone operator with a red telephone to God.  He stands in as a proxy for the community that has been harmed by your sin.  He forgives the sins you have committed on behalf of the community that has been harmed by your sin, just as Jesus asked us to do, forgive the sins of others. We believe sins have already been forgiven by Jesus by his dying on the cross; the act of confession is asking for forgiveness from the community which we have offended by our sins.  If non-Catholics really believe that Jesus death on the cross has saved them, then why do they even see the need to ask for forgiveness from Jesus for their sins??  You are already saved, right??  Why confess your sins in private to Jesus, they are already forgiven 2000 years ago??

 I guess if you want to believe that Jesus never intended you to ask forgiveness from those that you have harmed for your sins, then so be it.  I guess the "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us"   is just filler in the Lords Prayer.  

Guess you two didnt read all my post, Jesus died for the sin of man by Adam. Jesus also died for our healing, with His strips, does that mean we dont have to ask to be healed? I dont think so. James 5: 15 QUOTE: And the prayer of Faith shall Save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be Forgiven.  Jesus said ask anything in my name but, my two friends does that just mean ask? I believe as the Word states( believe) (that is called Faith) Paul wrote, confess your faults among each other he didnt say your sins. The Catholic's are always quoting when He breathed on them, there sins shall be forgiven, After the day of Pentecost in Acts 2: we all can be filled with the Holy Spirit, we can all lay hands on the sick and the prayer of FAITH shall Heal them and forgive their sins. Acts 2: 37-39, Peter, And again Acts 10: 44-48. 

But the main thing the catholic church forgets, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. This being Born again is a act of Faith by the individual the only work the person has to do is believe 1st and ask for, forgiveness he doesnt have to carry around a cross or go without his favorite WHAT EVER TO SHOW HIS FAITH, this forgiveness is called JUSTIFICATION we are now justified before God. This gives us a standing before God though Jesus Christ we are clean though His Son, yes if we have time to be Baptized before death we should by all means take on His death, burial and resurrection. But the difference, we are Baptized after we believe after we are Justified though Jesus. 1Peter: 1- all) the word there says FAITH Being Born Again)even your own so called the Rock of the Catholic church says by Faith. 

The faith of my parents by having a 3 month old child Baptized does not save my soul as a child. You can gave the child communion with the cracker and the wine but, my two friends that child is not any more justified than a child without those Works you have ministered. I see from the parents view its a work of Hope.When that child grows up He/She must be Born Again like any other person must do, Baptism does not save anyone. I believe you are giving out false teaching by telling your child they have been baptized and they are in grace with God.

Grace is a free gift to all but there are works of Faith that go with Grace and the 1st is to believe, confess they are sinners and ask to be forgiven. Then be Baptized, then their Baptism is of Faith.

Allred, ever heard of confirmation??  THat is where a young adult confirms their faith in Christ.  If you want to call that being born again, so be it.

You are starting to sound like a Catholic bigot because of your ignorance about the Church, but I forgive you, as Christ has commanded me.

Confirmation, hmm how young anony?

Bigot does that mean I believe the Catholic church teaches falsely? if so call me a bigot or one that wants to enlighten those in the dark because of false preaching and teaching.

anony I have a question for you show me in the Word about confirmation and the young person confirms their faith @ 3 months.

THEIR FAITH @ THREE MONTHS

ANONY NOW THAT WE ARE TALKING LIKE TWO FRIENDS CAN YOU ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS i POSTED?

Sorry about the caps.

Steve, I'll try and bring this back around to your post...knowing how much advertising costs, can you believe they'd waste money on ads, instead of helping the less fortunate? Major WOOF!

I grew up a Catholic....I wasn't baptized 'til 2nd Grade, had confirmation in 4th grade.....I think its later than that now.   But, I'm not a follower of the Catholic church anymore.  I think it ended when they changed the eating fish on Friday's from all year to just during lent.

"Jesus is coming.....hide the eggs!"  (Carlos Mencia, regarding Easter)

A little humor here....   

Each Friday night after work, Bubba would fire up his outdoor grill and cook a venison steak. But all of Bubba's neighbors were Catholic....and since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating meat on Friday. The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest. The Priest came to visit Bubba and suggested that he become a Catholic. After several classes and much study, Bubba attended Mass.....and as the priest sprinkled holy water over him, he said, "You were born a Baptist, and raised a Baptist, but now you are a Catholic."

Bubba's neighbors were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived, and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison again filled the neighborhood. The Priest was called immediately by the neighbors and as he rushed into Bubba's yard clutching a rosary preparing to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement.

There stood Bubba, clutching a small bottle of holy water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat and chanted: "You wuz born a deer, you wuz raised a deer, but now you is a catfish."

Irv..most jokes are bound to offend someone.  If we can't laugh at ourselves we're in serious trouble.

I'm an equal opportunity joke appreciator so post on. 

ahhhh.....good one...

I really, really try and stay away from religion and politics....people that are born and raised in the religion of their parents, without seeing other religions, just seems wrong to me.  I've let my kids go with their friends to their churches, but when it comes to to their kids going with my kids( AWANA ), they won't let them.  It seems it's all about recruitement. 

I was shocked when my mother in law wouldn't go to a church wedding because it wasn't at a Catholic church.  WOW!

If Christian religions all believe in basically the same things (only methods and practice are different) then what does it matter which church you go to?  Why would anyone criticize another church when you agree that you must believe Jesus was the Messiah and died for your sins.  I find all this bickering over practice pretty hypocritical myself.  Jesus didn't say "be a Catholic, be a Baptist, Be a Methodist", he said "follow me."  He didn't say baptise before or after 3 months, he didn't say before or after twelve.   While you folks bicker over how to build the fence, the horses are getting away.  No wonder church attendence is falling.

What amazes me is how people take the Bible and read into it whatever they need to to make it back up their claim.  If it didn't say it...then no one has a right to decide that's what it meant.

A very unwise statement has been made I believe a statement that alot of todays people believe. Not a Liberal nor Conservative statement but, a post sitter a middle of the road a really know little of nothing concerning Christ and His church.

There's not a Baptist not a Pentecostal church that would agree with her statement.  I would even go as far to say the Catholic's dont believe that statement, I definitely know the Jehovah's Witness, Church of Christ, Mormon's dont either. A statement if they all believe Quote Nancy: If Christian religions all believe in basically the same things (only methods and practice are different) then what does it matter which church you go to?

This person says if the Bible doesnt say it)  He didn't say baptise before or after 3 months, he didn't say before or after twelve. Guess What Miss Person)  He said believe, believe and be Baptized, so middle of the road person How can you believe @ 3 months old? And that is just one minor diffence( really not minor). One must believe Jesus is God and has always been God not the brother of Satan or Lucifer and that is not Minor. Yes some churches call Jesus the Son of God but, they dont believe He is God and has been for ever.

So Miss Middle of the road do what the Word says, Study the Word of God to show thy self approved. So many claim their way and so many of them really dont know why, in politic's you can be wrong/ right in Christ you cannot.

http://www.americancatholic...

Why are babies Baptized??

Obviously, infants cannot understand the change of allegiance, the putting off of the old and putting on of the new, the dying and rising, the new life, or the sharing in the life of Christ. However, the parents of those infants can understand and live those values and pass them on to their children. They can also experience the support of the community in living those ideals, and that is extremely important.

Infant Baptism only makes sense if parents are true Christian disciples. If they are not, then it makes little sense to initiate their children into a Church which calls for a commitment to living the mission of Christ.

The Rite of Baptism for Children emphasizes the importance of faithfulness on the part of parents when it says to parents: In asking to have your children baptized, "you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith." That word practice is crucial; it calls for Christian modeling on the part of parents.

Children learn to be Christian by osmosis, by experiencing Christianity at home. The "domestic church" prepares children for the local and world Church. It is in the home, in the domestic church, that children first learn basic trust which is the foundation of faith. Without the experience of faith, hope and commitment in the home, children will not be able to know and understand the larger Church.

Ron..there's no need to be insulting.  I did NOT insult you for your beliefs and I do NOT sit in the middle of the road.  My faith is a simple one and my belief in the word is simple.  I believe it means what it says and not necessarily how YOU interrupt it.  Contrary to your statements, you aren't the only one who reads the Bible.  I've sat back all this time and never got into this argument but that doesn't mean I don't have an opinion about it.  I don't read into the Bible things that aren't there just to suit my agenda.  If you can show me where it says ANYthing about a 3 month old baby and baptism then I'll be happy to go read it.  But in the meantime, please don't be condescending with me..my faith means as much to me as your does to you.

I am not Pentecostal and that appears to be rub.  Intolerance of other Christian religions is just plain wrong no matter how you try to justify it.

Check out the definition of Christian.  I don't see it broken down into denominations and I for one, would never condemn anyone who who believes Christ is their savior.  Sorry..but hellfire and damnation isn't the way I was raised and I certainly don't believe it's the only way.

Christian - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Being able to see the value in all denominations is hardly being a "fence sitter."

Point taken Nancy, I can show you all day where those that were Baptized believed, now does that take any extra knowledge Penecostal or not? Then may I ask why are we Baptized? The death burial and resurrection of Jesus because of Faith and @ 3 months old how much Faith do they have? Is that just a Penecostal believe no, that's the Word of God. So I stand by my words I posted. 

Red

Please follow wherever your heart guides you.   Let others do the same.

I didn't put words in your mouth Ron.  I spoke words from MY mouth.  Now...several pastors has stated in my presence that you do not have to be baptized to go to heaven.  That baptism is in obedience to God and not a commandment..

The problem with haranguing people as one who stands on a street corner does, is that it turns people away instead of drawing them into faith.  Insulting them for their lack of agreement is hardly the way Jesus brought people into his fold.  What I find interesting, and a bit disturbing, is that some people who profess to be Christians don't practice the tolerence and understanding that Jesus did.  This is not directed particularly at you Ron..it's a general statement and an observation of mine from attending church and from writings I've seen.  Good Christians practice what Jesus preached and not what they themselves think they should preach.

That's the kind of hypocrisy that has driven people from churches even though they are still believers.   Quoting Bible passages doesn't mean much if one doesn't practice it in life.

Red

The major difference between you and I  is,  that your religion dictates that you convert others.  Mine assumes you know what's best for yourself.  I don't think I'm better than you are and I don't think you're better than I am.  I just think we're different.

Nancy I never said you had to be Baptized to go to Heaven again your putting words in my mouth, What I did say if you have time to be Bapitzed after being Saved, Being Born Again.

As for Jesus and His Apostle's read the Word when it comes to false teaching i'm a baby compared to what they said about false beliefs.

I was born right the first time, thank you very much!

The bible was written my man.

And you're the one to decide that others have false beliefs?    Another thing I find interesting is the fact that Pastors, Ministers, Rabbis and Priests have all come together for world councils and yet you, who I doubt has been to a seminary, are telling the Catholic Church that they are following false beliefs.

And please, don't assume that because I rarely get into religious discussions that I am  "a post sitter a middle of the road a really know little of nothing concerning Christ and His church. "

Enough already..this is pointless.  I'm secure in my faith and any  beliefs I have come straight out of the Bible.  You know...the words written in red there...not here.