Confessing Sins to Others (not necessarily to a priest)?
608803
In the book of James we are told to "confess your sins, one to another".  This is also one of the ways people get sober and stay that way in AA. We put our shortcomings into perspective and get our guilt out. So yes appropriate, at least at times, and certainly usefull for spiritual health.
135974
Just God, unless you have people you want to confess to or ask forgiveness from, but that is up to you.  You confess your sins to God only.
876186
Yes and it`s quite special,it`s good to say sorry to God for our sins, true repentance is just that, but sometimes you feel awful for what you have done and just can`t shake the guilt, and it`s such a relief to hear that it`s okay from the Priests mouth.\nI always feel like i am walking on air after a good confession, and that the weight of my sins has been taken off me and I am clean again,it`s like a sauna for the soul.
1136851
There is only one sin that will send you to hell and that is rejecting JESUS CHRIST as your personal savior. John 3:18-19\nIf someone truly excepts Christ as their savior they do not want to continue to live a life of sinfulness. 1 John 3:9-10 explains this quite adequately. Rather than wondering how much sin you can commit you should be wondering how to become more like CHRIST... you can not have a relationship with the world and with CHRIST  James 4:4 . Just simply acknowledging that GOD exists is not becoming a Christian. Even the devil believes in GOD in this manner and I assure you that he is not going to \nheaven. Look up Romans 10:9-10 for a study on how to be saved. I hope and pray that you truly submit to the LORD SHIP OF CHRIST in your life through a relationship with HIM.\n~GOD BLESS YOU AND LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH~
6736
Going to confession is one of the very important duties of the Catholic. It's one of the essential elements so to speak of being a good Catholic. I know it seems awkward and it isn't much fun, but isn't always kind of a release too, to be able to confess all the wrongs you have committed? Best of luck to you.
1047082
You turn your life back over to God.Make a contious effert no to sin again.Ask HIM for forgiveness for your sin,and mean it.Get in a bible believeing bible teaching church.I once turned away from God because i had all of the questions that you have.Like you i already know what i was doing was wrong,but i kept doing them because i thouhgt it was fun,i didn't think i had to look at my life as it was.I thought i was free to do any and every thing i wanted to do.I was wrong,just as you are wrong.Everything that the word of GOD tells us to do,sociaty tells us it's alright to do.Drinking,drugs,pornography,lying and cheating in any form.there are a host of things i could mention but i think you get the point.If you have not found out already you will see that those thing and some can only lead to a distructive life style.If you want to turn your life over to GOD here's your chance.Get on your knees,humble yourself before the LORD.As HIM for forgiveness for your sins and mean it.Speak your sin to HIM out loud in a private place so that it will be you and HIM.Tell HIM everything you can think of,and especially the things you want no one else to hear.Turn your heart,your mind and your soul over to GOD,you will see a big differents in how you think,how you talk,how youact.You do have to be awear that your so called friend are going to think you are strange,but if you really want ro do this you will accept what in front of you,not your past.
65038
if you're catholic [which i assume you are] you are obligated to tell the sin under penalty of committing another mortal sin for not telling.\nbut why not tell? i know it hurts [trust me] to repeat the sin over to someone you don't know or like, but you will feel so much better, i promise. the priest will have heard the sin before--don't worry--and he probably doesn't care. besides, he'll forget right after. if you still feel scared that he'll think of the sin when he sees you, go to a parish you don't usually go to and confess to that priest.\nthe reason why you just can't say a prayer and not confess is that because every sin you commit, even if it's private or unknown, affects the church as a whole and you therefore have to confess it to a member of the community. you also receive tons of help from God that help you not to commit the sin again. [feel lucky--in the first few centuries of the church, people had to confess their sins in front of entire congregations. yeah, that would suck!]\ni promise that God's forgiveness and the graces that come along with it will be well worth the effort of telling the priest, who acts in the place of Christ.
780465
It depends but over all I think it is OK.\n\nyou do want to be as honest and truthful as you can. But face it, truth can hurt and being too honest can get you into trouble. You have a perfectly good point, what do you say? Be honest and hurt their feeling, or lie and keep it to yourself.  Unfortunately it really depends on a lot of things as to which way is right. For instance (in this case), are they serious, or fishing for a complement? How can you tell which one?\n\nReligiously, yes a Lie is a sin; but, of course, so is killing (an extreme). But as we can see in the bible, even that can be justifiable in certain aspects.\n\nGood luck
629152
i may wanna talk abt the sin\nsin that people do.\nand the ways to stop sin and bring happiness in this world
328033
This is something the Catholic church has no revelation of.  There is no need for confessionals.  God said to confess to Him and if you have done wrong to another person, then confess to them as well.
962322
Ask God to make Himself real to you.\n\nBe honest with Him. Confess your sins before Him.\n\nBegin to read the bible. Ask God to make it real and alive to you. \n\nSeek out a good church - a church that studies the bible, prays, sings songs of worship.\n\nOpen your heart to God. He wants you to believe, He wants to reveal Himself to you, He wants to make Himself real to your heart.\n\nLearn about Jesus - read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.\nLearn about the early church-  read the book of Acts\n\nObey God - maybe there is something you haven't been willing to do that He wants you to do - Trust Him, love Him, obey Him.\n\nGod bless!!
783161
I would think so.  It helps us realize that we are by nature very sinful and cannot redeem ourselves.\n\nThis kind of thing is excellent.  I believe Jesus even said to do it (in private) - from the Bible.
1132442
I wouldn't want anyone else to bear the burden of my own sins.  They are caused by my actions and therefore they can only be my own responsibility, to learn from and try to put right.\n\n\nI can understand why some people would want to pass the responsibility onto another though.  They either cannot handle the responsibility because of their own immaturity or are too self-absorbed to want to take the responsibility, in my honest opinion.
85093
believe in Jesus, repent of ur sins, and tell other people about.. i think thats right
525318
Luke 15:10\n"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."\n\nREPENT:\nTo reconize the wrong in something you have done and be sorry about it. To feel regret about a sin or past action and change your ways.\n\nYour friend along with the married man has committed and act of sin. While the man in this case is still trying to contuinue, she is not. It is not enough just to stop and act as if nothing has happened. That would be further lying, and more sin. Because she is an officer in the church, a question of integrity has come into play and has to be addressed. To continue fellowship at this church, the matter should be brought before the pastor. Under his councel they can together map out a plan to both stop it and prevent it from taking place again. There are no easy answers. Feelings will be hurt. Problems have already been created, and consequences will come to bear. This is the result of giving in to the lusts of the flesh. Christ came for the unrighteous, as a redeemer. Trust in His saving grace and mercy to see you through.\n\nActs 26:18\n"to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."\n\nTell your friend not to beat up on herself. She is not alone in sinning, many others have done the same act. Not one of us is perfect... no not one. While we have life in this body, we have hope in Christ Jesus! All of you will be in my prayers.\nMatt.
129970
OK lets try and unravel this into its core components.\n\nA police officer [I am assuming] has told you that you cannot approach and/or speak to this person.\n\nYou however, feeling guilty over whatever it is that you have done, feel an overwhelming desire to be punished for your transgression.\n\nThis is a normal reaction for many people as they feel the psychological need for punishment as this provides a sense of "closure" and a shift in guilt.\n\nIn your case you actually want him to do something wrong as well, not just punish you, as this means that he cannot point the finger at you because he has done a horrible thing too.\n\nI know people will say..go to your brother first before coming to the temple...but that does not apply to you in this situation.  You harbour no ill will towards this person!  You cry out to God because your sin is before you.  \n\nGod always hears this cry and you need to focus on your relationship with God first.  This is the path to forgiveness for you, not the friend.  You need to understand that God forgives you.  Then, you may be able to forgive yourself.  Finally you may be able to approach this person and ask forgiveness.\n\nRemember, they may not want to forgive you, and that is their right.  Your peace and forgiveness with God is not dependant upon this persons responses to you, even though you did the wrong thing.\n\nGod may be workingnin that persons life too, and Gods timing is not always ours.  Also, some people just need lots of time to be able to forgive, and just because you may be in a hurry to receive it, does not mean you should hurry them up.\n\nThats why it starts with God for you, so that if this man cannot forgive you, you have peace with God that you did all you could to ask for it....and who knows, in time that might help this man to forgive you anyway.\n\nForgiveness is something you ask for from another because it gives THEM the opportunity to heal from the hurt you have done to them.....\n\nIt is never asked for to make YOU feel better about the pain and guilt that you feel for having caused it.\n\nIn your case, you cant approach this person anyway, so this is a perfect opportunity to seek a counsellor perhaps to give you some support with your feelings and how to deal with them.
523005
ask the Lord. but if it is considered a sin as most really religious people do. Just remember Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins... because he knows everyone makes mistakes. you will be forgiven. no doubt.