That is an interesting bit of information ….I did not know that. I was raised Catholic …and I have my contentions with the catholic church, but I am thankful for any amount of biblical teaching no matter what the religion. I left the church at 15 because I decided to tell the truth in the confessional ….all other times I would lie….say stupid little thing like “I disobeyed my mom” “threw stones at my brother” actually I probably did that too. But the one time I opened up and told the truth…..he started screaming at me saying “there was no penance he could give me to redeem me”. I could have handled that, but my dad was in the other side of the penalty box, and he overheard much of what the priest said ……...that was a quit ride home. The following Saturday I went back to the church and waited until there was nobody else waiting for confession …..I lit a smoke bomb, threw it in with the priest and wedged the door shut……that was the last time I set foot in a Catholic church. When you are going to hell as many times as I was …what did it matter. The following 6 or so years…. I spiraled out of control…thank God for mercy and grace.
Hello
sandman;
I overlooked your post and was shocked but am sorry by your experience in the confessional. I would not have condoned your bombing the confessional with the priest in it. I'm sure the priest didn't say anything because he was bound by the seal and cannot reveal what is heard or learned during a confessional.
I understand this was
when you were 15 and after that you left the church.
sandman, have you settled in the church with your family today?
In the church we have done the prayer of acceptance -
spiritual baptism with young children and teens. They usually follow with an orientation of water baptism, what it means and the day they publicly repent and make a commitment to follow Jesus. This is the fun part for them because their friends (many who don't attend church) will witness their testimony for Christ and then go celebrate over pizza.
Sad, but these young children and teens will still go through the growing pains of growing up, make mistakes or fall into sin. Some had come forth to open up with their parents or meet with me to confess their wrongdoing and seek forgiveness. The Good News is the young man or woman will learn that through their salvation that they are saved and forgiven by God.
God bless
you, sandman, and thank you for sharing.
Brothers and sisters;
I have a question. I have read in this topic that
some posters will emphasize that water baptism is symbolic, ritual or tradition. Are we minimizing water baptism in this sense, when in fact it was important with Jesus; to emphasize to John that this was to fulfill all righteousness. Though Jesus didn't sin, He set the example by standing in the place of sinful man.