Is Penance Scriptural?
Penance = Confession? Penance is a sacrament of the Roman Catholic organisation and some Orthodox churches, which is not found in the bible, or approved by the Word of God. The bible writers never taught such doctrine and ceremony.
Penance is not Christian Confession mentioned in scripture; though some Roman Catholics like to draw parallel between the two.
Penance involves an extra-biblical priest (Roman Catholic Priest, Father) receiving prayers (including set prayers) and confession from believers of the RC faith. This priest is said to have power to forgive sins on behalf of God. Never is it that the extra-biblical priest behind the viel would confess his sins and wrong-doings to the person on the other side, and is told to do certain act for the forgiving of his sins, and have his sins forgiven.
Confession in the bible is a mutual act, in which the believers mutual confess their wrongdoing and seek mutual forgiveness; and mutually pray to the same God for forgiveness and guidance. There is no need for set prayers.
James 5 v16 is quoted to support the doctrine of Penance. We will examine this verse here below:
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
The effective supplication of a righteous man can accomplish much.Here ends the argument, heresy.
For those who still wish to debate it, here is the rebuke from the bible:
Christians are asked to confess, not to have a sacrament (symbolic religious ceremony) called Penance. Confession is not symbolic; neither is it a ceremony. It is a practical, direct daily act.
The supplication (prayer) is of righteous men; not of extra-biblical priests.
The confessors are still regarded as righteous men. They pray for one another; not to some sort of priest.
Confession and prayer can heal, spiritually and physically. Penance is rarely related to physical healing. Whereas it has a mental effect on RC believers, it hardly expose any spiritual healing. The sinner is said to be healed, rather than seen to be healed spiritually. hardly accomplish much.
The verse does not establish or support confession to any leading figure, someone who rank superior to the confessors.
You never find the RC priests, including the pope and archi-bishops confessing their sins to common christians and RC laymen. The RC laymen is set in a class of the untrained, and un-ordained. They have no RC right and power to receive confession.
You never find the RC priests kneeling in front of common christians for confession.
Kneeling to confess before other christians is not biblical.
The Biblical rights and power are ignored, and covered by words (unbiblical dogma).
The old English term - I pray thee - means I beg thee - sometimes meaning I ask of you; hardly relates to biblical confession. This term is not a ceremonial one to start with. One might bow his kneels to beg. No christian is taught by the bible to kneel before other servants/slaves of God to confess their wrongdoings.
Biblical Christians cannot accept such unbiblical practice and those who practice such sin as regenerated brethren of Christ. (Gal 1v9; 1Cor 14 vv37,38)
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