Good Christian Worship: Confession

The good Christian rejects the individual confessional and denies that any minister of religion has the right to forgive sins and believes that people should make their confession directly to GOD

From the point of view of good Christians, no one can pardon ignorance and sin except the individual directly with GOD.

Confession to the good Christian is an outpouring of the inner heart to GOD, seeking pardon for ignorance and behaviour that offends all people of good will within the entire human community.

This can happen at any time and at any place. Our GOD is good, welcoming all who seek in humility and sincerity the knowledge of an affirming an postive path to renuion with GOD.

The good Christians are able to have contact with GOD and find within themselves directly the forgiveness that comes from the awareness of ignorance. (Heb. 4:16).

Understanding and forgiveness is a fundamental New Testament principle which asks that confession be made to GOD and to one another (Jas. 5:16). Jesus had a great deal to say about sin and the forgiveness of sin. In each case it was a a matter of direct relationship with GOD. (Matt. 23:4; Luke 11:46, 18:10-14; John 5:21; Mark 2:7; Rev. 1:18, 3:7).

While Catharism does not accept the confessional as an institution warranted by the New Testament, it does recognize the function of the pastors and elders as advisers and friends in the faith. But such consultations on matters of religion and moral behavior, personal affairs and the like are purely voluntary.

Historically, assembled good Christians attended the apparelhamentum or servitium. Today it is known usually as the Confession. This was and remains, a monthly service, commonly on the first weekend of the month and followed a practice from the early Church. It is a public examination of conscience and public confession. *

We are delighted to note that Roman Catholicism now adopts an almost identical textual flavour in its Confiteor. Indeed, a Cathar and a Roman Catholic would find themselves at home with both the service and the wording. The major difference would of course be that The good Christian reject any necessity for private confession - as do most Protestants with the exception of some segments of the Church of England. Eastern Orthodoxy also has provisions for private confession but this is usually in the context of a spiritual direction session.

Forgiveness is one of the basic requirements of a New Testament based Christian faith. We are taught that we must be as ready to forgive as to ask for forgiveness (Matt 6:15). But nowhere does the New Testament teach that this is to be accomplished by any human individual minister of religion.

*Since Vatican II, the Roman Church has developed a ritual known as the General Absolution for use in larger gatherings, especially with declining ministers to hear private confessions. It is stipulated by RCC canon law that while the absolution is valid, it does not replace private confession and that participants in a General Absolution still should seek private confession at the earliest opportune moment.