Q&A for How to Confess Sins

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  • Question
    I keep on committing sins even after confessing, can I still go to Heaven?
    Liz Cooledge Jenkins
    Christian Theology Expert
    Liz Cooledge Jenkins is a Christian Theology Expert based in Seattle, Washington. She is a freelance writer and preacher. Liz’s writing is focused at the intersections of faith, feminism, and social justice. She is the author of Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women's Humanity from Evangelicalism. She also blogs at her own Substack, and has written for outlets such as Sojourners, The Christian Century, Premier Christianity, Christians for Social Action, Red Letter Christians, and Feminism & Religion. She worked as a Chaplain for King County Fire District in Burien Washington. Prior to that, she served as College Ministry Director at Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California. She received a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. She earned a BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University.
    Christian Theology Expert
    Expert Answer
    Yes, you can still go to heaven. Christianity teaches that God’s grace and forgiveness are far greater than your mistakes or sins. The key is not being perfect but having a heart that genuinely seeks God and desires to turn away from sin. The most important part of confessing is taking responsibility for your actions and asking God for His forgiveness. That even if you fall again, you keep on trying to walk with Him and follow His guidance. Mistakes and sins don't make you unworthy of God's love or make heaven out of reach.
  • Question
    Can I just confess to God?
    Community Answer
    Definitely. You can confess in the library, in prison, in a store, in your closet, in your bedroom --anywhere. As long as you confess wholeheartedly and you understand the wrongdoings done, God will always forgive.
  • Question
    What if I'm afraid to confess?
    Community Answer
    The only person you need to confess your sins to is God and He already knows your sins, so there's nothing to be afraid of. If you're worried about confessing to a priest, remember that they have heard the worst of everybody's sins, so yours won't come as any kind of shock.
  • Question
    What if my church doesn't have "confession of sin" time?
    Community Answer
    You can always talk directly to your priest and ask if he offers confession by appointment. If not, look into other churches, or ask you spiritual leader for an "informal" chance to talk about your past sins together.
  • Question
    Will God forgive me for cursing somebody?
    Community Answer
    He will ALWAYS forgive you for your sin. Remember that Jesus forgave the men who killed him on the cross.
  • Question
    What if I am too embarrassed to confess?
    Community Answer
    You shouldn't be embarrassed because the pastor won't judge you. It will be a secret only between the two of you. A strategy that could help is to write down your sins on a piece of paper. You can then give that piece of paper to the pastor, and he may read it for you.
  • Question
    Can God help me change my thinking on an issue?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Just open your heart and God will help.
  • Question
    If I am too embarrassed to confess in a church/priest setting, can I just confess alone?
    Community Answer
    You can always confess your sins through prayer, but in order for mortal (grave) sins to be forgiven, you must go to Confession (assuming you're Catholic). You must tell the priest all your grave sins in kind and number (if you don't know, estimate) for the confession to be valid. If you don't go to Confession, you won't receive all the graces that it can offer you or absolution of your sins. Don't worry though, you don't have to be embarrassed. You can't say anything that will completely surprise the priest since he has most likely heard countless confessions. It is also just you and the priest in the confessional, so no one else can hear your confession except the priest and Jesus.
  • Question
    I can't stop myself from watching porn. Can you please give me some advice?
    Community Answer
    Check the wikiHow article, Deal With Porn Addiction .
  • Question
    I have committed the sin of watching pornography and I am too scared to tell a priest. Is it okay if I just pray to God?
    Community Answer
    No need to be scared to go to confession. Priests hear much,much worse sins than yours. They understand that we are all sinners. The important thing is to confess (maybe just to God alone, at home, if you can't overcome being scared to tell a priest), sincerely repent, make amends, vow to not sin again, and try your best to lead a blameless life.
  • Question
    I am always angry and sometimes I feel like crying for no reason. What do I do?
    Tamara
    Top Answerer
    Being angry all the time is very hard on a person's mind and body. If you feel like crying, there is always a reason. It may help if you let yourself cry and release some of your tension and sadness. Try to speak with a friend or family member you trust about what is bothering you.
  • Question
    What are grave sins?
    Galasy4969
    Top Answerer
    The grave sins, or unforgivable sins, are: worshiping any God other than the God of Abraham or speaking out against God or Jesus.
  • Question
    What if the confession is about murder?
    Community Answer
    The priest is bound by the seal of confession not to tell anyone anything that he hears in the confessional. That said, if someone confesses to murder, the priest will probably tell the person to turn themselves in as their penance, since that's a pretty fitting way to do penance for it. The priest isn't allowed to tell anyone, though.
  • Question
    Can I confess to a Christian priest as a child?
    Community Answer
    Absolutely. As said in the Bible, "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."" If you feel the need to confess, the priest should be there for you.
  • Question
    What if the confession is about abortion?
    Community Answer
    Then the confession is about abortion. All sins are equal in God's eyes, from stealing a piece of gum to murdering thousands. When you confess and ask for forgiveness, the slate is wiped clean. You are perfect again in God's eyes, no matter what the sin that came before was.
  • Question
    As a married woman, I'm sending nude photos of me to a married man. What sin is that? Is that a sin?
    CodeNameViper
    Community Answer
    Yes, that would be considered a sin. It would be considered the sin of adultery.
  • Question
    What if I accidentally forget a sin, will God not forgive any of my sins?
    CodeNameViper
    Community Answer
    If you genuinely forget a sin, your sins are still forgiven. Just try to confess it at your next confession.
  • Question
    I want to confess my masturbating but I am shy; how can I do that without mentioning the word masturbated?
    CodeNameViper
    Community Answer
    You could say, “I violated the sixth commandment by committing the sin of self abuse” and he will get the picture. However, it is most helpful if you just come out and admit to the priest what you have done without mincing words so that he can advise you how to avoid that sin in the future.
  • Question
    Is it possible for me to do the confession in any language that I know?
    Community Answer
    As long as the person you're confessing to speaks that language. However, the you don't even need to know all the words in that language: The confessor does not need to speak the language in order for the absolution to be valid. All that is needed is are the words of absolution, the confession of all known mortal sins, and the contrition of the penitent.
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