Confession

How does confession actually work?

Confession is very simple. Christ gave the apostles the authority to bind and loose sins, and this was always understood to be given to the apostles, not to everybody.

I'm terrified of doing a life confession. What will the priest think of me?

The demons provoke this fear and anxiety by giving people thoughts about what the priest is going to think of them. A few things to keep in mind.

How do I prepare for a life confession?

Preparing for a life confession is very simple. People way overcomplicate it. We review the seven deadly sins and anything related to them, and then we look over the course of our life...

Is God disappointed in me when I keep sinning?

The expectation from God is not that we are perfect and sinless, because that doesn't exist. The expectation from God is that when we sin, we turn back to him.

Does God still want me after I've denied Him by my sins?

Look at the life Christ had with the apostles. When they asked him dumb questions, he didn't belittle them or make them feel small.

What does repentance actually mean in practice?

Repentance just means to turn away from. When we have sins in our life, we turn away from them physically. Say somebody has the passion of drinking, a desire for too much alcohol.

Why does confessing lust to a priest help beat it?

Confession works in a multitude of ways, but the most impactful is that honesty with our spiritual father eradicates the secretness of the sin.

Why do Orthodox Christians have to confess their sins to a priest?

As a Protestant, maybe you told somebody about a struggle, but you never had to go systematically to somebody and lay out all of your sins.

What happens if you pray for God to show you your sins?

I remember distinctly my first Great and Holy Lent. I prayed, Lord, show me my sins, and I prayed it with such sincerity.

Why does God feel far away after you sin?

Sometimes people commit sins or do things that darken their nous, the eye of their soul, and they feel like they cannot see God. They cannot find him.

Will God really take me back after I've made a mess of my life?

We are supposed to be like the prodigal son, who runs back to the father and says: Father, I can't deal with all the circumstances and all the difficulties I've gotten myself into.