Taina Sfintei Spovedanii în dialog confesional: între minimalismul evanghelic și plenitudinea ortodoxă

Abstract

The Mystery of Holy Confession in Confessional Dialogue: Between Evangelical Minimalism and Orthodox Plenitude. The mystery of Holy Confession in the confessional dialogue reveals that true Christian repentance involves both the inner attitude of turning to God and the outer act of sacramental confession. Evangelical minimalism, through its simplicity, reminds us of the importance of a direct personal relationship with Christ and of total sincerity before Him - for without these, any confession becomes an empty ritual. The Orthodox fullness of Confession shows us how much this personal relationship can be enriched and perfected when it is lived in the Church, in communion, under the work of grace transmitted through apostolic succession. The lack of apostolic succession and the gradual deformation of the meaning and purpose of the Sacrament of Holy Confession in non-Orthodox communities mean that no pastor or confessional leader can authentically exercise the power to bind and loose sins - a power given by the Savior Jesus Christ Himself to His Apostles. In the absence of Confession as a Sacrament, the person often turns to a psychologist or counselor, seeking support in a form of therapy.