This just in . . . dated: December 12, 2016 – “New Catholic ‘GO’ App Locates Nearest Priest for Confession.” The Catholic Church has launched a new smart-phone app helping sinners find the nearest available priest “in real time” to hear their confessions. The app ‘Confessor GO’ locates the user’s global position and cross-references the data with all available priests using the app. A list of available confessors appears on the screen in order of proximity to the user. Once a user chooses a priest, the app shows the distance separating the two, as well as the shortest route to get to the confession place. The purpose? “So that those who need to be reconciled with God may receive forgiveness and peace.” http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/12/12/new-catholic-go-app-locates-nearest-priest-confession/
The question arises, “why?” If we have direct access to God under the New Testament through our Intercessor (Heb 7:25) and Mediator (Heb 8:6; 9:15) Jesus Christ, why would anyone choose to go through all this man-made stuff for something that is ineffectual and not genuine? This app represents something that is artificial – a poor substitute for the real thing, which is free and direct access to God through Jesus Christ! (1 Tim 2:5-6).
The One who loved us and washed us in His own blood has made us kings and priests! (Rev 1:5-6). Peter refers to Christians as “a royal priesthood” who “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5; 9). Those under the New Covenant don’t need to confess to a Catholic “priest” because we ARE priests! And our High Priest is Jesus Christ! (Heb 2:17; 3:1; 9:11).
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:14-15). “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:17).
Since we are now priests under the New Testament and since the Lord Jesus Christ now serves as our High Priest, there is absolutely no need for a man-made priesthood to which man must confess his sins. Christ is sufficient! (Heb 5:8-9). “In Him, and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence!” (Eph 3:12). “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need! (Heb 4:16).
Terry Schmidt
12/18/2016
