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Do any Protestant denominations distinguish between 'debts''trespasses' and 'sins' when asking for forgiveness for the congregation?

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The Lord's prayer in Matthew concerns forgiveness of 'debts', the word in the original being a matter of a failure in obligatory service (*opheilēmata*), Matthew 6:12. The similar passage in Mark regards 'trespasses'a matter of 'offence' in regard to lack of liveliness (*paraptoma*), Mark 11:25,26. However, I am hearing, many times, that ministers in Protestant churches are requesting forgiveness (for the whole congregation) of 'sins'. 'Sins' is the translation of *hamartia* and is a much more serious matter than a shortcoming in service or a lack of liveliness in conduct. Sin, says John, is the transgression of the law, 1 John 3:4. The original is a matter of negating a witness (*a-martus*), contradicting a testimony, deliberately going against a commandment. John states that those born of God do not practice 'sin', 1 John 3:9. In Roman Catholic congregations, one has a private conference with a priest and one's own, individual behaviour is confessed in detail, before a pronouncement is made, individually. But in Protestanism, currently, I am seeing a blanket 'forgiveness' being asked (and presumably being expected) for very serious behavioural failure - 'sins'. There is no explanation made as to what is being confessed (by the minister) and I could have committed adultery all week and sit there fully expecting to be forgiven for it, this Sunday and next Sunday, presumably. Is there any Protestant Denomination which makes a distinction between 'debts''trespasses' and the much more serious matter of 'sins' in connection to the Lord's prayer and congregational forgiveness ? ------------------------------------- As before, I am not asking for refutation or support of the practice, I am specifically interested in whether discrimination is being applied to these matters of conduct by particular Protestant Denominations.
Asked by Nigel J (29853 rep)
Apr 22, 2026, 01:22 PM
Last activity: Apr 23, 2026, 05:20 PM