For the most part, modern life is a punishment for man. This whole whirl: work, a constant lack of funds, not simple family relationships, etc. hard to bear again and again. Therefore, a person, first of all, needs comfort.
Call of god
In this regard, recently Orthodox Christians will seek a confessor who would try to understand them, delve into the circumstances and, of course, console him. People crave understanding. They are afraid that after they have decided to confess and are going to reveal their souls to the priest, they will also be properly accounted for their own misconduct. Therefore, they often turn away from the church. Maybe because of this, Orthodoxy among unbelievers is overgrown with all sorts of myths.
Some clergymen behave inappropriately. After hearing sins, they can sometimes even expel the confessor from the temple, horrified at the revelation that has poured on them. This negatively affects people who have just embarked on the rails of Orthodoxy. About 90% of those offended will not return here.
God Himself invited these people to come to him, and his voice was heard. They went to him with great hope and here such a finale
But Christ died for all of us, without exception, and everyone has the right to use this sacrifice! A man comes to the temple to pour out his soul, ask for advice, and he is easily imposed penance (punishment). Therefore, he leaves there with a burden twice as heavy and does not see the point in such a way of life.
What should be a priest
The priest must be able to listen to the person, understand and feel his pain, and then be sure to regret and give hope. Nobody canceled the severity, but it should be selective and in moderation. People need to be comforted more and not sentenced to the right and left. A person is already punished, living on this earth, and experiencing various life difficulties. It is not surprising that with this attitude to the repentant person, he stops going to the temple. And this is the fault of the clergy, which disperses them with their own hands. A novice believer will come and express a desire to take communion, and he will be dumbfounded by various rules, canons and so that his head will spin. He will be scared, it will seem impossible to him. He will decide that all this is not for him and will turn his back on the church.
If the clergy are interested in the growth of their flock, they should be ready to read the necessary canons along with the penitent, explain to him all the incomprehensible moments in the text, etc. It is necessary to devote some time to such people and help to take the first steps. Unfortunately, not everyone does this. Therefore, the reaction of such people can be different: either a person shrugs it off, referring to the complexity and complexity of such a belief, or be surprised at the new reality that has opened up to him. And here a lot will depend on the priest. He must become a teacher for such a person, because modern people are illiterate in this regard.
