A relationship with Christ

[mrs_abbott]

A relationship with Christ is key to being a Christian and I think most would agree on that.
What if that relationship leads you away from the CC? I’ve been doing alot of bible reading lately and taken focus off of particular types of religion (I use Catholicism here because I was born and raised Catholic and that’s all I know). From reading the Bible, the message of salvation seems simple and not as impossible as the CC portrays it to be. I feel like the CC makes it seem like no one is ever going to get to heaven because nothing is ever good enough, you know?
Does anyone else feel this way or am I talking to the wrong crowd?

 

[LDNCatholic]

A relationship with Christ is key to being a Christian and I think most would agree on that.
What if that relationship leads you away from the CC? I’ve been doing alot of bible reading lately and taken focus off of particular types of religion (I use Catholicism here because I was born and raised Catholic and that’s all I know). From reading the Bible, the message of salvation seems simple and not as impossible as the CC portrays it to be. I feel like the CC makes it seem like no one is ever going to get to heaven because nothing is ever good enough, you know?
Does anyone else feel this way or am I talking to the wrong crowd?

Hi Mrs Abbot, I think about it differently to you I guess. The Church, to you, seems to make it sound impossible to get into Heaven, but I see the number of Saints we have and I see just how possible it is

As for ‘‘nothing ever being good enough’’, we’re certainly not, It is only through Jesus Christ and His unfathomable love and mercy that we are saved.

I don’t know if I’ve helped or hindered, but I hope it is the former.

God Bless

Peter

 

[mrs_abbott]

Hi Mrs Abbot, I think about it differently to you I guess. The Church, to you, seems to make it sound impossible to get into Heaven, but I see the number of Saints we have and I see just how possible it is

As for ‘‘nothing ever being good enough’’, we’re certainly not, It is only through Jesus Christ and His unfathomable love and mercy that we are saved.

I don’t know if I’ve helped or hindered, but I hope it is the former.

God Bless

Peter

Thank you, Peter, for answering. The lives of the saints are great role models to go by but they seem few and far between now and they lived in different times than we do now. I guess it just seems like no matter how hard you would try, there would always be something keeping you from getting it right. It just seems like there are so many rules and teachings that it’s impossible to keep up with them all.
I get wrapped up in thinking about all that and I lose sight of what’s most important: my relationship with Christ. I guess that’s what I’m trying to get at.
I’m probably not making much sense, am I?

 

[promethius95945]

A relationship with Christ is key to being a Christian and I think most would agree on that.
What if that relationship leads you away from the CC? I’ve been doing alot of bible reading lately and taken focus off of particular types of religion (I use Catholicism here because I was born and raised Catholic and that’s all I know). From reading the Bible, the message of salvation seems simple and not as impossible as the CC portrays it to be. I feel like the CC makes it seem like no one is ever going to get to heaven because nothing is ever good enough, you know?
Does anyone else feel this way or am I talking to the wrong crowd?

You’re talking to the wrong crowd. Well, in a way you’re right and in a way not. Nothing IS ever good enough, but that’s scriptural in and of itself. We are required to do the works of God, knowing that those works are insufficient to save us. Why do we life the life then? because that, in turn, gives life to our faith, and our LIVING faith is what secures us sanctifying grace and salvation.

There are a lot of sins that the church recognizes. We don’t sugar coat anything when it comes to moral teaching… but you know what? You’ll always know what’s right and wrong in a situation, and nobody expects you to be perfect. We try, we fail, we fall into sin, and God forgives us and pulls us back anyway. I think, personally, that God has a lot of mercy for struggling sinners who, like yourself, feel like nothing they do will ever be good enough.

I heard a story once about a man who asked a teacher what would be necessary for salvation. The teacher wisely told him “two things you must do: you must realize that nothing you can possibly do can make you worthy for salvation”
“Okay,” said the man, “i can do that. What is the second”
The teacher smiled “you must behave as if you didn’t know the first”

 

[LDNCatholic]

Thank you, Peter, for answering. The lives of the saints are great role models to go by but they seem few and far between now and they lived in different times than we do now. I guess it just seems like no matter how hard you would try, there would always be something keeping you from getting it right. It just seems like there are so many rules and teachings that it’s impossible to keep up with them all.
I get wrapped up in thinking about all that and I lose sight of what’s most important: my relationship with Christ. I guess that’s what I’m trying to get at.
I’m probably not making much sense, am I?

No no you’re making sense don’t worry! I just wish I was of more help.

Rather than looking at these rules as separate to your relationship with Christ, why not look at them as one and the same? Following the rules in order to follow Christ, rather than following for the sake of blind obedience. Just a thought again I don’t know how helpful it will be.

 

[mrs_abbott]

We are required to do the works of God, knowing that those works are insufficient to save us.

This sentence stuck out to me in your post. It is a contradictory statement. Plus, aren’t we required to have faith before we can even begin to do works? That’s kinda what I’m getting at with this thread. You need a personal relationship with Christ before you can have religion, including Catholicism.

 

[mrs_abbott]

No no you’re making sense don’t worry! I just wish I was of more help.

Rather than looking at these rules as separate to your relationship with Christ, why not look at them as one and the same? Following the rules in order to follow Christ, rather than following for the sake of blind obedience. Just a thought again I don’t know how helpful it will be.

Ok, let me try and say it this way:
Do you feel like you have a personal relationship with Christ like you do with a close friend or family member?
If so, do you feel like the CC enriches that relationship? Do you read the bible alot on your own?
Sorry for all the questions. I’m trying to make a point and I’m struggling to do so in my head.

 

[Swan]

A relationship with Christ is key to being a Christian and I think most would agree on that.
What if that relationship leads you away from the CC? I’ve been doing alot of bible reading lately and taken focus off of particular types of religion (I use Catholicism here because I was born and raised Catholic and that’s all I know). From reading the Bible, the message of salvation seems simple and not as impossible as the CC portrays it to be. I feel like the CC makes it seem like no one is ever going to get to heaven because nothing is ever good enough, you know?
Does anyone else feel this way or am I talking to the wrong crowd?

I, for one, know exactly what you mean. In the past year, year and a half I had started having a really hard time with all the legalities. Reading this forum was actually what got me started. It just all seems so complicated when Jesus’s message is really pretty straight forward. I don’t think we needs a library of books to explain His message. He was pretty clear. And all the “who has authority”, etc. seems to have separated me from Him. Now when I think of the Church I get a mental picture of popes, not Christ.

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

A relationship with Christ is key to being a Christian and I think most would agree on that.
What if that relationship leads you away from the CC? I’ve been doing alot of bible reading lately and taken focus off of particular types of religion (I use Catholicism here because I was born and raised Catholic and that’s all I know). From reading the Bible, the message of salvation seems simple and not as impossible as the CC portrays it to be. I feel like the CC makes it seem like no one is ever going to get to heaven because nothing is ever good enough, you know?
Does anyone else feel this way or am I talking to the wrong crowd?

Faith really is simple. If it wasn’t, we would all be in trouble. God knows that. He made it simple, but it’s us foolish people who think we are wise that makes it complicated. I recommend reading the book entitled, “Joshua”, by Joseph Girzone. It’s a quick read.

I have to warn you though, it’s not overtly anti-Catholic, but it could easily be taken as too critical and biased. But, the main character in the book, Joshua, is equally critical of all denominations.

I read it this weekend and it really brought home to me the simple and basic message that God has been trying to convey to his people over all these years.

Peace…

MW

 

[LDNCatholic]

Ok, let me try and say it this way:
Do you feel like you have a personal relationship with Christ like you do with a close friend or family member?

It is more profound than that. Eventually there will come a point where my friends and family will not be anywhere near me. Jesus is always with me, while I am not always as appreciative of this (much like with my family and friends), which sometimes to cause me to lose sight of this, I know it to be true. My sin, my disobedience to the Church and desire to do things my way puts a strain on the relationship on my side, but I know He loves me and is just waiting for me to say sorry and come back.

If so, do you feel like the CC enriches that relationship?

Absolutely, my relationship with Christ is never stronger, nor more personal, than when I sit in His presence with my brothers and sisters in the Mass.

Do you read the bible alot on your own?

I am gradually reading more, though I always read with the Church in mind (i.e. if there is something I don’t understand I will seek the clarification of the Church before attempting to discern the meaning on my own).

 

[promethius95945]

This sentence stuck out to me in your post. It is a contradictory statement.

It’s not actually contradictory at all. When you were a child did your parents ever give you chores even though you were grounded, and wouldn’t take you off grounding even though you did those chores?

Same thing, only God takes us off being grounded even though we don’t deserve it.

Plus, aren’t we required to have faith before we can even begin to do works?

no, don’t be silly. All humans are children of God, and therefore all people are possessed of an intrinsic goodness, which is marred only by original sin. All human beings are capable of great acts of goodness, faith, and the like. It is elitist and dangerous to begin to treat being of faith as some panacea, and being without as being “sub-human”

That’s kinda what I’m getting at with this thread. You need a personal relationship with Christ before you can have religion, including Catholicism.

so long as your understanding remains that it needs to be a personal relationship with the Universal Savior, and you don’t start babbling that nonsense about a personal lord and savior heresy then you should be okay.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Ok, let me try and say it this way:
Do you feel like you have a personal relationship with Christ like you do with a close friend or family member?
If so, do you feel like the CC enriches that relationship? Do you read the bible alot on your own?
Sorry for all the questions. I’m trying to make a point and I’m struggling to do so in my head.

What is the point you are trying to make?

 

[theistgal]

I understand how you feel, but look at it this way - as a Catholic, you eat and drink Jesus’ Body and Blood. How much more personal can a relationship get?

 

[water]

From reading the Bible, the message of salvation seems simple and not as impossible as the CC portrays it to be. I feel like the CC makes it seem like no one is ever going to get to heaven because nothing is ever good enough, you know?

Where do you read that makes you feel this way?
yes, nothing from us is good enough, but with God, everything is possible. Even so, Jesus says it isn’t easy.

The Catholic Church teachings echos the truth what Jesus teaches which was and is hard for many people to hear still.

I could never get any closer to Jesus outside of Catholic faith.

 

[J_C]

Ok, let me try and say it this way:
Do you feel like you have a personal relationship with Christ like you do with a close friend or family member?

I would say not, because I don’t relate to God in that same way. After all, God is God. Besides, I have a miserable relationship with most of my family. It is very broken. So there you go. The type of “relationship” you describe, as being similar to that with family members, doesn’t make any sense at all to someone like me who comes from a broken family, and for whom love is an alien concept.

If so, do you feel like the CC enriches that relationship?

the Catholic Church IS my relationship with Jesus. I relate to Jesus through the Church, because that is how Jesus designed it. My daily prayer life is to Jesus, who established the Church, and asking the Saints for their prayers, all who were also members of the Church (and still are).

Do you read the bible alot on your own?

Absolutely. Daily Bible study, meditation, is the meat of a Christian life. I carry several Bible translations around with me in my Ipaq, NAB, Duoay, KJV, ASV, RSV, and I use it. these days I’m trying to get good at Lectio Divina. Not there yet, but getting better. I recently went to a seminar about LD. It was said that prayer is me talkikng to God, but meditative Bible reading is God talking to me. I like to do this type of reading before the Blessed Sacrament in our adoration chapel, but not always able to get there because am very busy with life’s toils, you know.

 

[Janet_S]

Have you been going to a non-Catholic Bible study or have you been attending non-Catholic church services? It sounds like it from what you have written. I just don’t think this is an idea anyone would get from picking up the Bible and reading it on his or her own. Did a non-Catholic Christian lead you down the “Roman Road”?
contenderministries.org/romanroad.php

Let’s face it, the “Roman Road” is a definite manipulation of Scripture–taking several verses out of context, then stringing them together to try to get Scripture to say something that it doesn’t say.

IMO Catholicism is simpler than Protestantism. If Protestantism is as simple as Protestants claim it is, why are there 10’s of thousands of denominations, all believing something different?

Did you ever watch “The Journey Home” on EWTN? Every week Marcus Grodi interviews a Catholic convert–usually a former Protestant minister. At the end of each interview, he asks the guest how converting to the Catholic Church has brought him or her closer to Jesus. My point is that many people, for the love of Christ, are drawn to the Catholic Church.

If you really want a close, personal relationship with Christ, the best place to be is in the Catholic Church.

 

[rich123456]

After a few months of RCIA here in Utah a Mormon women began to cry. When she gathered herself she told us that for the first time she had realized that she did not have to be good enough. That she now knows that God loves her as she is, that His love for her does not change. That she always thought she needed to be good enough, but she now understands that God has always loved her the same. This is how my relationship is with Christ after 9 years of being Catholic. All the Sacraments (Confession) are placed for us to heal, so that we can come to the Eucharistic table knowing deep in our hearts how un conditional his Love for us is. We are fortunate to have the Crucifix in our Parish Homes. Protestants do not have a lock on such things, they received it from the Catholic Church. Catholics need to take a deep breath and begin a renewal in proclaiming the good news. We have this great gift, lets start sharing it more. I am speaking about myself here, not to point any fingers.

God Bless

 

[mark_a]

A relationship with Christ is key to being a Christian and I think most would agree on that.
What if that relationship leads you away from the CC? I’ve been doing alot of bible reading lately and taken focus off of particular types of religion (I use Catholicism here because I was born and raised Catholic and that’s all I know). From reading the Bible, the message of salvation seems simple and not as impossible as the CC portrays it to be. I feel like the CC makes it seem like no one is ever going to get to heaven because nothing is ever good enough, you know?
Does anyone else feel this way or am I talking to the wrong crowd?

Even if you have doubts about the Church, its mortal sin that keeps you out of heaven, not what you may view as imperfect theology.

 

[Mjae]

I was away from the Catholic Church for 20 years before I decided to return. What I was most thankful for was that I knew God loves me exactly as I am, and is willing to go far more than halfway to help me get closer to him. In the OP you said that it seemed no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t seem to 'get it right.

The point is, it’s not the getting it right part that’s important, it’s that you try. God will take care of the rest. God bless you. (I know He blesses me, and I’m FAR from perfect!)

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

I was away from the Catholic Church for 20 years before I decided to return. What I was most thankful for was that I knew God loves me exactly as I am, and is willing to go far more than halfway to help me get closer to him. In the OP you said that it seemed no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t seem to 'get it right.

The point is, it’s not the getting it right part that’s important, it’s that you try. God will take care of the rest. God bless you. (I know He blesses me, and I’m FAR from perfect!)

I think this was an excellent post because you are exactly right. When I went away from the Lord for about 5 years, I totally refused Him and removed Him from my life. Then, after some experiences I had, I came back to Him. And you know what? He loved me the whole time and was just waiting for me to come back - the prodigal son.

It’s not about getting everything right. For us perfectionists that’s a hard sell, but we have to realize we are human still and will make mistakes and until we become glorified in heaven, we will not be free from our impulses to sin. Like you said, the important thing is to TRY. Do your best and when you fail, give it to God, confess it and He will give you grace that is sufficient. He loves us all so much - more than we could ever love our families. If only we could really get that.

He blesses us with His presence and grace in spite of our faults. We reap what we sow, but like a loving father, he’s always there to bandage our broken hearts.

Peace…

MW