Am I being punished?

[MainBrain]

Am I being punished for telling people they were going to hell as a born again christian? Or, is it the habitual sins I do up until this day. I try to be good. I ask forgiveness. Is the man of the house supposed to be home? My life is at a standstill.

 

[anytimequilter]

I don’t believe God punishes us on earth for our sins… though sometimes I wish I could blame him for my problems.

I see bad things happening to good people and I see evil people who are happy and prosperous. (I realize that I don’t know how “good” or how “evil” these people are - - but I am speaking relative to the point of this post)

When I get to feeling like God must hate me, and I have said this before, I try to reflect back on what I am missing. What could God be telling me that I am missing that could help me out. Whether it is accepting my situation or taking action to change my situation. I don’t always figure it out… but I do what I can. I have a struggle that I am dealing with today that I think possibly God laid something in my path to help me out… but I don’t know that it was him for a fact. So I am going to try it and see.

I am interested to see what other people’s thoughts are on this.

 

[MainBrain]

Thanks for your response.
But was it wrong for me telling people they were going to hell? I think it is now.

 

[anytimequilter]

Well I am mixed on that. I think it depends on the tact and charity used when saying it.

I am a little rusty, but I know somewhere in the Bible it says that we are to correct others. I will have to do some research and find this again.

I am only confident because I was married to an alcoholic and those verses in the bible helped me gain the courage to confront the addiction. If a person doesn’t know its a problem and they are sinning then they will just maintain their actions. If I recall the verses correctly, it was to point the sin out to the person and if they won’t listen then take them to a priest and then if they won’t listen walk away from them.

Something tells me that someone on this board knows the verses that I am referencing. If I can find them I will post them for you

But I would say that you have to be charitable when doing so.

 

[Iron_Donkey]

As far as whether it is wrong to tell people they are going to Hell - With that exact phraseology, probably, but as far as warning people that they are in danger of Hell (which is very different) it depends on what you said and how you said it. If you implied that you can judge their soul, that is wrong. If they were doing things that are grave matter, then it would have been possible to rightly say that those kinds of actions can lead to hell, but there are right ways and wrong ways to say that.

I would be careful of the God is punishing me way of looking at things, especially if you aren’t sure if what you think you might be being punished for was wrong. It is too easy to see signs and punishments where they are not, and if we are already unsure about what is right this can just confuse us further (it would not be hard to interperet something as a punishment for an action that was nuetral or even good, if we are not careful).

My own advice is to focus on what you should and should not do, and just trust that God is just and not vindictive. If you are unsure if something was good or bad, better to discuss it with a priest or spiritual director. If you really feel as though God is punishing you, then really find a spiritual director to discuss that with.

 

[chefmomster2]

Thanks for your response.
But was it wrong for me telling people they were going to hell? I think it is now.

I believe that it was wrong. Even if we have absolute proof that someone committed serious mortal sin, we do not know everything in his/her heart and mind. Only God knows the “whole story” and only God can be the just judge. We make many judgments each day, but this is the kind we are to leave to God.

“Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.” -St. Teresa of Avila

At a minimum such a statement may close off all discussion and we could lose the opportunity to bring the “sinner” to a closer relationship with God.

Discuss this in confession. If we believe we may have sinned, it is always a good idea to consult your priest.

You may have had the best of intentions. I think it’s great that you are examining your actions and willing to change.

“Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor… Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”

-Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

 

[spiderweb]

I second what IronDonkey said above. You obviously feel remorse for saying it. Discuss it with your spiritual director or the priest in confession, accept God’s forgiveness and focus on how to better love and serve him now and in the future. Dwelling on our past sins is the work of the devil. Accept God’s forgiveness, put it behind you, and move forward.

 

[anytimequilter]

These are the bible verses that I was referencing. Doesn’t mean that I am correct in how I interpret this

(Deuteronomy 19:15-21)

[15] One witness shall not rise up against any man, whatsoever the sin or wickedness be: but in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall stand.

[16] If a lying witness stand against a man, accusing him of transgression, [17] Both of them, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord in the sight of the priests and the judges that shall be in those days. [18] And when after most diligent inquisition, they shall find that the false witness hath told a lie against his brother: [19] They shall render to him as he meant to do to his brother, and thou shalt take away the evil out of the midst of thee: [20] That others hearing may fear, and may not dare to do such things.

 

[PennyinCanada]

Please don’t tell born again Christians they are going to hell.
If a person believes that Jesus is the Lord of their life and they are trying to apply Christianity to their day to day walk, try to walk along side them. You may be the instrument that helps them soften toward Catholicism. They may have some crazy idea that Catholics believe something that you might correct one day. They just might have a question for you, about Mary, or statues, or saints, or confession to a priest. Be ready with an gentle answer, and smile. Be kind. Don’t give them a reason to dig in their heals and resist Catholicism today or in the future. Gentle rains on the hardened soil makes it ready for the seed.

Think of it as strategy, like a chess game. Not like hockey where you ram your opponent into the boards, trying to get the puck and score a goal. lol God knows that they may live to 80 and he wants them at a certain place when they are 70. Some projects can be long term (and I may be one of them! lol)

 

[tawny]

Please don’t tell born again Christians they are going to hell.
If a person believes that Jesus is the Lord of their life and they are trying to apply Christianity to their day to day walk, try to walk along side them. You may be the instrument that helps them soften toward Catholicism. They may have some crazy idea that Catholics believe something that you might correct one day. They just might have a question for you, about Mary, or statues, or saints, or confession to a priest. Be ready with an gentle answer, and smile. Be kind. Don’t give them a reason to dig in their heals and resist Catholicism today or in the future. Gentle rains on the hardened soil makes it ready for the seed.

Think of it as strategy, like a chess game. Not like hockey where you ram your opponent into the boards, trying to get the puck and score a goal. lol God knows that they may live to 80 and he wants them at a certain place when they are 70. Some projects can be long term (and I may be one of them! lol)

Well stated.

 

[fred_conty]

The bible says that the just man falls seven times in a day. You might look at all of them rather than just one.

IMHO the point you make is stretched. God doesn’t love sin, but always loves the sinner. If you feel that strongly about it then make your apologies and its over.

Whenever God sends us something distasteful it is usually to wake us up, or to improve us in some way. And if he does punish us here, it is better to do this now than to wait for the afterlife.
But your spirit should always be “blessed be the name of the Lord”. For then it will go to your benefit and the glory of God no matter what it is.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[robwar]

Am I being punished for telling people they were going to hell as a born again christian? Or, is it the habitual sins I do up until this day. I try to be good. I ask forgiveness. Is the man of the house supposed to be home? My life is at a standstill.

I am not sure why you would go to anyone and tell them they are going to hell no matter who they are or what they believe. How do you know that about anyone? If I was outside of the Catholic Church which I was once and some Catholic came up to me and told me I was going to hell, I think they were crazy and probably would never consider the Catholic church again. Go to confession, grow up and reconsider seriously what you are saying to other outside the Catholic Church.