Are we too hung up on negatives?

[Qoeleth]

Reading a lot of threads here, it seems people are very concerned about what the shouldn’t do, and what is not permissible.

I wonder if it is better to emphasize the positive injunctions of Christianity- things we should do- helping out the poor, reaching out to the marginalized, spending extra time in sacred reading and prayer?

The best antidote to sin and impurity is to do good or pious activities. It is virtually impossible to sin while doing something good. And, if they are some sinful tendencies which are troubling, you, diverting attention to something worthwhile is a great approach.

Christ wants us all to be saints- but a saint is not someone who simply avoids all sins, and has a ‘clean slate’, but someone who does (according to their call) acts of charity, devotion, service…

 

[waitingforHim]

Reading a lot of threads here, it seems people are very concerned about what the shouldn’t do, and what is not permissible.

I wonder if it is better to emphasize the positive injunctions of Christianity- things we should do- helping out the poor, reaching out to the marginalized, spending extra time in sacred reading and prayer?

The best antidote to sin and impurity is to do good or pious activities. It is virtually impossible to sin while doing something good. And, if they are some sinful tendencies which are troubling, you, diverting attention to something worthwhile is a great approach.

Christ wants us all to be saints- but a saint is not someone who simply avoids all sins, and has a ‘clean slate’, but someone who does (according to their call) acts of charity, devotion, service…

agreed
but you have to remember alot of posters here are catholics who are seeking advice about sins and occasions of sin and so alot of the topics will be centered on these
sometimes it helps to clarify the church’s teaching on certain things, but these must be done in a spirit of optimism and a spirit of yearning for a closer personal relationship with God

 

[JRKH]

Reading a lot of threads here, it seems people are very concerned about what the shouldn’t do, and what is not permissible.

I wonder if it is better to emphasize the positive injunctions of Christianity- things we should do- helping out the poor, reaching out to the marginalized, spending extra time in sacred reading and prayer?

The best antidote to sin and impurity is to do good or pious activities. It is virtually impossible to sin while doing something good. And, if they are some sinful tendencies which are troubling, you, diverting attention to something worthwhile is a great approach.

Christ wants us all to be saints- but a saint is not someone who simply avoids all sins, and has a ‘clean slate’, but someone who does (according to their call) acts of charity, devotion, service…

AMEN

I too become concerned at the number of threads that seem generated by fear.
Or - sometimes it seems - by a desire to “get away with” something…

The focus needs to be on the Goal of Unity with Christ and that Unity is through Love.

Peace
James

 

[exquisitor]

Read below

 

[bilop]

Reading a lot of threads here, it seems people are very concerned about what the shouldn’t do, and what is not permissible.

I wonder if it is better to emphasize the positive injunctions of Christianity- things we should do- helping out the poor, reaching out to the marginalized, spending extra time in sacred reading and prayer?

The best antidote to sin and impurity is to do good or pious activities. It is virtually impossible to sin while doing something good. And, if they are some sinful tendencies which are troubling, you, diverting attention to something worthwhile is a great approach.

Christ wants us all to be saints- but a saint is not someone who simply avoids all sins, and has a ‘clean slate’, but someone who does (according to their call) acts of charity, devotion, service…

True, but there’s just not much to discuss in re good deeds. Everyone pretty much agrees what they are, so, they don’t get a lot of play on a discussion forum.

God Bless

 

[Joe_5859]

Fortunately, I don’t believe the moral theology forum is representative of the whole of Catholicism. CAF is a nice place for people to anonymously come and ask sensitive questions. It is also a natural place for those with scrupulosity to return again and again and receive instant feedback on a whole host of random questions. So it’s somewhat expected that the threads generally skew towards the negative.

But it’s definitely good to remind ourselves and others of the positive. Focusing on the practice of virtue is a much easier way to conquer vice than to focus on not committing the vice. Fill our lives with good and there will be no room for the bad.