Originally Quoted by puzzleannie:
All I can tell you is, if your spirituality, choice of religion, choice of parish, standard for judging various Christian individuals, movements and sects, is their success in meeting your expectations, you are in for a lifetime of disappointment, and will have effectively insulated yourself against any genuine spiritual development and experience of God’s presence. You have defined for yourself already what a valid indication of that presence will be, rather than allowing it to proceed from God.
I think that everyone rightfully expects some consolation, however minimal, from their religion. However, I beleive that it is wrong to ultimately judge a religion based on what one gets out of it. Quite honestly, if my primary concern were to “get something out of religion” I would have joined a Baptist or fundamentalist group. However, I base my faith, not ultimately in meeting certain expectations, but in being grounded in truth. There are many groups out there that claim to be the truth, and they even present miracles or words of God to back their portrayals of truth, but this does not mean that they are of truth. Look at the Buddhists and the Wiccans. Both claim supernatural experiences that contradict the Christian faith, even though for them these supernatural experiences are often examples of Love and Peace. Not all that appears good is necessarily of God.
There is a story in the New Testament about how Paul brings the word of God to a people called the Bereans. Rather than accept Paul immediately, the Bereans are cautious and look through the Scriptures to make sure that what Paul says is true. There is another story in the New Testament in which a woman, who appears to be on the side of the apostles, tells the people to accept the apostles because they are bringing them
a gospel. Although she appeared to be on the side of the apostles, the forces of evil use her against God’s kingdom.
I agree that much of the CCR “appears” legitimate. However, how can I know for sure? I pray to God that He direct me on the road to truth. And yet, it seems that I am surrounded by various individuals, each claiming religious truth. My best friend is very holy, claims a strong relationship with God, but he believes that not many Catholics will go to heaven, since they aren’t “saved.” One priest friend claims that my spiritual dryness is the result of depression from alcoholism in the family. A friend (outside my group) who claims the gift of discernment disagress and says the spiritual dryness is solely the result of demons afflicting me. My charismatic group on the other hand has explicitly stated that it does not sense any demons in me. The only way I can know who is right is to pray to God for discernment. “Look to the Church,” some may say. “The Pope sponsors the CCR,” they might continue. How can I do this when I am not even sure if the Western Church is really the Church? Why is the Orthodox Church, which more closely resembles the early Church, not the Church? Why is the Church not simply a group of simple believers in Christ, as the Reformers upheld? And if there is but one Church (not necessarily the Roman Catholic Church), what are we to make of those religious experiences outside of the Church? These questions affect me in my discernment. They are questions concerning the most fundamental of my beliefs. And I am glad that God is putting me through this so later on I will know what I truly believe.
In any case, I am most concerned about pursuing Truth. It is true that I desire God’s presence, but, despite what you might think or say, I desire it primarily as a confirmation that I am on the right track in pursuing Truth. I do desire healing, and I will not deny that. However, I understand that God may not be ready to heal me now. I have thought that perhaps He is leading me away from this Church so that I might be healed in the Church, which is closer to Truth–if indeed the Roman Catholic Church is not the Church.
I am glad if you have found Truth in the Roman Catholic Church. However, please have some empathy for me. I have not found that Truth yet, even though I might be residing in it.
