Christendom and Pharisees

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I have been thinking about the Pharisees a lot lately.

I believe that a great many Christians are very similar to the Pharisees of old. In fact, I would contend that most Christians are essentially the same as the Pharisees. We go to Mass, we get baptized, we pray, we could to Chruch, we go to confession, but are hearts are far removed from our acts of piety . . .
 
Better yet, how would you know whose hearts are removed from piety and how many this applies to and what the story is with each Christian?
 
I can see that a little. A lot of Christians I hear today are quick to say this person, that person, or that religious group are going to hell. When it comes to themselves, they are quick to say, "My salvation ticket is punched in, and I can’t wait go up to Heaven.
 
From what I observe and experience. Politicians who are Catholic receiving communion; relatives who never go to Mass, getting married in Church and still never going to Mass; from what people say at work, etc.

It’s just an idea I have been thinking. Nominal Christianity, I am not the first . .
 
I sent you a private message.

Your posts are a little too personal to respond in public.
 
Why would they be personal? I asked you how you could possibly know what is in the heart of most Christians? You said you felt most Christians do not have their faith in tune with what is in their hearts, or words to that effect.
I asked you how you could possibly know what most Christians have in their hearts. Nothing personal about that at all. It’s like I said it snows every day in Idaho and you say where did you get that info, how would you know, you live elsewhere.
You said in your PM that I was self righteous and mean, and then asked me how to explain Catholics who are non-Catholics, basically, so I don’t see the issue.
Your blanket statement about most Christians called for an explanation of how you could possibly know what most Christians believe, but you balk at that, and yet asked the question yourself. When someone asks a question, and the other person says how could you know? That is plain old honest discussion.
 
Thanks for your responses.

It is kind of you to respond.

I am very aware of my anger . . . Whether I am “projecting” onto others is another story; I have received a few private messages from others who agree with my general feeling that people are sometimes mean-spirited on this website.

I think a lot of the responders on these website mistake me for some sort of rabble-rouser or agitator or debater or Protestant apologist; I am in an existential crisis and these issues are very important to me.

I am not seeking trouble, but healing.

I cannot understand the assumption of Mary. PERIOD. The implications of this are very personal for me–if I cannot believe or accept this then I can not be a Catholic. PERIOD.

I cannot fathom why the assumption of Mary is not in the Nicene Creed if it is essential to the Catholic faith.

Can you explain this to me in a very nice way?
 
Let’s return to the original post. You said that basically with most Christians, their hearts are not in keeping with their faith, or words to that effect. My question to you was logical and simple, how could you possibly know what most Christians in fact feel?
When someone posts, people who read any blanket statement, have the absolute right to inquire further.
Suppose I posted that most people from Utah are jerks.
Now, question to me along these lines would be perfectly proper and acceptable.
How many people from Utah have I met, ten thousand, one, three, seventeen?
Have I ever been to Utah?
What exactly about those I have met, makes me think they are not good folks.
And so on.
What would you think of any blanket statement going unchallenged or unquestioned?
That would be a little bizarre, wouldn’t it?
Whenever anyone posts a blanket unsupported statement and someone merely asks for support for that statement, or asks you how you could possibly know this or that, that is not a personal attack, that is a simple legitimate question that should be asked.
Otherwise we all accept the stated premise that most Christians are not sincere in their faith. Is there any need for any of us to uncritically accept these sweeping blanket statements? No. Are questions about it legitimate? Yes.
 
Let’s return to the original post. You said that basically with most Christians, their hearts are not in keeping with their faith, or words to that effect. My question to you was logical and simple, how could you possibly know what most Christians in fact feel?
When someone posts, people who read any blanket statement, have the absolute right to inquire further.
Suppose I posted that most people from Utah are jerks.
Now, questions to me along these lines would be perfectly proper and acceptable.
How many people from Utah have I met, ten thousand, one, three, seventeen?
Have I ever been to Utah?
What exactly about those I have met, makes me think they are not good folks.
And so on.
What would you think of any blanket statement going unchallenged or unquestioned?
 
As to the other question, Agent, watch my answer cause me to be verbally stoned! But I do think you can be a Catholic and not be clear on the Assumption of Mary. Not every Catholic is free from all doubts whatsoever. I doubt if there is even one who is totally free of every possible doubt or concern about this or that doctrine.
So in my opinion, which is one of thousands, you can be a Catholic and have doubts.
This being said, a monseignor of my own parish, maybe two years ago, we were having a discussion about salvation, in his rectory office, and at one point he leaned over his desk toward me, a smile on his face, and said “I have news for you. Christ is going to save EVERYONE!” And he was delighted with this. I said, excuse me, but the Bible is quite clear that most will not in fact be saved, that the majority of people will not be saved, that Jesus spoke as much about hell as he did about heaven. That he warned that we would not enter the kingdom of heaven unless and until, etc etc our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, etc…there are quite a few passages about salvation in the Bible, but this monseignor was convinced that ALL would be saved. Now, does this make him a non-Catholic? Of course not. Does it make him a mistaken Catholic? Yes.
So not all Catholics believe every single thing the Church teaches, down to every detail, or if they do, they certainly have their doubts but defer to the Magisterium of the Church.
So don’t be hard on yourself for having doubts about Mary’s Assumption. Learn all you can about it and seek to find out the Truth, here and elsewhere.
There are plenty of very knowledgeable people here who can help you explore this area.
 
I see that you began another thread on the subject of the Assumption and there are a lot of folks answering you right now as we speak, so good luck in your quest to understand more. We are all in the same boat, Agent. All on the same road, seeking to do what God wants us to do, seeking salvation, seeking to glorify God, which is the reason we were all created.
 
Agent, when you have doubts, try to keep one thing in mind above all others.
God loves you as much as He loves everyone else. It is His desire for you to be with Him forever. If you remember that, it will help you on the rough road we are all traveling.
 
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