Church and the warm and fuzzies

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Hi! New to the forum. I had a conversation with a passive Christian friend last night. She was insistent that one must feel good about the church they go to. She suggested that I like my church (I’m Catholic) because it made me feel good and it felt right to me. I explained that attending mass for Catholics isn’t about our feelings. We go to worship our Lord and receive Jesus and that this way of worshipping can easily be seen and traced back to the early church. She had apparently heard a homily at our church and didn’t like what the priest said. I agreed with her that homilies can sometimes not be good or inspiring but that we don’t go for the homily. And that to choose a church a based on what feels good isn’t the parameter one should use. Just because something “feels” good doesn’t mean it is good. There are plenty of bad things that make people feel good. It was a longer conversation than I can type here but while I feel like I handled it well, what else would you add? I definitely called on the Holy Spirit a number of times during this conversation. I find evangelizing a casual Christian, almost agnostic seeming person to be very difficult. Based on last nights conversation I don’t think she’s ever asked questions about God, Jesus and church ever.
 
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RobynS said:
Based on last nights conversation I don’t think she’s ever asked questions about God, Jesus and church ever.
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Have you ever asked questions that a Hindu, a Buddhist, or a Muslim would ask as a matter of course? Why would you expect that a non-Christian, or a non-Catholic, would consider questions that are important to Christians and Catholics important to themselves, as well?
 
Our faith is highly communal. We are called to live out the Gospel in everything that we do. Keep in mind that we are the Church, and we take the Church with us. As such, we should feel at home during worship, welcomed, and accepted knowing that our God is infinitely merciful and compassionately loving
 
Gordon, apologies for not being clearer, I meant that sentence as in how can I witness
to this person. I did not mean it as a judgement for them not ever having asked questions.
 
RobynS said:
how can I witness
to this person.
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Like you would witness to anyone else: Love God, love your neighbor, and live the Gospel to the fullest. If you do and others see that it is working for you, they will be curious and ask how they can be like you. Be the salt and the light of the world. Preach by example.

A big problem for Christians and Catholics in the West is that nobody wants to be like them, or, at least, like what they think Christians and Catholics are like. Meaning judgemental and hypocritical. And for good reason: there are plenty of Christians and Catholics who are exactly that, and they get all the press. Work constantly to be counter that image.
 
Cor ad Cor,
Wow love that reflection. Especially the last words: “The Advocate calls you and strengthens you to help play a role in participating in bringing God’s plan to fruition.” Thank you for sharing!
 
You did great. We are called to be faithful not successful. One thing, God can speak to us through our feelings. There are many occasions when visitors have felt the spirit at mass.
 
You answered well - but remember that two millennia ago, ancient Hebrews looked directly into the eyes of God and walked away. We cannot for one instant believe that our words are more powerful or convincing than His. Now, I readily admit that this will not be nearly as satisfying, but prayer to the Holy Spirit, and much patience, accomplish conversions. We can only attempt to convert from the outside. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, converts from the inside - which leaves them only with a hunger rather than an argument.

As to feelings, you go to massage or aromatherapy to feel warm and fuzzy. As most here know, the Holy SACRIFICE of the mass is a re-presentation of the Body, Blood, Soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, in an unbloody manner, to the Father in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

But, we are not bystanders at the mass. We offer our entire selves as well, being parts of Christ’s Body. Once pondered, this is as difficult as asking for the Lord’s will to be done and not ours.

Make your life a good, caring, loving example and pray pray pray.
 
NevermoreLenore said:
I grew up Evangelical and this ‘if you’re not feeling the Spirit you’re in sin/lack faith/not doing something right’. It was a great burden.
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Meanwhile, I readily admit that I have “on” days and “off” days at Mass, asking God to forgive me for the latter. Priests have both, too. Hopefully God is just happy that we’re all showing up and trying.

I do remember attending Evangelical services when I was young. I all but felt like a jerk for not tearing up when the did or joining the crowd to raise my hands in the air. The Groupthink/conformity pressure felt significant.
 
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OP. There are some people who rely so heavily on their feelings that the feelings in some way “become god”. Sort of like “If I haven’t felt good/great during X, Y and Z, then I haven’t experienced God.”.

There are lots of examples from Scripture that meeting God is not about warm, fuzzy feelings. Take Job for example who was told to go to Nineve or Abraham who was told to offer his son as sacrifice. Then we have all the NT people mentioned in the Scripture. St Perpetua´s diary from 3rd? century is an amazing.
 
Patk, yes true good point. Next my friend and I have this conversation I will bring up that point because it is important one. Imagine is she were so lucky as to feel the Spirit during mass ❤️
 
RobynS said:
I definitely called on the Holy Spirit a number of times during this conversation.
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This is what caught my attention. I think you did really well, praying during the conversation. Keep up with praying both before and after, as I am sure you do. I often kick myself for not always remembering to do all three on a regular basis. 😖
 
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