Confused, and I guess I am not a real Catholic..

[laneo]

if you are a true christian you are also Catholic. Any other so called “denomination” is a lie, a heresy. Unfortunately brother as you stated you are in your twenties which means you were born after VII and have been exposed to its errors. I was in the same boat until I started looking at books and documents written before the 1960’s. Its sad but true that the immorality of the sixties has not left the church untouched.

Okay…So, Christ died on the cross for just Catholics. To me you are basically saying his salvation is prejudice.

 

[twopekinguys]

I am not sure. I am just troubled really. I don’t want to burn in hell, but I have a long road to go. If I cant come to terms and accept all the CC tells me, what are the consequences? That’s all I am worried about. I care about my salvation, thats for sure, but I am just kind of thrown off.

Not that I am doubting you, but…I did look over some of your previous posts.

You posted "I don’t know. I still get the feeling that people here believe Christians of any denomination (other than Catholic) are denied salvation. Plain and simple. ", almost verbatim on another thread. Then you went on to say that you consider yourself a “cafeteria Catholic”.

I’m sorry, but I’m just not seeing where you’re going with all of this.

 

[laneo]

Not that I am doubting you, but…I did look over some of your previous posts.

You posted "I don’t know. I still get the feeling that people here believe Christians of any denomination (other than Catholic) are denied salvation. Plain and simple. ", almost verbatim on another thread. Then you went on to say that you consider yourself a “cafeteria Catholic”.

I’m sorry, but I’m just not seeing where you’re going with all of this.

Yes, I have said this before. It’s just how I feel. I am just trying to understand where I stand in all of this. Am I going to hell because I find it hard to grasp certain doctrines. What should I do? If I cant accept or understand certain things, how can I be Catholic? Is my salvation somehow jeopardized now? That’s what I am afraid of.

 

[jmcrae]

Okay…So, Christ died on the cross for just Catholics. To me you are basically saying his salvation is prejudice.

It is. It’s for those who follow Christ in His Church. The Catholic Church isn’t just some random organization - it’s the Church that Christ established, and put Peter (our first Pope) in charge of. How can you say you are a follower of Christ, if you are not a member of His Church, and participating in the things that He told His Church to do?

Do you say that people who refuse to believe in Jesus can be saved? The Church says that they can - not because it’s okay to refuse to believe in Jesus, but because God knows the heart, and if their reasons for refusing Jesus were not their own fault (like, maybe they were given a false idea of who Jesus is, and were rejecting that false idea) then God will bring them into Heaven.

We don’t bet all our marbles on that, though - miracles happen, but not very often, and not usually “on demand” - so, we do everything we can to learn what Jesus wants us to know, and do the things He wants us to do.

 

[twopekinguys]

Yes, I have said this before. It’s just how I feel. I am just trying to understand where I stand in all of this. Am I going to hell because I find it hard to grasp certain doctrines. What should I do? If I cant accept or understand certain things, how can I be Catholic?

I mentioned this earlier, but I will mention it again. Try reading the Catechism, Bible, and Early Church Fathers. Even talk to a priest.

In a forum situation like this, you are going to get answers from one end of the spectrum to the other. Liberal to ultra conservative.

You have to be involved in the process of learning and understanding. You can’t just take another person’s word for something and say “Yeah, I agree with that.”

Too many people today are trying to fit God into what they want, instead of fitting into what God wants.

 

[jmcrae]

Yes, I have said this before. It’s just how I feel. I am just trying to understand where I stand in all of this. Am I going to hell because I find it hard to grasp certain doctrines.

You go to Hell for rejecting them - not for finding them hard to understand.

What would you think of someone who refused to drive a car because he doesn’t understand catalytic converters, or refusing to have electricity in his house because he doesn’t understand electrical engineering very well, or refusing to have a house at all, because he doesn’t understand architecture, or refusing to own any dishes because he can’t figure out how a kiln or a glass factory works, to create the dishes - imagine all the things we would have to do without, if we were only allowed to have things that we can fully understand.

Simply accept the things that you don’t understand about Church teaching in the same way that you accept everything else in the world that you don’t really understand, and know that things will become clearer to you as time goes on.

 

[laneo]

Well, either way. I am not sure what to think. People say Catholics look to Matthew 16:18, but WHO interpreted that to mean it was the Catholic Church? I am just being sincere, I am not rejecting it. I may be in the thought of “well, I dont really agree with that, that’s silly”. I am just cloudy on all of this. Either way. Thanks for advice. I am sure one day I will straighten out.

 

[vera_dicere]

Yes, I have said this before. It’s just how I feel. I am just trying to understand where I stand in all of this. Am I going to hell because I find it hard to grasp certain doctrines. What should I do? If I cant accept or understand certain things, how can I be Catholic? Is my salvation somehow jeopardized now? That’s what I am afraid of.

In another post of your’s you mentioned the words “lazy” and “ignorant” in regards to yourself.

In all honestly, and I’m not attacking you, but how can you be so concerned with your salvation and worried that you’re hell bound if you’re too “lazy” and “ignorant” to get on with the research?

As someone else mentioned, isn’t your immortal soul worth it? I mean, when you do meet God, what are you going to say to HIm when He asks you why you didn’t research your faith further? Are you really going to tell God you were too “lazy and ignorant”?

And as others have mentioned, only God knows who is truly hell bound. The Catholic Church is the fullness of Truth in Christianity, but it’s not the only way to Heaven.

I add my vote to you going to RICA, read the catechism, search through the “Ask and apologist” forum - that’s the best and least confusing way on this forum to find your answers.

You will have to do a bit of work, but at the end of it you’ll know what you want to know, and you’ll know what aspects of doctrine are still confusing - thus giving you targets for further mroe detailed research.

Good luck to you, you’re in my prayers.

 

[jmcrae]

Well, either way. I am not sure what to think. People say Catholics look to Matthew 16:18, but WHO interpreted that to mean it was the Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church was around for 50 years before Matthew wrote that line down. Matthew was describing how it came into existence. Everybody already knew that it existed. Everybody already knew that Peter was the first Pope. “How did Peter get to be the Pope, Uncle Matthew?” “Let me tell you a story.” And he wrote that story down, and then later on (much later on) the Catholic Church included it in the Bible.

 

[twopekinguys]

Well, either way. I am not sure what to think. People say Catholics look to Matthew 16:18, but WHO interpreted that to mean it was the Catholic Church? I am just being sincere, I am not rejecting it. I may be in the thought of “well, I dont really agree with that, that’s silly”. I am just cloudy on all of this. Either way. Thanks for advice. I am sure one day I will straighten out.

You have gone from non Catholics going to hell, to apostolic succession.

This is where you need to do some research.

Why are you opposed to doing some of the research yourself? I would really like to know.

But I will help you out. Here is a link to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Here is a link to the Vatican:
vatican.va/phome_en.htm

There should be a link on the side of this forum page to search the Bible.

Those are all of the tools you need to participate in your own understanding.

 

[MarieaGrace]

Don’t feel bad, i am going to hell also and i don’t believe that Jesus would do this to people that love others and do good things. I am here to see if joining the church will make a difference or not.I just got off a forum where i was almost put to death, i was talked about so bad that i deleted all my friends that are catholic also. And all that i was studying, reading etc.Scared me, but i did do it, because i am discusted with hearing that if your not catholic you will not go to heaven. I have alot of friends that are not catholic also and they are not going to hell, Jesus never said that we had to be catholic to go to heaven. We are all a church of Christ because we believe, and were baptized, and recieved the holy spirit and the promises of Christ and yes through his blood covering we are made pure before God, because he see’s Jesus there and not our sins but you need to ask him to forgive you anyways, and not do them any more, if you do unless you intentionaly murder, God is very faithful to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrightousness.

 

[dmelosi]

We are always in a state of sin though. I mean, nobody is perfect. I just get the impression that If you are not catholic or if you don’t agree with everything the CC, Canon Law, Catechism says, you are destined for hell. So what happens to all the protestants, and non-denominational Christians, they are going to be turned away? That’s how some people make it appear to be.

The Catholic Church does not teach anyone is destined for hell. The more you search, the more you will find that what the Church teaches just makes so much sense. Don’t stop with your answers, but take your time and ask about specific questions, do some research and see for yourself.

 

[Califman831]

Okay…So, Christ died on the cross for just Catholics. To me you are basically saying his salvation is prejudice.

no, he died that all may have a chance at salvation, but not all are saved. For that to happen you must believe in Christ and his holy church. In Galatians it clearly states that anyone who denounces the gospel of christ should be treated as an outcast. Now how do we know that is the roman catholic church. The reason is in the historical record. Only one church can trace its origin to Christ.

 

[laneo]

no, he died that all may have a chance at salvation, but not all are saved. For that to happen you must believe in Christ and his holy church. In Galatians it clearly states that anyone who denounces the gospel of christ should be treated as an outcast. Now how do we know that is the roman catholic church. The reason is in the historical record. Only one church can trace its origin to Christ.

I just have a misconception of what church means then. To me, anyone who is baptized and truly believes in Christ as their savior is part of his church…Christianity. Kind of what MarieaGrace was saying. Oh well. I am wrong.

 

[jmcrae]

Jesus never said that we had to be catholic to go to heaven.

Jesus established the Catholic Church, and Jesus said, “Listen to the Church, and whoever does not listen to the Church, treat him as a publican and a tax collector.”

 

[jmcrae]

I just have a misconception of what church means then. To me, anyone who is baptized and truly believes in Christ as their savior is part of his church…Christianity. Kind of what MarieaGrace was saying. Oh well. I am wrong.

The Catholic Church is the Church that Christ founded, and to which He gave His promises. There are lots of other churches, too, but when you look into their histories, you find that they aren’t even old enough to have been founded in the time of Christ, and were certainly never founded by Christ.

Furthermore, the reasons they were founded was in order to reject one or more of Christ’s teachings, while still calling themselves “Christians.”

 

[mark_a]

I was raised in a Catholic/Christian household. To this day I accept Christ as my savior and my redeemer. Being on this forums I have seen a lot of things that I never encountered in my days. All this talk of the “one true church” and going over how we have to abide by all things in Canon Law and the Catechism to be Catholic.

That was never brought up to me. I even went to Catholic School for about 3 years when I was younger and it was never like this. My mother, priests, nuns, etc, they never really brought up a lot of what I have read on here. It kind of startles me. In reality, I guess I am not a Catholic then, because I don’t agree with certain doctrines. Maybe its ignorance. I am certainly not REJECTING it, and down right saying its wrong, but it just doesn’t click with me.

Like confession, I am almost 22 years old. I have been to confession maybe 3-4 times my whole life. In the Bible it claims that… For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). So If I am truly sorry for my sins and ask for forgiveness, it’s futile? I just go to hell if i don’t go to confession…?

Moreover, I understand the concept or mortal and venial sins, but it just doesn’t hit me. Let’s say I go to confession and right after I see a woman and have lustful thoughts, If I die, I just automatically go to Hell? I cant be going to confession every single day because in reality I probably commit mortal sins every day; At least in my thoughts. I lose my salvation in the blink of an eye? Christ only died for venial sins??? Okay…

Also, the Apostles were sinners they weren’t perfect beings. When they were at the last supper, did they go to a priest and confess before receiving the body/blood of Christ? As I have read, we must confess mortal sins before receiving the Eucharist. I am sure the Apostles had a few of them under their belt. What about the good thief (Dismas) he accepted Christ right on the spot and was received in Heaven. He never went to confession. I know the CC says he was “baptized” with desire, but still he didn’t go to confession. Maybe I am just a bit crazy, I don’t know. What shall I do?

Honestly, I know I am a sinner and accept Christ and plead for his forgiveness, but that’s not good enough I guess.

So I really don’t know where I stand? Am I going to Hell? I am sure lots of you think so.

I don’t want to offend you, but I think you have an embarassment problem with confession, not a theological problem.

If we don’t need a priest for confession, maybe we don’t need them to baptise, confirm, or marry us either.

Again, no offense intended.

 

[laneo]

You don’t offend me at all. I really don’t care what you say. What about 1 Timothy 2:5, that means nothing? There’s no gray area in that verse. Either way, I am not sure what to think. I am exhausted and tired of trying to defend myself. Nobody knows what is going to happen…

I’d like to quote a verse of a song by Jaya the Cat (The Wilderness)

“How the hell can you tell me about the afterlife?
You ain’t been there, and check neither have I”

Though it may be from a song, it’s quite true. I guess I can try to understand things. I may be dead tomorrow. I just have to do my best with the faith I have and try to keep pushing on and learn/do what I can.

If I fail, well, that’s my problem.

 

[Jay53]

You don’t offend me at all. I really don’t care what you say. What about 1 Timothy 2:5, that means nothing? There’s no gray area in that verse. Either way, I am not sure what to think. I am exhausted and tired of trying to defend myself.

Peace

Re-read post #8. That answered your question about 1 Timothy 2:5.

(And perhaps you are exhausted and tired because you are trying to defend erroneous beliefs you have about the Catholic Church. You should open yourself up to the possibility that you have these wrong impressions and take the time to research what Christ really taught and gave us through His Church. Twopekingguys gave you links to some good resources.)

 

[CMatt25]

When Catholics say the Catholic Church doesn’t say who is going to hell, they merely mean She doesn’t spell out the names. She might not spell out the names but here are some folks going to hell according to the Catholic Church…

CCC 846 Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.

So as one example, if John Doe at one time believed all things Catholic but later had a change in beliefs and joined a non Catholic church, and remained in such a state the remainder of his life, and died unrepentant of joining another church, it’s seems toast and ashes for Mr Doe according to the CC.