Does God Cut Slack?

[Lost_Sheep]

In a strictly by-the-book sense, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he/she goes to Hell.

But in one’s final judgement, might God assess a person’s overall life and perhaps exercise some discretion? Could He say “Well, you committed one or two moral sins in your life that you never received absolution for, but all-in-all you were basically a good person so I’ll send you to Purgatory instead.”

After all, God has the final say-so. Might He possibly “commute your sentence?”

 

[Spencerian]

In a strictly by-the-book sense, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he/she goes to Hell.

But in one’s final judgement, might God assess a person’s overall life and perhaps exercise some discretion? Could He say “Well, you committed one or two moral sins in your life that you never received absolution for, but all-in-all you were basically a good person so I’ll send you to Purgatory instead.”

After all, God has the final say-so. Might He possibly “commute your sentence?”

You have defined two aspects of the Lord:

• His ability to know all that we have done or not done
• His capacity for mercy

But, no one should count that God will “cut them a break” and strive to be the best person they can be, always. I’m sure that the Good Thief may have done terrible things in his life. But it came down to one moment of humility and admission that, in his last moments, likely changed everything for him for the better.

 

[Kay_Cee]

In a strictly by-the-book sense, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he/she goes to Hell.

But in one’s final judgement, might God assess a person’s overall life and perhaps exercise some discretion? Could He say “Well, you committed one or two moral sins in your life that you never received absolution for, but all-in-all you were basically a good person so I’ll send you to Purgatory instead.”

After all, God has the final say-so. Might He possibly “commute your sentence?”

First, it looks like you misunderstand what a mortal sin is.

A mortal sin is a complete and total rejection of God. In order for a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be met:

1. The matter must be grave
2. The person committing the sin must know it is grave, and
3. The person must commit the sin totally of his own free will

How many times does a person have to reject God in order to reject Him? Just once. And if the sin is not repented of, that person has chosen to die in a state of separation from God. God respects that choice. He does not force Himself upon us.

Second, God does not send anyone to Hell. They send themselves there by their choice to be separated from God. That’s what Hell is: separation from God.

Hope this helps. I’m sorry you’re disenchanted with Catholicism. But if you stick around, you may find some very helpful folks around here who can show you the awe and beauty of the Church.

 

[Luvtosew]

** Might He possibly “commute your sentence?” **

I bet a lot of us hope so. I don’t think anything is black and white.

If there is a purgatory, I think everyone goes there as no one passes thats is pure, some people , probably me, ( hopefully I make it to purgatory) will stay there longer.

 

[Julia_Mae]

In a strictly by-the-book sense, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he/she goes to Hell.

1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

Here’s the thing, I think: a “state of mortal sin” in terms of your soul is not the same thing as “doing an action that the Church defines as mortal sin.” the CCC also says this:

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want “any to perish, but all to come to repentance”:

God wants everyone to be saved, He isn’t looking for excuses to send us away. To be completely lost, you have to willfully turn away from God and persistently do so until the very end.

And mostly, only God knows the state of your soul. I suggest confidence in the Love and Mercy of Jesus Christ.

 

[slywakka250]

The issue here is that we do not know just how strict God really is, in that we do not know the final count at the end of time of how many humans make it to hell and how many humans make it to heaven. This number would give us a clue just how strict God is, because we would have a general idea about what it really takes to reject God.

Now, regarding mortal sin, it is only a teaching which affirms the possibility of rejecting God eternally, nothing more.

The decision for or against God which happens in the heart of an individual man or woman is outside definition by the Church. It is intimate, deep, and personal, discovered in the depths of one’s heart, not in the pages of the Catechism nor any Catholic “set of rules”.

The Church does not name names of those who have gone to hell. Because even with all the rules about mortal sin and such, only God knows the heart. The Church teaching here is only about the possibility; That is, God remains a mystery here, we have no case study of a soul who went to hell. I think this is a good sign for all of us, as it leaves open the possibility that ALL are saved.

 

[GEddie]

** Might He possibly “commute your sentence?” **

I bet a lot of us hope so. I don’t think anything is black and white.

If there is a purgatory, I think everyone goes there as no one passes thats is pure, some people , probably me, ( hopefully I make it to purgatory) will stay there longer.

I’d say that, unless you were exceedingly holy (M. Theresa, JP2) or exceedingly wicked (such as one of the Nazi leaders), you would almost certainly get Purgatory. I.e, everybody.

Still, one should not count on it. Aim for Heaven and if you miss you will go to Purgatory. Aim for Purgatory and if you miss that…

ICXC NIKA

 

[JRKH]

In a strictly by-the-book sense, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he/she goes to Hell.

But in one’s final judgement, might God assess a person’s overall life and perhaps exercise some discretion? Could He say “Well, you committed one or two moral sins in your life that you never received absolution for, but all-in-all you were basically a good person so I’ll send you to Purgatory instead.”

After all, God has the final say-so. Might He possibly “commute your sentence?”

If one dies In a state of Mortal sin they die in a state of having rejected God. Of saying to God, “I reject you, your Lordship over me and your plan your plan for my salvation”. “I have done what I have done and I do NOT repent”.
What should God do in that case?

These questions always seem to reflect a poor understanding of what Mortal sin is. Mortal sin is not an act - like the breaking of some law. Mortal sin is a decision. It is a purposeful removal of ones self from the protection and friendship of God. It is a decision to reject God. All sins committed after this act - sins that we call Mortal, stem from this singular decision and God will justly judge us based on our decision.

Peace
James

 

[SteveGC]

In a strictly by-the-book sense, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he/she goes to Hell.

But in one’s final judgement, might God assess a person’s overall life and perhaps exercise some discretion? Could He say “Well, you committed one or two moral sins in your life that you never received absolution for, but all-in-all you were basically a good person so I’ll send you to Purgatory instead.”

After all, God has the final say-so. Might He possibly “commute your sentence?”

I don’t think our final judgment plays out in that manner - a weighing of the good vs the bad acts in our life, or some sort of mental calculation of the overall balance of the sum total of our deeds.

Rather, I think it will be more of an encounter that centers around identification. In other words, either God will recognize Himself in you, or He won’t. He will look at you, you will look at Him. If He sees an image of Himself looking back at Him, He will purify you and prepare you for eternity with Himself. If He does not see this image, He will grant your final desire to reject Him for all eternity.

How your soul appears to Him will be the sum total of your life choices and inclinations. Those bad choices in your life which His Church interprets for us as mortally harmful are critical choices that strip us of the grace within us that would otherwise have allowed us to be identifiable to Him at our judgment.

If we die in mortal sin, our encounter with God is repulsive to our soul. Our soul rejects Him, just as it did when we committed the grave sin while alive on earth.

A rebound question for you would be…

if you are carrying around one or two unrepented mortal sins, why would you think that your own soul would desire God at the final judgment? That is counter-intuitive. If you find no remorse or contrition for having deeply offended your Creator while on earth, why do you think you would suddenly desire eternity with Him upon your death? If you think that’s because of a fear of Hell, then I would offer this to reflect on: I don’t think we possess the type of fear of Hell at our judgment like we do when we’re alive. At our judgment, it is either an infinite attraction to our Lord, or an infinite repulsion from Him. We don’t sit there and contemplate the tortures and sufferings of Hell and reflect upon God’s mercy and love for us. Those are things for this side of heaven. On the other side, our soul’s have made their decision. It is final. And although we will likely realize with terror the eternal consequences of Hell, we do not beg for mercy. We flee from the fire of His infinite Love as fast as we can, because our soul is unrepentant, just as it was when we were alive.

Bottom line, the choices you make right now shape your soul. They allow it to contain God’s grace, or they fashion it with holes that spill it all out. When you die, no more shaping. It is a finished vessel. One that contains an image of God within it, or one that doesn’t. If you have an unrepented mortal sin on your soul right now, you have deliberately punctured it with a hole that drains out His image in you. Your soul, in that moment, rejects Him.

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

** Might He possibly “commute your sentence?” **

I bet a lot of us hope so. I don’t think anything is black and white.

If there is a purgatory, I think everyone goes there as no one passes thats is pure, some people , probably me, ( hopefully I make it to purgatory) will stay there longer.

Don’t underestimate God’s mercy. It isn’t a requirement to go to purgatory. Live your life like you want to go to Heaven and you won’t go to purgatory.

Pray and sacrifice for the souls in purgatory. They really need your help.

 

[Jamiinvegas]

This is the exact reason why we are told not to judge each other. I think that applies to ourselves too. We are not always honest with how good or bad we truly are. Simply try to do your best and repent, but don’t let the anchor of your past transgressions keep you spiritually inert .

 

[John21652]

There were two thieves hung up on crosses at the same time as Jesus; one on either side of Him.

One got cut some slack.

What about the other?

 

[Nelka]

Does God Cut Slack?

Please translate this for me.

 

[Luvtosew]

This is the exact reason why we are told not to judge each other. I think that applies to ourselves too. We are not always honest with how good or bad we truly are. Simply try to do your best and repent, but don’t let the anchor of your past transgressions keep you spiritually inert .

I agree we need to repent and try not to repeat. I don’t even think of heaven or hell anymore, althought we all want to go to heaven. But its more like I live my live now to please the Lord and not to hurt him, not to escape hell, which its like if I do that I’ll go to hell, but the reason not to do something is to please the Lord, I think the main thing is to treat others as ourself, and Love the Lord with all your heart.

 

[LilyM]

I think the fact that God gives us each a lifetime to repent of our sins and spends a lifetime trying to teach us how awful sin is and the necessity of avoiding it IS Him cutting us some slack.

 

[Leegal]

In a strictly by-the-book sense, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he/she goes to Hell.

But in one’s final judgement, might God assess a person’s overall life and perhaps exercise some discretion? Could He say “Well, you committed one or two moral sins in your life that you never received absolution for, but all-in-all you were basically a good person so I’ll send you to Purgatory instead.”

After all, God has the final say-so. Might He possibly “commute your sentence?”

We just don’t know. I would think that the mortal sin could be taken in context alone. There are conditions placed upon a mortal sin. I don’t know if God takes the overall account of one’s life in considering judgment. In any case, that’s why we should avoid mortal sin and it’s near occasion because we don’t know if we will have the opportunity to confess or how God will judge.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Please translate this for me.

It’s a slang expression in American English. It means, in one sense, not to punish or reprimand someone as severely as might be allowed.

If you are pulled over for speeding by a Police Officer, and he decides to give you a warning rather than a citation, you might say “The Officer ‘cut me some slack’ and didn’t give me a citation.”

Of if you are in court and up on charges of, say, shoplifting, the judge might “cut you some slack” and dismiss the charge because it was your first offense.

 

[funion987]

If one dies In a state of Mortal sin they die in a state of having rejected God. Of saying to God, “I reject you, your Lordship over me and your plan your plan for my salvation”. “I have done what I have done and I do NOT repent”.
What should God do in that case?

I understand this situation. However, some of my mortal sins only take maybe a few minutes, maybe less time. After that time, I usually feel pretty bad and desperately want to get to confession and back in a state of grace. During the time in between sinning and receiving absolution, I am still in a state of mortal sin, but I would not say that the thoughts running through my mind are “I have done what I have done and do NOT repent.”

But there’s no doubt that I’m still in a state of mortal sin because I sinned and have not been granted absolution and, for example, could not receive the Eucharist. So, if I were to die in such a state, is that a damning state?

 

[LilyM]

There were two thieves hung up on crosses at the same time as Jesus; one on either side of Him.

One got cut some slack.

What about the other?

No, one repented and obviously had what we call perfect contrition for his sins. The other was not only unrepentant, but added to his sins even while dying by mocking the sinless One.

The sacrament of confession had not been instituted yet, although in an informal sense he did confess his sinfulness to Christ. So it was not an issue nor a requirement.

Forgiving someone who has sincerely and perfectly repented of their sins is not ‘cutting them some slack’ if they have not been to confession because it was impossible.

On the other hand, holding someone to task for a single transgression, if it is serious enough, is not wrong either. It’s not like a murderer, child abuser or armed robber has to do so more than once, or to have any history of crime, to receive punishment that we might view as severe.
slack’ when

 

[Julia_Mae]

But there’s no doubt that I’m still in a state of mortal sin because I sinned and have not been granted absolution …

But there is doubt, because of your regret and desire to not commit that sin again, because it is God Who forgives, you may already be back in a state of grace and completely forgiven.

I think the key is doubt, which is why we have sacramental reconciliation. In that case, your forgiveness and assurance of that still comes from God, but through the Priest. and so now, instead of hoping you are forgiven and in Grace, which might have already happened, you know for sure. God is not subject to us, He forgives as and when He Wills.

In humility, we don’t presume God’s Grace, but abstain from the Eucharist until we can be sure.

So, if I were to die in such a state, is that a damning state?

If you are sorry and wish you had not sinned, your soul is not in an active state of mortal sin, as I read the Catechism. God isn’t trying to trick you, He doesn’t want you to be lost, He wants you to be with Him in Joy forever. If you get run over by a Mack truck on your way into the church for reconciliation, you don’t go to Hell because you didn’t have another 5 minutes left on earth.