Explaining about Mortal Sin and Hell

[3DOCTORS]

Trying to explain to a friend (who’s Catholic, but struggling to accept some Catholic moral teachings and feels rejected by the Church for this but also doesn’t feel willing to change views):

Friend says God only sends to hell those who don’t want to be with Him.

I say, yes, if they specifically state that, that’s probably true. But also they can “say that” by their actions of mortal sin.

I think friend thinks that’s too harsh.

I maintain my stance that actions can speak as loudly as words, and that one who knowingly commits Mortal Sin endangers his/her soul’s eternal fate. But I’d still like to hear from others, because often someone else will come up with a succint wording or a creative approach that I haven’t thought of. :idea:

How, as amateur apologists, would you all tackle this one?

 

[Della]

Tell them to read James. The whole thing is about doing the word of God not just mouthing words. If we don’t do what God asks we are not wanting to “be with him” but to have him be with us on our terms. God asks us to behave as he does, not because he’s a kill joy, but because anything less is dangerous and/or fatal to our minds, hearts, souls and bodies.

 

[Barbkw]

“…struggling to accept some Catholic moral teachings.”

Such as?

 

[WorkerPriest]

From a Lutheran perspective, I’ve sometimes used something to this effect:

Mortal sin is any willful sin, which we refuse to repent of. Since the wages of sin is death, and we can only be forgiven of those sins for which we truly repent, those who are knowingly in mortal, unrepentant sin are in danger of eternal death in hell.

Forgiveness goes with repentance and faith. Mortal sin cannot coexist with repentance and saving faith. Hence mortal sin is potentially damnable, not because God is unwilling to forgive it, but because the person is unwilling to repent and receive forgiveness.

Peace to you.

Trying to explain to a friend (who’s Catholic, but struggling to accept some Catholic moral teachings and feels rejected by the Church for this but also doesn’t feel willing to change views):

Friend says God only sends to hell those who don’t want to be with Him.

I say, yes, if they specifically state that, that’s probably true. But also they can “say that” by their actions of mortal sin.

I think friend thinks that’s too harsh.

I maintain my stance that actions can speak as loudly as words, and that one who knowingly commits Mortal Sin endangers his/her soul’s eternal fate. But I’d still like to hear from others, because often someone else will come up with a succint wording or a creative approach that I haven’t thought of. :idea:

How, as amateur apologists, would you all tackle this one?

 

[DavidKays]

Trying to explain to a friend (who’s Catholic, but struggling to accept some Catholic moral teachings and feels rejected by the Church for this but also doesn’t feel willing to change views):

Friend says God only sends to hell those who don’t want to be with Him.

I say, yes, if they specifically state that, that’s probably true. But also they can “say that” by their actions of mortal sin.

I think friend thinks that’s too harsh.

I maintain my stance that actions can speak as loudly as words, and that one who knowingly commits Mortal Sin endangers his/her soul’s eternal fate. But I’d still like to hear from others, because often someone else will come up with a succint wording or a creative approach that I haven’t thought of. :idea:

How, as amateur apolog ists, would you all tackle this one?

Mortal sin is serious. We know from the Diary of St.Maria Faustina, Jesus said to the Saint that it is mortal sin alone that drives Him out of someone who commits it. Jesus is driven out. How are you going to get Him back? In the life of St.Therese of Liseaux we read about a man who has been sentenced to death by the guillotine. He has become a harsh man who will do violence at any moment and at any time. The Saint read about this and decided to adopt this man into her prayerlife. After many days of intense prayer there became a change in the man. He went from a violent, hateful dispostion to one of deeply repentance and sorrow and as he came to the guillotine he grabbed the crucifix from the priest to kiss and reverence it. When the Saint heard what happened she said " My first one! " Many people go to hell says the Mother of God because no one makes reperation for them. I wonder why as Catholics and even us Orthodox do we really make reperation for our brothers and sisters who may be in need of it. Certainly God needs it so as to save them but when you think about it are we not the ones who God may be calling to help repair the damage these other people are doing to themslves. Why can't we be like the Saints especially like St.Therese and adopt sinners into our lives br praying for them so that " they can be loosed from their sins ". God has the power to do so and we have the power to ask Him. Only God can bring a man from the depths of Hell and yet He will not do so unless there is reparation made. Did not the prodigal son come to his senses after there was a famine first. May be God needs to strip the person first of all that he has so that His Grace will penetrate. Did not the convicted man St.Therese prayed for also striped and now like the prodigal son can come to his senses into that jail that God has place him. Sure God needs the prayers of this Saint to help this convicted man. Do you remember another story " Dead man walking" when a convicted killer was ministered to by a nun and thus experienced love for the first time. At the end he asked forgiveness for his mistakes and as they were injecting the poison to sentenced him he turned to the sister with tears to say " I love you " and thanking her for her witness and determination to stay with him to teach him about love and responsibility to it. It is true, it may be harsh that one sin can do it but it is also true that one act of Grace can fix it. That is why Jesus came. To be able to fix it! All He acquires from you is the willingness to come to Him. He does not ask much. It may cost Him alot and may cost us alot to help Jesus to save sinners but will you not go through with it, I mean the cost to help any sinner. Jesus didn't count the cost. He did not think so. So why can't we do the same! Love can cover a multitude of sins.

 

[Elijah_Baley]

I maintain my stance that actions can speak as loudly as words, and that one who knowingly commits Mortal Sin endangers his/her soul’s eternal fate. But I’d still like to hear from others, because often someone else will come up with a succint wording or a creative approach that I haven’t thought of. :idea:

How, as amateur apologists, would you all tackle this one?

We damn ourselves to Hell by our actions. Hell is not a place created by God for men to be without Him, but a place insisted on by men to be without God. As Lewis wrote, “the doors to Hell are locked on the inside.”

That’s the nugget of wisdom which saved me.

 

[3DOCTORS]

From a Lutheran perspective, I’ve sometimes used something to this effect:

Mortal sin is any willful sin, which we refuse to repent of. Since the wages of sin is death, and we can only be forgiven of those sins for which we truly repent, those who are knowingly in mortal, unrepentant sin are in danger of eternal death in hell.

Forgiveness goes with repentance and faith. Mortal sin cannot coexist with repentance and saving faith. Hence mortal sin is potentially damnable, not because God is unwilling to forgive it, but because the person is unwilling to repent and receive forgiveness.

Peace to you.

Excellent way of putting it! I will remember that. And thanks to all the other posters as well.

To barb - it’s the usual - Church teaching on several 6th Commandment related issues. Those seem to be the sticking point for many.