Feeling Guilty

[RyanCV]

Hello everyone,

I am hoping there is an answer out there that can provide me with a little comfort. My family and I recently moved. Before moving, we changed parishes to something a little smaller and much more welcoming. The move we made was hostile due to a foreclosure. Once my family and I secured a place to live, we were stuck with nothing. No furniture, appliances, beds, nothing. I asked our new pastor if the parish could help. After a few weeks, the church found a number of people who graciously donated everything we needed.

Now to the part where I feel bad/guilty. My parish was holding an event for men. Aside from the fact that the we’re still settling from our move, I am having some health issues that I have to deal with, and there were a few aspects of the event that I felt comfortable with. Since finding out about the event, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to attend. But I felt obligated to go. After much discussion with my family, I decided not to go. I felt as though the event was being pushed on me. When I was younger, another member of my family pushed church on me, making me not want to go. But after a call from God and a conversion, I found the Catholic church. Now, those old familiar feelings are coming back. I don’t want to feel as though every time I go to church, I doubt my place in trying to worship our Savior, and listen to his Word. Is there something wrong with this situation? I’d appreciate if anyone has any words of advice. Thank you all and God Bless!

 

[Frank_Hagen]

Ryan,
I hope you don’t mind an answer from a non-denominational evangelist.
To start I am sorry that you had to move. It must be heartbreaking to leave everything behind.

On the brighter side of this if you can receive it the Lord said that those who left all to follow him would have more. Loosely paraphrased. Also, it means you have no gods before him in a sense if you can accept the move.

Any time we move there is a multitude of feelings. How much more when the move is forced upon us.

I can understand your feelings of “obligation” and a meeting being “forced upon you.”

Sometimes this can be true and at others we may think that due to outside problems and such.

On one hand many have had religion forced upon them and thrust down their throat. many times it drives people away from church.

The Apostle Paul wrote that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves. After all, had not Noah’s family assembled they would have been destroyed with the wicked. If Lot’s wife and daughters had forsaken the assembly they would have perished. His wife turning back and being destroyed is a type and shadow of the churches today that are teaching the flocks to covet a world the Lord commanded us to be willing to hate.

As for what you post let me say this.

Search your own heart and see why you would or would not attend.

If you are merely attending out of duty maybe you would be better to attend a service or function when you feel that it is out of love for the Lord and the appreciation of the blood he allowed sinful men to shed at Calvary.

Attending out of duty is admirable. It shows a respect for the Lord if it truly is for the Lord. If by some chance you are a member of a church where they try to force too much on people in hopes of financial gain or feel that you are “obligated” to repay a kindness then maybe they gave from the wrong spirit. After all, the Lord said give having no hope of getting anything in return.

The bottom line is that you should examine yourself, the church and why they gave and why you should attend.
If all of these things line up and you feel you are right to attend then go for it. If you feel the next service might be where you should attend to get your own heart aligned or get a better understanding of how that given church works then wait and attend the next regular service.

Some times we are just better to wait than to allow a hurt feeling to escalate or a root of bitterness to grow within us.

I hope this helps.

 

[Cryptic1]

I’m glad your church offers programs specifically geared for the men of the church, although it seems you felt an overzealousness in the invitation that was extended. God never forces us to do His will but through the promptings of our hearts He is trying to communicate with each one of us (as you can personally attest to when you experienced your conversion to Catholicism).

Whenever I feel compelled to attend a church event, or whether I’m not sure whether to go or not, I ask the Holy Sprit for guidance (should I go to this event or not?) and then I listen in my heart for the “Go” which usually follows. When I started acting upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit, He always led me down a road which was new to me but which opened me up to new experiences with other people and which usually gave me a deeper revelation or understanding of God. When situations arise, as they do in our daily lives, remembering to call upon the Holy Spirit has always proved to be a blessing. Even when shopping and trying to find good bargains, I have asked and received. All believers of Jesus will find it easier to do God’s will if they call upon the Holy Spirit first in all things. God wants nothing more than to know us intimately and calling upon the Holy Spirit daily will lead us to come to know the Father as well.

God Bless

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Hello everyone,

I am hoping there is an answer out there that can provide me with a little comfort. My family and I recently moved. Before moving, we changed parishes to something a little smaller and much more welcoming. The move we made was hostile due to a foreclosure. Once my family and I secured a place to live, we were stuck with nothing. No furniture, appliances, beds, nothing. I asked our new pastor if the parish could help. After a few weeks, the church found a number of people who graciously donated everything we needed.

Now to the part where I feel bad/guilty. My parish was holding an event for men. Aside from the fact that the we’re still settling from our move, I am having some health issues that I have to deal with, and there were a few aspects of the event that I felt comfortable with. Since finding out about the event, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to attend. But I felt obligated to go. After much discussion with my family, I decided not to go. I felt as though the event was being pushed on me. When I was younger, another member of my family pushed church on me, making me not want to go. But after a call from God and a conversion, I found the Catholic church. Now, those old familiar feelings are coming back. I don’t want to feel as though every time I go to church, I doubt my place in trying to worship our Savior, and listen to his Word. Is there something wrong with this situation? I’d appreciate if anyone has any words of advice. Thank you all and God Bless!

To go to Church is to go to Church. To praise the Lord.
You do not need to go happy, exhilariating, thinking the world is rose and life is beautiful and that you are a saint.
You may go depressed, feeling guilty, tired and sleepy, with no desire to go, undecided, in despair.
To go to the Church is to go to the Church. To praise the Lord. He knows you are there, he accepts your prayers, joy, despair, happinness or guilt feelings.
Do not expect for the ideal situation to go to the Church. You may go even if old familiar feeling of being pressed come or if you do not like the priest, the Church, hte neighbors, teh atmosphere.
Praise the Lord for He is your Father, Your Creator, your More-Than-Everything. He deserves everything. Not for others but for Him, go.

 

[RyanCV]

These answers seem to definately be at different ends of the spectrums. I love the knowledge that has been extended to me. Thank you all so much. Frank, as a Catholic, I’ve always been taught that we are obligated to attend Sunday Mass. While it may be an “obligation”, I find extreme joy in hearing the Word. I think this is why I’m feeling guilty. I don’t want past experiences to reflect on my present being. Cryptic, not a day goes by where I’m asking the Holy Spirit to guide me. I think God had more than one purpose in calling me to convert. The opening my heart has done to Him is unbelievable. I will keep my mind on what you’ve said. Pfaffenhoffen, what you’ve written is poetic. I’ve often found myself feeling guilty for going to church while feeling angry. I’ve felt as though it’s not right to go into the Lord’s house with feelings of anger, even hatred. But I’ve never thought about just going and praying, asking our Lord if he would be with me, and help me to sort through the feelings I’m experiencing when I go to Church. Thank you all so much. God Bless you all!