How does one commit mortal sin?

[JRKH]

I keep looking at the title of this thread and asking myself, “Why would someone want *instructions *on how to commit mortal sin?”

hhmmmm Interestingly - In this wonderful little jest, I think you have sort of hit the nail on the head here.

Even though we know such questions are asked with the intent of trying to avoid mortal sin…it really does take on the sense of giving instruction on how to commit mortal sin.

If we were to turn this title around and ask instead, how does one avoid mortal sin - what would the answers be?
In fact I like this idea so much that I am going to make a separate thread to perhaps get a wider (name removed by moderator)ut.

Peace
James

 

[AnneTeresa]

No problem Anne…I hope that my friends here WILL point out if I am sounding in some way “holier than thou”, or pompous or whatever…Such things help to keep me on the right path.

I too struggle sometimes with the “Catholic perspective”, or more accurately I should say that I struggle with the way the Church explains certain things - mortal sin being one.

If one looks at NT Scripture one can quickly see that the first principle in all of salvation is Love. Love underpins the OT law and prophets (Mt 22:36-40). Jesus came because God so Loved the World (John 3:16). Jesus age a “new commandment” - that we Love one another - and it is by this that others will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). Paul expresses that Love is core and crucial for without it we are nothing (1 Cor 13:1-13). John tell us that God IS love (1 John 4:7-8).

Theologians and others can debate the various intricacies of things, but in our daily walk with Christ it is Love that must take the lead. Love of God and Love of neighbor. With this everything else will eventually come into focus. Without it…well as St Paul says - and I have included in my signature…without Love we are nothing.

(now if I could only apply this consistently in my own life…)

The Church recognizes the centrality of Love and all of her teachings really spring from and surround this central principle. However I have noticed that sometimes we can forget to communicate this in conversation and in teaching…and then things can become confused.

Peace
James

Yes, two points I want to comment on. First, the struggle is, as you say, how the church expresses certain things. That is why discussion often helps. So if one is having trouble with understanding it, mortal sin being a good example, then hearing what someone else says in different words can be a help.

Second, I hear what you are saying about love being the goal. But then I have to ask, so then what IS love? Jesus said it is keeping the commandments. So we are back at recognizing our own inability to keep the commandments perfectly, leading us to hoping in God’s mercy. Only in this can I hope for by myself I am unable to live in complete love. And that is only for the things I am aware of in myself. As scripture says we are easily deceived, so we may be even farther from the mark than we know. I think it will be interesting at our judgement to see what God shows us about our life… I expect to learn that I had many things turned around. The Catholic church says, or at least I have heard people here at CA say, that love is wanting the best for someone else. Which would be God and heaven. Scripture also teaches us that love is giving up you life for another, with Jesus being the perfect example of love. But I am self centered and cannot live like this no matter how hard I try, so I have to keep accessing the sacraments, praying, seeking forgiveness when I fail.

So for the OP I think this means all the things you said here about sin and also a reminder that when we honestly try and fail, and regret it, that God is merciful. Not as an excuse to sin though.

 

[AnneTeresa]

I keep looking at the title of this thread and asking myself, “Why would someone want *instructions *on how to commit mortal sin?”

 

[JRKH]

Anne - Thank you for your wonderful post above…You make many great points.
I cannot reply to it right now…but want to later…If I forget today…Please let me know…

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

Yes, two points I want to comment on. First, the struggle is, as you say, how the church expresses certain things. That is why discussion often helps. So if one is having trouble with understanding it, mortal sin being a good example, then hearing what someone else says in different words can be a help

Amen -
This is why I am somewhat addicted to this site. So much wonderful (name removed by moderator)ut on pretty much any topic one wishes to discuss.

Second, I hear what you are saying about love being the goal. But then I have to ask, so then what IS love? Jesus said it is keeping the commandments.

You have so much packed into this paragraph I feel I need to sort of take it apart a bit…
Yes becoming perfected in Love is indeed the goal (Mt 5:48) and you are wise to ask, then what is love. What Jesus actually said, if I’m not mistaken in your reference is, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). So what Jesus is expressing is that keeping of the commandments is a natural outgrowth of love. A way that we can measure how well we are loving Him.
There is another reason one might choose to keep the commandments - and that is fear. Fear of punishment. This fear is often the beginning point of a spiritual journey. We recognize our sinfulness, repent and turn to God in sorrow and in fear of His just punishment.
But fear is a childish response (spiritual infancy) and as we grow in Holiness, fear should be replaced by Love. Agape…Love of fellow man.

So we are back at recognizing our own inability to keep the commandments perfectly, leading us to hoping in God’s mercy. Only in this can I hope for by myself I am unable to live in complete love. And that is only for the things I am aware of in myself. As scripture says we are easily deceived, so we may be even farther from the mark than we know.

YES - Hope shows that we are moving away from fear and serves to foster Love.
As for being deceived…Here again, remaining focused on Agape Love - that is, selfless love, makes it nearly impossible for us to be seriously deceived or for very long.

I think it will be interesting at our judgement to see what God shows us about our life… I expect to learn that I had many things turned around.

Me too…

The Catholic church says, or at least I have heard people here at CA say, that love is wanting the best for someone else. Which would be God and heaven. Scripture also teaches us that love is giving up you life for another, with Jesus being the perfect example of love. But I am self centered and cannot live like this no matter how hard I try, so I have to keep accessing the sacraments, praying, seeking forgiveness when I fail.

As do we all Anne…

So for the OP I think this means all the things you said here about sin and also a reminder that when we honestly try and fail, and regret it, that God is merciful. Not as an excuse to sin though.

God loves our efforts and even though they might be feeble (I know mine are), if they are sincere…He is a proud Pappa.
I kind of think of our efforts as being like the things our parents stick on the refrigerator. They might only be scribbles and “stick men” but they are works of art to our Father in Heaven.

Peace
James