How far do we go with admonishing sinners?

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nelka

New member
When I hear somebody use God’s name in vain I want to tell them to stop especially if I work with them but how do we go about it in a good way without being like an angry teacher telling off a child?

Also when it comes to other sins how far do we go? Should we be telling people when they are committing mortal sins to stop?

I sometimes wonder why I want to tell somebody they shouldn’t be doing something, because it hurts God, me or arrogance.

I really don’t like hearing God’s name being used in vain especially be Christians.

Do you ever admonish sinners?

Thanks.
 
Nelka said:
When I hear somebody use God’s name in vain I want to tell them to stop especially if I work with them but how do we go about it in a good way without being like an angry teacher telling off a child?

Also when it comes to other sins how far do we go? Should we be telling people when they are committing mortal sins to stop?

I sometimes wonder why I want to tell somebody they shouldn’t be doing something, because it hurts God, me or arrogance.

I really don’t like hearing God’s name being used in vain especially be Christians.

Do you ever admonish sinners?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I HATE the Lord’s name taken in vain, too. It hurts. I think you have to know who you are talking to, and I know most of the time I cannot say anything, and I always say a quick prayer,* “Jesus, I love you”*, or “Jesus, Mary, Joesph, forgive them”. So I share my hurt with Jesus. And/or I offer it up, so then at least my irritation is worth something. If its someone you know that you can correct, like a family member (that there is no bad history with) or good friend who is not offended by you expressing your opinion, then you can say something. With strangers, pretty much never. Think of how Jesus approached people, with love, not pointing out their errors. However I do not think they could have sinned in front of them without a look. Sometimes a look works. A quick show of your hurt.
 
Nelka said:
When I hear somebody use God’s name in vain I want to tell them to stop especially if I work with them but how do we go about it in a good way without being like an angry teacher telling off a child?

Also when it comes to other sins how far do we go? Should we be telling people when they are committing mortal sins to stop?

I sometimes wonder why I want to tell somebody they shouldn’t be doing something, because it hurts God, me or arrogance.

I really don’t like hearing God’s name being used in vain especially be Christians.

Do you ever admonish sinners?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Why don’t you simply pray for them?
 
Nelka said:
How far do we go with admonishing sinners?
Click to expand...
We should go as far as Jesus went, with the same love and compassion that Jesus showed. 😉

Ironically enough, I suspect that if Jesus were here today, most Christians would be grossly offended by the company he would keep… I can’t know what he would do, but I’m sure I would be surprised.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 10:9
Click to expand...
Now, I don’t know about you, but I highly doubt taking the Lord’s Name in vain, bad as that is to a Christian, qualifies someone as some sort of special evil that Christians should not “sit with.” God wants your mercy more than he wants pious speech that merely drives people away from him. 🙂
 
I recall a friend who would tell people who repeatedly used the Lord’s name in vain IN HIS HOUSE to please not do so. Interestingly enough the two I recall apologized and said they didn’t know he was so “religious.”

If it was my home I might try the same approach in a kind manner.

Just a thought,

Mary.
 
Nelka said:
When I hear somebody use God’s name in vain I want to tell them to stop especially if I work with them but how do we go about it in a good way without being like an angry teacher telling off a child?

Also when it comes to other sins how far do we go? Should we be telling people when they are committing mortal sins to stop?

I sometimes wonder why I want to tell somebody they shouldn’t be doing something, because it hurts God, me or arrogance.

I really don’t like hearing God’s name being used in vain especially be Christians.

Do you ever admonish sinners?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Sometimes, I say, “Language, gentlemen. There’s a lady present”, but most of the time, I ignore them.

As to telling people when they are in a mortal sin, most times they already know it’s a sin but do it anyway. Better to lead by example.
 
Very carefully and with prayer. Sometimes God will guide us to speak and other times He wants us to shut up and leave it to Him. At the moment, He wants me to shut up with one person and although it pains me, I do. I know that if I say anything, I will be raining on a soul that has suddenly (and in answer to my prayers) become on fire to learn about the faith. He will gently and lovingly guide that person to full knowledge, as He has done so for me on other issues and is trying to help me with one or two other things.

Personally, I prefer it when God takes a hand, He is so much gentler and loving than I could be and very sensitive to the delicateness of my soul.
 
Nelka said:
When I hear somebody use God’s name in vain I want to tell them to stop especially if I work with them but how do we go about it in a good way without being like an angry teacher telling off a child?

Also when it comes to other sins how far do we go? Should we be telling people when they are committing mortal sins to stop?

I sometimes wonder why I want to tell somebody they shouldn’t be doing something, because it hurts God, me or arrogance.

I really don’t like hearing God’s name being used in vain especially be Christians.

Do you ever admonish sinners?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
How do you know when a person is committing a mortal sin. They may or may not be Catholic. They may or may not know what they are doing is a sin of grave matter. It is not for you to judge them.
 
thistle said:
How do you know when a person is committing a mortal sin. They may or may not be Catholic. They may or may not know what they are doing is a sin of grave matter. It is not for you to judge them.
Click to expand...
She may well be speaking of grave matter, not subjectively mortal sins. It is not judging to recognize wrong actions, so long as we know “the whole story,” so to speak, and not make assumptions as to the objective actions themselves.

Also, objective morality is not necessarily binding on Catholics only.

Fraternal correction is recognized by the Church as one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
 
It depends on the person who u are admonishing. This is not a one size fits all answer.

What works for one, does not always work with another. Sometimes a ‘look’ works. Sometimes a gentle reminder. Sometimes a stronger response is necessary.
 
drforjc said:
**She may well be speaking of grave matter, not subjectively mortal sins. ** It is not judging to recognize wrong actions, so long as we know “the whole story,” so to speak, and not make assumptions as to the objective actions themselves.

Also, objective morality is not necessarily binding on Catholics only.

Fraternal correction is recognized by the Church as one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Click to expand...
She hasn’t said that and I suspect she isn’t. Anyway I completely disagree you walk up to everybody you see daily that you THINK is doing something wrong.
Where do you draw the line.
 
Please be careful. Not everyone shares the same values as you. If you know they are Catholic, maybe admonish them. I have a bad mouth too. Sometimes I honestly am unaware of how many bad words I say. It would be annoying to have someone correct me every moment of the day. It would teach me to not slip - it would make the other person authority over me. Unless they are my parent, I do not need to be corrected by a friend all day long. Usually I will correct myself if I know the person is particularly religious. Sometimes I think Christians are TOO QUICK TO CORRECT. Eventually, correcting others will work. As someone who is constantly corrected by others for MY OWN GOOD, it can be ANNOYING to be TREATED LIKE A CHILD.
 
thistle said:
She hasn’t said that and I suspect she isn’t. Anyway I completely disagree you walk up to everybody you see daily that you THINK is doing something wrong.
Where do you draw the line.
Click to expand...
One would use the virtue of prudence to draw the line. There are multiple considerations to be made, of course. Would my saying something be likely to cause them to change? Would it damage our relationship to the point that they might never listen to me or speak to me again? Could someone else bring it up more effectively? Etc.

One would not just randomly and haphazardly proceed with admonishing the sinner. Prayer and prudence are certainly required. Yet, the Church lists it among the spiritual works of mercy, so it does have a place in our lives.
 
Bow your head and make the sign of the cross. When they ask just say you do that whenever the name of your Lord and Saviour is mentioned.
 
One time a neighbor girl out a hex on me and made me say ‘chocolate cheese’ 100 times
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top