I can't stand other people's sins

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goodcatholic

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Other peoples’ sins like arrogance I just cant stand. I seem to be able to cope with my own arrogance by either not noticing it or downplaying it. “I had good intentions. I must’ve just been in a bad mood. That is very unlike me.I had every right to act that way! What else could I say!”
Now I just need to apply that to others I guess. Mmmmm…
 
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I’ve always had trouble imagining a big piece of wood in my eye. Sounds really painful.
 
well actually sawdust in my eye too, is not a pretty thought.
As for crucifixion? well there are probably worse ways to die, but it would rate in the 10 worst for sure.
 
I need to change the lyrics now.

“Open my eyes Lord
But don’t put sawdust or planks of wood in there.
Help me to see.”
 
I have a tendency to conflate others’ sins and minimise my own. It could just be a common problem.
But occasionally I will conflate my own sin. Guilt will step in and I will give myself a daily belting for a month or so.
 
Hi, you don’t say you hate sin but ‘other people’s sins’
So what came to mind is a quiet sentence spoken in a class by a sweet nun many years ago.
“The faults you see in others are frequently the faults that exist within yourself.”

I’m not saying that’s true of you
because sometimes the faults we dislike in others certainly aren’t our particular weakness
although we may have the flip-side of the fault or sin.
A noted virtue. You’re honest! 🙂
 
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I only accept hugs from Jesus.
 
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I’m sure He will be happy to oblige.
He’s the most loving person…ever!
 
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Hello.

Have you ever considered that there might be things you do that other people can’t stand, that maybe even might approach sin? Perhaps it would be more helpful to focus on these things than on what other people are up to.

Also, perhaps there is some wound or hurt you have that you haven’t addressed. I don’t know.

Just some thoughts.

Peace be with you.
 
goodcatholic said:
I have a tendency to conflate others’ sins and minimise my own. It could just be a common problem.

But occasionally I will conflate my own sin. Guilt will step in and I will give myself a daily belting for a month or so.
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Wouln’t it be more useful just to go to confession?
goodcatholic said:
Other peoples’ sins like arrogance I just cant stand. I seem to be able to cope with my own arrogance by either not noticing it or downplaying it. “I had good intentions. I must’ve just been in a bad mood. That is very unlike me.I had every right to act that way! What else could I say!”
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The things that bother us most in others are things in ourselves we abhor. That is one reason Jesus tells us to pray for others. In doing so, we pray for ourselves. We are called to love, as He has loved us (unconditionally) because when we can love others in spite of their shortcomings, we also learn to love and accept ourselves.

Every time you are annoyed by someone else, realize it as a call to prayer. This will help you to “notice” the same things in yourself you are already spotting in others. The Holy Spirit is trying to perfect you in holiness.

A pastor once enjoined us to substitute our names in place of the word love , so that we can become the measure of Christ’s love to the world. This practice always pulls me up short when I am irritated with others.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” I Cor. 13: 4-8

“goodcatholic is patient, goodcatholic is kind. goodcatholic does not envy, goodcatholic does not boast, goodcatholic is not proud. goodcatholic does not dishonor others, goodcatholic is not self-seeking, goodcatholic is not easily angered, goodcatholic keeps no record of wrongs. goodcatholic does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. goodcatholic always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. goodcatholic never fails.” I Cor. 13: 4-8
 
Actually, since I’m a sinner too, I try to give everybody a break. Now bad breath, that’s another story.
 
We should be very judging of our own actions, and scrutinize them, but not of others. I believe.
 
@Trishie, @crenfro,and @guanophore have all said things similar to what I was thinking. We often attribute irritation and annoyance to external factors, when the root cause is actually internal. It’s not always easy to figure out the real reasons.

Try to catch yourself in those situations and say to yourself, “Look, this is not about me. It’s not about my reaction to what he or she is doing. Is there anything I can do to help that person, or to help him or her to become a better person?”

Perhaps you can respond with charity, a little help, a kind word, or if that’s not possible, a prayer. Try to pray first for them, praying positively, and then for yourself. For example, instead of “Lord, help me by stopping their arrogance” (self-centered and negative), you could try “Lord, pour out your love upon them, and help them to find peace. And while you’re at it, could you do the same for me?”

Re-reading your original post, I think you are already on the right track. You know what’s right and you just need to get there. I pray that the Holy spirit may assist and guide you always.
 
Don’t worry goodcatholic =) We are all flawed and Our Lord knows that. You see, I have the same problem, and I think it mainly stems ( at least on my part, I can make absolutely no assumptions about your soul) from my own pride and lack of humility. The good thing is that Our Lord in His infinite mercy can even work with that. Like He told many saints, like my beautiful Saint Faustina, " Offer me your misery because it is the only thing that truly belongs to you". When you I will find myself doing this, I will stop, I will apologize to Our Lord and I will offer my own arrogance, pride, and lack of humility to Him like a weird, unexpected gift for myself and for the person I just judged. Then ask Him to see how truly weak you are, ask Him to give you light ( like Saint Faustina used to ask) to truly know yourself as you truly are, and to not leave you alone. Ask Him to please grant you the grace of true humility and love of neighbor. Ask Him to make you pleasing to Him this way and you’ll see how He’ll rush to help. Please pray for me because I struggle with the same thing every day. I will pray for you too =)
 
crenfro said:
Have you ever considered that there might be things you do that other people can’t stand, that maybe even might approach sin?
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That’s an interesting concept. Food for thought.
guanophore said:
Every time you are annoyed by someone else, realize it as a call to prayer.
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I’d be praying all day.
Jamie said:
You see, I have the same problem
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You were the only one who admitted as much., You win the non-Pharisee award!
 
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goodcatholic said:
I need to change the lyrics now.

“Open my eyes Lord

But don’t put sawdust or planks of wood in there.

Help me to see.”
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I think it is already obvious from the OP that you already recognize your own plank! 🙂

At issue is your own feelings about arrogance itself.

Is it possible that our use of of the word “arrogance” with negative tone is itself is a condemnation of an aspect of our nature?

An investigation is worthwhile. What is arrogance? It is the thinking that we are better than someone else, which stems from the want of dominance, the desire to dominate.

Do you agree with that assessment?
 
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Sounds like spiritual pride (aka “arrogance”). Often what we find repulsive in other people is a reflection of our own failings.

Get out of yourself. Volunteer, go clean out dog cages at the rescue or help do laundry at a homeless shelter.
 
“But note that two things help preserve friendship. The first is patience: “A quarrelsome man enkindles strife,” as it is said (Prov 26:21). The second is humility, which causes the former, that is patience (Prov 13:10 Vulgate): “Among the proud there is always strife.” For anyone who thinks big about himself and despises another cannot endure the latter’s shortcomings.” (St. Thomas Aquinas, Explanation of the Ten Commandments; Love of neighbor)
 
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