If you do not go to Church are you going to Hell?

[Publisher]

Publisher,

Although I am absolutely sure it was not your intention, I was offended by your description of the holy sacrifice of the Mass as “sitting on a bench for an hour or so.” I do not ask you to agree with the Catholic teaching about the Mass, but I humbly ask you to be aware that Catholics view it as so much more than sitting in a pew.

The Mass is a representation of the sacrifice of God who by His crucifixion redeemed the world. Participants include God, all Catholics on the earth, the Orthodox as well as all the saints and angels in heaven (who outnumber us by the way). It is a preview of heaven where all the saved will be joined together forever. We, as Catholics, are required (within reason) to be part of the communal worship that is the Mass. And while we are there, we watch as the Lord makes Himself bread and feeds us.

I hope that my description will communicate how central the Mass is to the faith of Catholics as well as how much I love the Lord and want to please Him through my attendance at His Mass. The Lord in a special way in my life has invited me to attend daily Mass, and I intend to answer “yes.”

God bless you.

I never equated “sitting on a bench” with the mass in any way shape or form…I would not think that every answer in the "non-Catholic Religion’ forum has to conform to Catholic belief, nor would I think it has to have disclaimers for each and every post explaining it is not meant to be offensive to Catholics. I have done my utmost to never post in such a manner to be offensive.

Please, take no offense where none is intended. If you were absolutely sure I intended NOT to be offensive…I’m not sure why you posted as you did.

Peace to you. I will bow out of this discussion.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

I never equated “sitting on a bench” with the mass in any way shape or form…

You clearly said that going to church (which is the Mass in Catholicism) “has no bearing on one’s eternal soul.”

I would not think that every answer in the "non-Catholic Religion’ forum has to conform to Catholic belief, nor would I think it has to have disclaimers for each and every post explaining it is not meant to be offensive to Catholics. I have done my utmost to never post in such a manner to be offensive.

Please, take no offense where none is intended. If you were absolutely sure I intended NOT to be offensive…I’m not sure why you posted as you did.

Peace to you. I will bow out of this discussion.

Publisher,

I never intended for you to feel you need to bow out of this discussion. All I ever hoped to do was to explain where we, as Catholics, are coming from. I would expect nothing less from any other poster on these boards, Catholic or not.

And whether you intended it or not, calling worship of our Lord in a church building “sitting on a bench” is offensive. And I am sure Catholics are not the only believers who might find that such a term belittles their worship service.

God bless you.

 

[JonNC]

You clearly said that going to church (which is the Mass in Catholicism) “has no bearing on one’s eternal soul.”

Publisher,

I never intended for you to feel you need to bow out of this discussion. All I ever hoped to do was to explain where we, as Catholics, are coming from. I would expect nothing less from any other poster on these boards, Catholic or not.

And whether you intended it or not, calling worship of our Lord in a church building “sitting on a bench” is offensive. And I am sure Catholics are not the only believers who might find that such a term belittles their worship service.

God bless you.

“Sitting on a bench” at worship is similar to saying that all one does at a meal is “sit in a chair”. I guess if you don’t eat what is served, it is. Same thing at church. At church one is served the “food” of the soul, in the forms of the Word and Sacrament. If you’re not partaking in what is served, you’re just “sitting on a bench”. So, in my mind, whether you go, for example, to Catholic Mass, or a Lutheran service, take seconds.

Jon

 

[distracted]

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The noisy confusion of life only makes sense when seen through the eyes of one who is immersed in Christ… and the best way to be immersed in Him is to spend time with Him at the Blessed Sacrament… Best psychotherapy around… (although sometimes scary… )