C
cisco_1
Guest
Why are we here in this world by the way, were we just created for the sole purpose of worshiping him? That is the end goal?
- Status
L
LaetenturCaeli
Guest
We were created to share in His life. Wanting to adore Him is the simple result of knowing Him. It’s like looking at a laughing baby and wanting to smile: it’s natural and fitting.
God isn’t some tyrant sitting there needing our puny little half-hearted, self-serving, self-absorbed worship. He wants to give us Himself, because He is beauty, love, joy, light, goodness. He is those things. Just like you want to give good things to others whom you love, so He wants to give Himself.
The problem is that we don’t really want Him, and then when we have to pick Him over lesser things, we scream out in protest.
Cisco, I understand that you’re suffering. Lots of people suffer. It stinks, it’s awful, and it’s an evil. But let’s be honest with ourselves. How much of our suffering is really down to our choices, decisions, attitudes, desires, mistakes, foolishness? We need to learn to discern things in our life which we had a bit more to do with than we care to admit.*
… and when it comes to those things which are beyond our control, we need to trust in Him. It’s hard to do that if we hardly know Him. GET to know Him. Try. Go to Confession, and try your hardest to begin living a Sacramental life.
It’s only if we know Him that we can begin to appreciate what Christ meant when He said, “Behold, I make all things new.” That includes our suffering, which has been redeemed and which has a priceless value … if only we stop giving in to temptations to hate and to be angry and vengeful at God.
*Edit: I just wanted to offer an example of this. My father-in-law is currently going through a lot. We’re talking his whole life is being utterly uprooted and torn to shreds. Anyone who looked at the things that he’s going through would very rightly feel incredibly sorry for him, and they might find the whole thing incredibly unfair. But you know what? I think he would admit that much of this is down to certain sinful or bad decisions he’s made over the past 20 years. Not all of it. But a decent portion, including some of his massive health issues. Yes, some people do suffer innocently. Yes, many others suffer incredibly because of things they do have at least some responsibility for. I don’t know where you are, but I want you to at least be honest with yourself about all of this.
S
sudy
Guest
No, we’re here to love one another too.
This resentment and anger aren’t doing you any good. I recommend totally abandoning yourself to God. It’s difficult to do as we don’t like giving up the secret pleasures we enjoy but if you do it sincerely you’ll be surprised by the results.
That’s the best advice I can give.
B
Bookcat
Guest
Actually I said that* yes it can* be a sin.
I encourage all who smoke cigarettes to get help and stop such.
B
Bookcat
Guest
I invite you to read again (slowly) again my several posts above…there is much there (took a good deal of time for them
so take a good deal of time with them …in them is much)
B
Bookcat
Guest
Evil is a reality in this world - this fallen world. The evil of the Devil and his angels, the evil of man and his evil choices etc.
God allows evils - for we have free will.
God also allows and of course gives the grace -for good. For the right use of free will.
God does yes answer prayers…and yes God makes us “cooperators” - in our prayer and work…he gives us the dignity of such. But again we do not see the big picture.
Prayer is yes a reality. A profound one.
Yes God permits evils in the current state of creation…but that will not be forever.
Catechism on providence and evil: scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p4.htm#309
God did not need us.
God made us …by love.
Man turned away from God…God sought man out as the Good Shepherd…
The answer to your question is the whole of the Catholic Faith!
Creation…the fall of man…the terrible reality of sin etc as a result of the fall and of personal sins etc…the coming of the Son of God (Jesus Christ!) …his teaching…his founding a Church…his death and his resurrection …the sending of the Holy Spirit…our repenting and receiving already true life in Christ via faith and baptism etc…our continuing on in this pilgrimage on earth …our purification if needed and then our entering into the fulfillment of true life - in the eternal life of heaven - the coming again of the Lord Jesus and us with him - our Resurrection and glorified body - the new heavens and new earth…indeed in heaven and in the resurrection -the fullness of that happiness for which we were made…
B
Bookcat
Guest
Compendium of the Catechism - issued by Pope Benedict (one can buy it online or read it online or buy it in a Catholic Bookstore…)
1.** What is the plan of God for man?**
God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. In the fullness of time, God the Father sent his Son as the Redeemer and Savior of mankind, fallen into sin, thus calling all into his Church and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, making them adopted children and heirs of his eternal happiness.
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#%E2%80%9CI%20believe%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%93%20%E2%80%9CWe%20believe%E2%80%9D
1.** What is the plan of God for man?**
God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. In the fullness of time, God the Father sent his Son as the Redeemer and Savior of mankind, fallen into sin, thus calling all into his Church and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, making them adopted children and heirs of his eternal happiness.
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#%E2%80%9CI%20believe%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%93%20%E2%80%9CWe%20believe%E2%80%9D
C
Colorad007
Guest
You’re experiencing the temptation to despair, which is a fairly common one when you’re stuck in the rut of habitual sin. My advice would be to constantly avail yourself of confession—weekly, or even more frequently, if you need it. Don’t ever tire of repentance. Even if you’re falling into serious sin pretty much every day, make a firm act of contrition, find a priest to hear your confession, and keep going. Faith is not a mere sentiment. Even if you FEEL completely deflated and miles and miles away from God, get on your knees, make the most heartfelt act of faith you can manage, and keep going. Pray especially for perseverance, especially before the Blessed Sacrament.
Ultimately, you are indeed doing this to yourself through your own sin. When you choose Christ and not Satan (who hides behind the sins of the flesh) to be your constant companion, you will experience much more hope in your life. Realize that you feel so alone and so hopeless because you’re following Satan’s traps and lies. Satan suggests happiness behind the door of pornography, impurity, and prostitution. You go through the door and then realize that there is no happiness there, after all. And instead of running back into the arms of the God who loves you, you listen to Satan’s lies that “prayer doesn’t work,” “God doesn’t care,” “I’m never going to change,” “I will never be happy.” You start to believe it and then Satan completes the circle of despair: “If you want to be happy go to this website or commit this sin.” And then it starts all over again.
If there are deeper psychological and spiritual issues, then you need to deal with them. There are Catholic counselors who might be willing to see you for a discounted fee if you explain your financial situation. You also need to start seeking regular spiritual direction, which is free. Find a priest—through Opus Dei, through one of the wonderful orthodox religious orders in the New York area. Visit Holy Innocents in Midtown and talk with a priest there. You really have to be totally open and honest with these people: “I’m hopeless, I’m losing my faith, I keep sinning against chastity, I don’t have the money to get much help, and I want to be holy. Please help me. Please give me whatever time you can, whatever help you can.” Some priests will help and some won’t. Find the ones that will.
Ultimately, you are indeed doing this to yourself through your own sin. When you choose Christ and not Satan (who hides behind the sins of the flesh) to be your constant companion, you will experience much more hope in your life. Realize that you feel so alone and so hopeless because you’re following Satan’s traps and lies. Satan suggests happiness behind the door of pornography, impurity, and prostitution. You go through the door and then realize that there is no happiness there, after all. And instead of running back into the arms of the God who loves you, you listen to Satan’s lies that “prayer doesn’t work,” “God doesn’t care,” “I’m never going to change,” “I will never be happy.” You start to believe it and then Satan completes the circle of despair: “If you want to be happy go to this website or commit this sin.” And then it starts all over again.
If there are deeper psychological and spiritual issues, then you need to deal with them. There are Catholic counselors who might be willing to see you for a discounted fee if you explain your financial situation. You also need to start seeking regular spiritual direction, which is free. Find a priest—through Opus Dei, through one of the wonderful orthodox religious orders in the New York area. Visit Holy Innocents in Midtown and talk with a priest there. You really have to be totally open and honest with these people: “I’m hopeless, I’m losing my faith, I keep sinning against chastity, I don’t have the money to get much help, and I want to be holy. Please help me. Please give me whatever time you can, whatever help you can.” Some priests will help and some won’t. Find the ones that will.
C
Colorad007
Guest
By the way, the Baltimore Catechism famously says this:
Q: Why did God make you?
A: God made me to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven.
You are certainly allowed–indeed, encouraged–to enjoy life. But only to the extent that is facilitates the purpose of it all, which is knowing, loving, and serving God. Once your “enjoyment” turns to sin and disorder, you are potentially compromising your true happiness, which is life with God in Heaven.
Q: Why did God make you?
A: God made me to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven.
You are certainly allowed–indeed, encouraged–to enjoy life. But only to the extent that is facilitates the purpose of it all, which is knowing, loving, and serving God. Once your “enjoyment” turns to sin and disorder, you are potentially compromising your true happiness, which is life with God in Heaven.
C
cisco_1
Guest
I have a question, why did the Earth change because of the fall of Adam and Eve yet heaven did not when Lucifer (along with his numbers of angels) sinned and fell? I had nothing to do with what Adam did in the garden, for me or anybody else to be forced into a curse they had nothing to do with is seriously politically incorrect.
That is like me going around the subway and attacking any random white person because his ancestors took in African slaves and may have killed some Native Americans. Is this right for me to pin this on to their descendants? Why not, we keep telling everyone we are cursed with sin, regardless of not being involved in it at all, yet try to pry it in to how much he is a loving God.
I’m just beginning to get so much confusion and skepticism on this “he’s all love” talk that i’ve been hearing endlessly. What great good has god done that exceeds the works of man? The amount of charities, the hospitals, etc etc… man did that.
Likewise with Satan, what evil has he done to win the title of the king of evil or whatever christianic dogma wrote? Mankind has beaten him in the “evil” department by a mile: the Holocaust, the 9/11, random stuff done by the Isis, slavery, animal cruelty, etc etc… that is all us. Pointing fingers at some fallen angel whispering in our ear telling us to do is nothing more than a cheap blame game.
C
cisco_1
Guest
So if my life/prayers are not been answered, then the main assumption is that i haven’t been following Christ? If I wasn’t then praying for him to take control of my life wouldn’t be something i would repeat for years, right?
For so many years i’ve been praying, keeping strong in faith, attending churches, giving offering, attending 3 Life in the Spirit seminars over the last 8 years. i’m sick of it. All i get is this depression that I’m just being neglected; whining and moaning inside if God has left me too…Asking for strength, motivation, and any form of positive mindset to help me over come what I have in my life… I but nothing. Instead, i see people who have put me down… people who bullied me around in High School, gave me a reputation of being a coward for not wanting to fight them for some reason; people who cheated on me and all that… yet they get blessed? Maybe their blessings isn’t from God and they just managed to make the right decisions but that kind disqualifies any form of faith in him…
How can we continue to believe that God is a God of prayer when we see so much suffering in this world. If he can’t answer a regular bum’s request for a simple sandwich or a blanket then how can we assume that he will answer requests of people who are not in that situation?
M
Mintaka
Guest
If you talk to homeless people, you will find out that God often provides them with food and shelter. The problem for a lot of homeless people is that they find it hard to take advantage of what they are given, either because they are too self-reliant to seek out assistance or because they don’t like to sleep under a roof or live a normal life. (Or they have other serious problems.) There’s a reason why professional beggars make tons of money a year and can live in nice houses, while homeless people have a hard time surviving. Professional beggars are often crooked, but they are pragmatic and sane. Homeless people have a lot of stuff going on.
The ancient Christian answer to your other problem? The wicked who seem blessed or lucky in this life are that way now, because they’ll be spending the next life in the lake of fire. God loves them, and He knows their eternal fate is nothing but horror. So He gives them the piddly bit of gift that they can accept now. Later they will get what they deserve, and they won’t be able to complain that God never gave them anything.
People who are super-advanced spiritually often receive spectacular and timely answers to prayer, because they’ve done a lot of suffering and are very Christlike. So they know God’s will and pray for things that are God’s will. They seldom pray for tangible things for themselves, often sacrifice their own wishes, and get things miraculously done for other people instead. And they become happy to suffer with Christ (unlike me, which is why I’m not very Christlike yet!).
The rest of us are in training for the next life. We have our ups and downs. Sometimes God seems close, when He’s feeding us on His love. Sometimes God seems far away, when He’s making us exercise our own faith and hope and love. He gives us what we need and will help us, but He keeps us training hard when it comes to the rest. And yes, it feels pretty stinky when He’s working us hard. Everybody hates their track coach, too.
But you’re allowed to consult other people, if your coach is being incomprehensible! We don’t know all your personal details, and we don’t see you in person. So we can’t really give you personalized advice, like a priest or spiritual director, or a friend or relative. Are there good things in your life that are being overlooked? We don’t know! So talk to someone more helpful than us, although you can certainly keep consulting us too!
The ancient Christian answer to your other problem? The wicked who seem blessed or lucky in this life are that way now, because they’ll be spending the next life in the lake of fire. God loves them, and He knows their eternal fate is nothing but horror. So He gives them the piddly bit of gift that they can accept now. Later they will get what they deserve, and they won’t be able to complain that God never gave them anything.
People who are super-advanced spiritually often receive spectacular and timely answers to prayer, because they’ve done a lot of suffering and are very Christlike. So they know God’s will and pray for things that are God’s will. They seldom pray for tangible things for themselves, often sacrifice their own wishes, and get things miraculously done for other people instead. And they become happy to suffer with Christ (unlike me, which is why I’m not very Christlike yet!).
The rest of us are in training for the next life. We have our ups and downs. Sometimes God seems close, when He’s feeding us on His love. Sometimes God seems far away, when He’s making us exercise our own faith and hope and love. He gives us what we need and will help us, but He keeps us training hard when it comes to the rest. And yes, it feels pretty stinky when He’s working us hard. Everybody hates their track coach, too.
But you’re allowed to consult other people, if your coach is being incomprehensible! We don’t know all your personal details, and we don’t see you in person. So we can’t really give you personalized advice, like a priest or spiritual director, or a friend or relative. Are there good things in your life that are being overlooked? We don’t know! So talk to someone more helpful than us, although you can certainly keep consulting us too!
B
Bookcat
Guest
Rather it was more that* Adam and Eve* changed with their fall…and thus could not pass on what they had from God from the beginning and death entered the picture for them.
The other and the rest of physical creation - was created in state of journeying - perfection was not yet.
We not call him such. But yes the Devil and his demons are yes involved in much of the great evil …they continue in their evil choice and seek to do and provoke evil…they abuse their angelic nature…together with men who have chosen that dark evil path - yes much evil happens. Freedom that was given so one could freely love…has been abused and evil chosen.
But again this is only part of the reality here on earth….and it will not last.
Where as the Resurrection and the New Creation …the new heavens and new earth …will indeed last.
All the good that man can do …is not apart from God. All such is by God. All Good comes from God. Tis gift. Without God - no good.
C
cisco_1
Guest
What about the laws of nature, watch how predators brutally kill their pray; watch how the helpless animal cries in pain as it is being eaten alive. It’s hard to believe that “all good” stuff. Other than myself, i know there must be random homeless people praying for a change in their situation… but since it’s not changing (obviously “not good”) then is God absent in their lives regardless of them praying constantly for him?
Listen, i’ve very sorry for striking this debate… you really don’t need to entertain it. I guess i’m seriously frustrated now with all the “faith, God, Jesus hears you…” stuff because that is all i’ve been getting for so many years now. I’ve prayed to be patient, for him to have his will in my life… but I have to be honest that I am tired of all the prayer-prayer activities. Maybe he is the loving God to you and many, but to me… i am in doubts about his involvement in my life or that his will for my life is something better. After many years, many prayers, many attempts, i really can not lie to myself because deep down, i have developed a large amount of bitterness (and maybe heartbreak) towards God. It’s like, in my heart i just can’t consider myself a christian anymore. ,
B
bsf
Guest
cisco_1,
The following is from the Epilogue (pg. 147) of Arise from Darkness by the late Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. It is very pragmatic advice that will help with the loneliness you mentioned in the original post.
There are very few remedies in human experience that always work. In the case of great disappointment and intense sorrows, there is one remedy that works infallibly, so long as this remedy is applied carefully and consistently. This is to get out of yourself and help someone else. Long ago I memorized a line from somewhere, “Save another’s soul, and it will save your own.” I think that the self-preservation implied in this statement fits in well with our Lord’s admonition, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The works of mercy are like so many doses of medication for the wounded heart.
The following is from the Epilogue (pg. 147) of Arise from Darkness by the late Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. It is very pragmatic advice that will help with the loneliness you mentioned in the original post.
There are very few remedies in human experience that always work. In the case of great disappointment and intense sorrows, there is one remedy that works infallibly, so long as this remedy is applied carefully and consistently. This is to get out of yourself and help someone else. Long ago I memorized a line from somewhere, “Save another’s soul, and it will save your own.” I think that the self-preservation implied in this statement fits in well with our Lord’s admonition, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The works of mercy are like so many doses of medication for the wounded heart.
B
Bookcat
Guest
Yes nature involves such. Tis part of nature…a lion has got to eat and there are not grocery stores in the wild …nor do we like it when they come to shop in ours!
What is experienced as not good for the zebra is good for the lion.
And then there are the splendid beauties of the animal world too!
The present world was not created in a state of arrival…but of journeying …
B
Bookcat
Guest
Yes we are to have Faith and to live in Faith and Hope. And yes Jesus hear us etc.
But there are also a good deal of “misconceptions” that many good willed persons believe and talk about with others.
Prayer yes can effect things - God has given us the dignity to pray and seek even healings via prayer.
God involves us thus as a kind of cause - as brothers and sisters of each other. But God is not vending machine …
B
Bookcat
Guest
To repeat part of a post
C
cisco_1
Guest
I’ve read all your replies in full, it’s the same Christian excuses now.
- Not a vending machine
- You need to know Christ that is why things are not going up with you
S
sudy
Guest
This topic is very tricky because it seems to me that you’ve already, in many ways, given up hope, and given up trust in God. The whole point of prayer is to make our will align to the will of God, and not necessarily to attain things. Some things we desire, aren’t good for us… or aren’t good for us at this time.
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve others. We are to imitate this. We aren’t meant to have everything, but to give everything. Attached to suffering, there’s a mystical value which we don’t always see. e.g. when we are hungry or hurt, we experience what Christ experienced.
I’m kind of at a loss to know what else to say. I just figured I’d add these comments to give you food for thought.
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve others. We are to imitate this. We aren’t meant to have everything, but to give everything. Attached to suffering, there’s a mystical value which we don’t always see. e.g. when we are hungry or hurt, we experience what Christ experienced.
I’m kind of at a loss to know what else to say. I just figured I’d add these comments to give you food for thought.
- Status