Is Catholicism too complex?

[RKS89]

I suppose if we think of a “friendship” as being between co-equals I absolutely agree with your points. However, the writings of many of our saints portray a deeply intimate relationship with Our Lord, and within that relationship is definitely included the appropriate reverence for God Incarnate. I’ve not met a Catholic, or many Evangelicals for that matter, who would consider Jesus to be a “friend” in the way I or you have friends. I think the saints attained to a “friendship” with God, in as much as it is possible for the creature to love, adore, worship and communicate with its Creator. And when we look back to Abraham we know he is called a “friend of God”- surely Scripture isn’t suggesting Abraham and the Lord were chums. Above and beyond all of that what sort of God would we have who could not call one of His obedient sons (like Abraham) “friend”? And while you make a good point regarding the frequency (or lack of) the term “friend” occurring within the Gospel, is it not equally telling that Christ calls the disciples friends in the first place? For the observant Jews among them wouldn’t that be something of immense magnitude?

I’m not trying to be argumentative, I just don’t know that we should be so quick to downplay “friendship with God” or a personal relationship with Christ, especially when we see some of the language saints like Therese and Fuastina use regarding Him.

 

[goodcatholic]

prefer the Catholic life obviously because living Catholic for me ( remember I’m not fully there yet ) has drawn me as close or closer to Christ than I’ve ever been in my life.

So everything we do as Catholics should be drawing us closer to Christ., Receiving the sacraments, going to Mass, doing good works, is all geared to developing our “personal” (or possibly “intimate” is a better word) relationship with Christ. So the pastor is right in a way, isn’t he? We need to make our relationship with Christ our number one priority?

 

[RKS89]

Perhaps this is creating a dichotomy where, in fact, there is not one. If we prioritize our relationship with Christ, as Catholics that means having a solid daily prayer life, frequent use of the sacraments, attending Mass, performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It would be hard to have one without the other, but that doesn’t mean its “either / or”. Like many things in Catholicism, it seems to be a both / and.

 

[Thingsnotseen]

I do agree that our relationship ( not buddy - but Lord and Savior/ adoration / worship ) with Christ should be our number one priority. Catholicism has ways of drawing us closer to Christ and so does Protestantism ( remember that’s where I come from ). But I’ve chosen to become Catholic because I believe it’s the fullness of the truth and the Christian faith. I still love the same Jesus that I’ve loved since childhood and want to be as close to Jesus as possible. I think Catholicism has more ways to draw us closer to Christ many of which you mentioned and a few more.

 

[Curious11]

That’s a great analogy, useful when describing why some people end up together too

 

[Edward_H]

Pastorally, not bad advice, it helps to focus people in their struggle.

But that pastor should explain why there are 40,000 different strains of Protestantism…that’s sort of complex, isn’t it?

Me and Jesus, misses half of it: Unity in the family of God.

Jesus said “that they may be one as you Father and I are one…”

Is an oak tree too complex?

Is the human being…with a will that doesn’t always listen to the intellect, a body and passions that don’t always listen to either the intellect or the will.

That’s sort of complex.

 

[ndmoharo]

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Then all these things shall be added unto you”

That’s what Jesus said. Sounds pretty simple.

Another simple statement, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, heart, soul, and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself”

Catholicism helps teach us how to follow these simple statements throughout many aspects of our lives. In that sense, you can say it’s complicated because our lives are complicated

 

[Genesis315]

How come the Bible isn’t just one sentence on a note card?

How to have a relationship with God and what that means–including the corresponding duties that arise from it–is a matter of incredible depth that can take a lifetime to fully appreciate–in fact, it is something in which we should continued to grow until we see God as He is. It’s also both a one-on-one relationship and a communal one (ie why the Bible stresses the importance of the Church). God, has revealed the basics as to how we are to have that relationship: prayer, adoration (especially in the Eucharistic sacrifice), obeying the commandments, and receiving the sacraments. He’s provided further explanation on what each of these really entails too.

I guess it can seem complex from an outsider’s perspective, but since it is all so organically and logically related and interrelated, such a relationship really becomes a simple, seamless way of life (the only complication being our tendency to sin, which wounds the relationship).