Living for Christ all the time?

[ResoluteSheep]

Today after our school’s exam I hung out with some friends just having fun. Whenever I’m having fun with them (no nothing about drinking, alcohol, clubbing or anything) I always feel that I’m sinning. I always have the thought ‘‘you gotta evangelize man what on earth are you doing stop sinning’’ then I get all anxious.

We don’t ALWAYS have to share our Faith right? Like only if the topic becomes appropriate then yeah I would!

I admit, I am lukewarm but I find it really hard to be on fire for my Faith with this constant thoughts lingering about. Every sin I attempt to avoid seems to be only out of fear of hell. I usually disregard much less serious sins and think that ‘‘oh it’s okay I’ll still end up in purgatory’’ but yes I am aware that this mindset is never something to be encouraged neither is it healthy for a Catholic at all.

How much does one have to give up to follow Christ? To we literally have to only find joy in God and leave all our hobbies, and every other enjoyment? Do we have to preach all the time? Are we not allowed to have fun?

I’m quite sure I’ve asked a few of these questions before but I really need some clear clarification

Thanks all and God bless

 

[puzzledtoo]

See if you can borrow or buy a book called “the devout life” by St. Francis De Salles. Very interesting and informative read. I believe the questions/concerns you have posed here will be answered and then some.
It’s not that you can’t enjoy what you do or have in this life. It’s that we become to attached. If we buy something we should have the attitude that if we lose it that will not be the end of the world. Sometimes I will loan a book to someone and when it isn’t returned in a timely manner I get agitated. I need to be better at letting go of this attachment as well as others I have.
The same can be said for activities-we can have too much of an attachment here as well. Be well-stay safe.

 

[Nemm]

You sound a bit anxious or scrupulous…

You can have fun if it doesn’t involve sinning! Laughing and spending time with friends is not sinning. Evangelize by being a nice person and following the church teachings. You can bring others to Christ through your behaviour because Jesus’s light can shine through you.

I wasn’t a Christian growing up, no one evangelized me by words but I knew a few Christian girls who were lovely people, were strong in their faith and there was just this thing about them that I admired. I think I could sense the Holy Spirit in them and I wanted that, which helped me convert.

I’m not saying you should never talk about faith, definitely do that if you feel the time is right and the opportunity arises but most people who aren’t Christian don’t like having religion forced on them that way so it doesn’t work unless people are really talking on the topic of religion anyway.

Just from my own experience.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

There is nothing wrong with hanging out if your conversation is not lewd or putting someone down. Have fun. Can you imagine Jesus laughing and just having fun like every other human being?

 

[ResoluteSheep]

There is nothing wrong with hanging out if your conversation is not lewd or putting someone down. Have fun. Can you imagine Jesus laughing and just having fun like every other human being?

Nope, our conversations doesn’t have anything lewd. Though at times some of my friends may swear and stuff but I don’t join in on that.

Yes I can, but what confuses me is that Jesus did not conform to any of their ideals. What does this mean? Does it mean we can hang out with them still but not agree with their ideas? I actually had a friend that had a short debate with me on why Christianity cannot be true. I gave him certain facts and personal opinions why Christianity has to be true (E.g something cannot come out from nothing so God exists) though I could not convince him, it did not sprout into a full fledged anger argument.

Both of us are still friends and he is still an atheist. Is it still alright to be friends with him? He doesn’t mind me being a Catholic at all but I can’t seem to convince him that our religion is the true one

 

[ResoluteSheep]

You sound a bit anxious or scrupulous…

You can have fun if it doesn’t involve sinning! Laughing and spending time with friends is not sinning. Evangelize by being a nice person and following the church teachings. You can bring others to Christ through your behaviour because Jesus’s light can shine through you.

I wasn’t a Christian growing up, no one evangelized me by words but I knew a few Christian girls who were lovely people, were strong in their faith and there was just this thing about them that I admired. I think I could sense the Holy Spirit in them and I wanted that, which helped me convert.

I’m not saying you should never talk about faith, definitely do that if you feel the time is right and the opportunity arises but most people who aren’t Christian don’t like having religion forced on them that way so it doesn’t work unless people are really talking on the topic of religion anyway.

Just from my own experience.

Thank goodness. I thought that having fun would always be a sin as this Bible verse keeps ringing in my head ‘‘For Christ did not please Himself’’ but I guess I got the context wrong. Evangelizing through our actions? Hmm, reminds me of one of St. Francis of Assisi’s quotes, but true it’s a really good idea.

The main problem with me is that I’m so scared of committing mortal sin that I always feel the need to talk about Faith even when it isn’t appropriate which causes me stress and headaches throbbing in my head some of the time.

 

[ResoluteSheep]

See if you can borrow or buy a book called “the devout life” by St. Francis De Salles. Very interesting and informative read. I believe the questions/concerns you have posed here will be answered and then some.
It’s not that you can’t enjoy what you do or have in this life. It’s that we become to attached. If we buy something we should have the attitude that if we lose it that will not be the end of the world. Sometimes I will loan a book to someone and when it isn’t returned in a timely manner I get agitated. I need to be better at letting go of this attachment as well as others I have.
The same can be said for activities-we can have too much of an attachment here as well. Be well-stay safe.

That’s something I definitely gotta work on too haha. I usually get really sad or disappointed when I do not do good in something (e.g a class test) or when I do not get what I want.

Although I have a bit of trouble letting go of things easily. Maybe because I’m trying to do everything by my own strength. It is only God’s Grace that can assist me in this.

 

[Blue_Rose]

Thank goodness. I thought that having fun would always be a sin as this Bible verse keeps ringing in my head ‘‘For Christ did not please Himself’’ but I guess I got the context wrong. Evangelizing through our actions? Hmm, reminds me of one of St. Francis of Assisi’s quotes, but true it’s a really good idea.

The main problem with me is that I’m so scared of committing mortal sin that I always feel the need to talk about Faith even when it isn’t appropriate which causes me stress and headaches throbbing in my head some of the time.

We can have fun. Relax. Worried? Pray! Hand over your worries to Jesus. Smile and know that being happy is not a sin.

Don’t be scared all the time of committing a mortal sin - remember mortal sin requires full consent and intent, I think you are worried more about making a mistake and I think perhaps it is scruples which is a form of an anxiety disorder. If it’s impacting your life maybe talk to a priest or if you can find a Christian counsellor that may help.
St Therese of Lisieux had scruples - have you read about her life, her little way? I think she could help you

 

[ResoluteSheep]

We can have fun. Relax. Worried? Pray! Hand over your worries to Jesus. Smile and know that being happy is not a sin.

Don’t be scared all the time of committing a mortal sin - remember mortal sin requires full consent and intent, I think you are worried more about making a mistake and I think perhaps it is scruples which is a form of an anxiety disorder. If it’s impacting your life maybe talk to a priest or if you can find a Christian counsellor that may help.
St Therese of Lisieux had scruples - have you read about her life, her little way? I think she could help you

Hmm I did read a bit about her life but didn’t catch the scrupulous part of it. All I knew was that she was someone really devoted to serving God and desired to spread the Love of Christ to other people. She was an adult with a childlike mind and often blew up over certain things - that is until she met Christ.

That’s all I know about her. Do you know of any websites where I can read about her scrupulous journey? Thank you

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Nope, our conversations doesn’t have anything lewd. Though at times some of my friends may swear and stuff but I don’t join in on that.

Yes I can, but what confuses me is that Jesus did not conform to any of their ideals. What does this mean? Does it mean we can hang out with them still but not agree with their ideas? I actually had a friend that had a short debate with me on why Christianity cannot be true. I gave him certain facts and personal opinions why Christianity has to be true (E.g something cannot come out from nothing so God exists) though I could not convince him, it did not sprout into a full fledged anger argument.

Both of us are still friends and he is still an atheist. Is it still alright to be friends with him? He doesn’t mind me being a Catholic at all but I can’t seem to convince him that our religion is the true one

Look at the people Jesus hung out with. Even he could not convert them all. The Pharisees were scandalized by the people he hung out with.

 

[Liturgy_Geek_1]

After work today, I am going to visit my friend Karla, a lapsed Lutheran, for a long weekend. We will laugh, we will crochet, we will go to the Goodwill, we will drink tea, etc. I don’t actively evangelize Karla but, if the topic turns towards spiritual matters, I do not hesitate to witness for our Lord. I have made sure that over the course of our friendship, Karla knows about my faith. She has asked me questions and I have used those opportunities to educate and witness. She has even been to Mass a few times.

I say all this to let you know that there is no sin in having “good, clean fun” with friends but always be ready to go through an open door to evangelize for our Lord.