My faith is fading away

[Mjae]

If you’re feeling bored, I suspect you’ve fallen into the trap many do, that religion is there to entertain you, or at least take your mind off your problems, which is a mistake. There can be merit in joining your suffering to God’s. In your case, though, if you’re suffering from depression, then you need to see someone NOW and get treatment for it. This can be a life-threatening condition, don’t fool around with it. After that, try doing something that helps someone else, even if it’s only to pray for them. You might be surprised at how less bored you feel. God bless you, and good luck.

 

[Ceil-1]

John specifically forbids it in Revelation, the latest book of the Scripture: Rev.22:18:

      "I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in 
       this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him 
       the plagues described in this book, and if anyone
       takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God
       will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy 
       city described in this book."

I brought this up to a Mormon friend of mine, and she had no
answer for me.

Mormonism, according to their own admission, is clearly adding to the Gospels. This is expressly forbidden and why it has never tempted me.

 

[johannahw]

It seems to me that the warning in Revelation of the curses to any “who add to this book or take away from it” are referring ONLY to the book of Revelation that John wrote. Remember folks, the New Testament canon as the Catholic put it together wouldn’t even be put together for another 3 or 4 hundred years.

 

[kitkatty]

It seems to me that the warning in Revelation of the curses to any “who add to this book or take away from it” are referring ONLY to the book of Revelation that John wrote. Remember folks, the New Testament canon as the Catholic put it together wouldn’t even be put together for another 3 or 4 hundred years.

The deposit of faith was complete with the death of St.John the Apostle. Most Catholics realize it was three hundred years or so until the compilation of Scriptures known as the Bible were put together; however nothing in written or oral tradition was ever added to the deposit of faith after the death of John.

 

[Traditional_Ang]

Patty,

In reply to your Originating Post #1:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=2388963&postcount=1

1. No one here is laughing at you - We’ve all done stupid things or had problems making decisions in our lives. If I had joined the Catholic Worker instead of the Christian Cult I joined in 1982, I probably wouldn’t have been as seriously damaged, or financially drained, as I was.

All you did was listen to some friendly mormon missionaries who happened by at a time when you were esp. vulnerable - That happens to be a time the “Father of Lies”, the one also known as “The Enemy of the Brethren and of the People of Israel”, likes to strike.

1. This is something you really need to understand - But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9 ESV

This applies to the claims of Islam and of Mormonism. You need to decide whose Gospel is “The one received” from the Apostles, and which Church is the one founded by Christ which flowed from the side of Christ. You can’t allow the fact that you “See Mormon missionaries everywhere you go” to influence your decision. You need to decide which Church Christ founded. Was it the Church that began on Pentacost Day of 33 A.D. and that included the disciples who followed Him throughout the 3 years of His public ministry and saw His Resurrected Body? or Was it the Church that Joseph Smith founded on April 6, 1830 after being handed some “gold tablets” by “the Angel Moroni” which taught a Gospel that contradicted the one preached by the Apostles and disciples of Jesus?

Part of why this is so painful for you is that the missionaries and the congregations were so friendly (they are, at least at the first, so that you’ll join their “Stake”). You almost never see the lukewarm or “Jack” Mormons because they usually don’t attend meetings.

Pain can’t kill you or destroy you - It’s always what we do in response to the pain. As long as you get REASONABLE (or good cognitive therapy) that concentrates on the biological underpinnings of your depression and on your depressive thinking, you should be able to dramatically moderate your depression so that you feel much better than you do now.

I want you to meditate on the following scriptures:

Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
“Behold, I have inscribed your names on the palms of My hands;”
Isaiah 49:15-18a NASB

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
Psalm 139:7-12 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39 ESV

To Be Con. on the Next Post, Michael

 

[Traditional_Ang]

Patty - Con. Reply to your 1st Post

Please know that the one who wants you to believe that you are unloved and unloveable is the Liar and the Father of Lies, the Adversary and the Accuser of the People of God and of Israel. Don’t listen to his Lies or his False Accusations. Our Lord Jesus loved you so much that he inscribed your name on His hands using the Roman nails that were pounded into them.

And, There are not “Two True Churches” - There is ONE TRUE CHURCH, which is the Church that Christ founded on Pentacost in 33 A.D., that came from his side (as woman came from the side of man - See Genesis 2:20-24; 3:20). If you decide to leave and to remain a Mormon, you will be in a false church which preaches a false Gospel and follows a false Jesus who can’t save you from your sins or give you everlasting life.

Please, don’t do that… I don’t care how depressed you are or how “friendly the missionaries are” or how painful the decision seems to be for you.

Please stay in the ONE TRUE CHURCH that preaches the true Gospel and follows the True Christ who can forgive your sins and Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Please remember that the Sacraments are the means that God has provided for us so that He can give us the massive amounts of grace that we need to follow Him, evangelize those around us and to be able to see God in all of his glory.

And, NO you’re not wasting our time. our Lord Jesus said that the Angels in heaven rejoice when a lamb who has been led astray is brought back to the sheep-pen.

*Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:1-10 NIV*

Patty, there is no problem with being gullible. But you have to learn the Scriptures and get to know our Lord, so you can acquire some discernment. One of the Early Church Fathers said that “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Jesus.”

Please see what prayer, study, etc. groups your parish has and try to get involved in one or more of them. I’d include choir/schola or Lector/Readers in that.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[cherubim]

Such a beautiful and inspirational encouragement to stick on One True Church,Michael

I do believe Patty will stick on our One True Church

Patty,

In reply to your Originating Post #1:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=2388963&postcount=1

1. No one here is laughing at you - We’ve all done stupid things or had problems making decisions in our lives. If I had joined the Catholic Worker instead of the Christian Cult I joined in 1982, I probably wouldn’t have been as seriously damaged, or financially drained, as I was.

All you did was listen to some friendly mormon missionaries who happened by at a time when you were esp. vulnerable - That happens to be a time the “Father of Lies”, the one also known as “The Enemy of the Brethren and of the People of Israel”, likes to strike.

1. This is something you really need to understand - But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9 ESV

This applies to the claims of Islam and of Mormonism. You need to decide whose Gospel is “The one received” from the Apostles, and which Church is the one founded by Christ which flowed from the side of Christ. You can’t allow the fact that you “See Mormon missionaries everywhere you go” to influence your decision. You need to decide which Church Christ founded. Was it the Church that began on Pentacost Day of 33 A.D. and that included the disciples who followed Him throughout the 3 years of His public ministry and saw His Resurrected Body? or Was it the Church that Joseph Smith founded on April 6, 1830 after being handed some “gold tablets” by “the Angel Moroni” which taught a Gospel that contradicted the one preached by the Apostles and disciples of Jesus?

Part of why this is so painful for you is that the missionaries and the congregations were so friendly (they are, at least at the first, so that you’ll join their “Stake”). You almost never see the lukewarm or “Jack” Mormons because they usually don’t attend meetings.

Pain can’t kill you or destroy you - It’s always what we do in response to the pain. As long as you get REASONABLE (or good cognitive therapy) that concentrates on the biological underpinnings of your depression and on your depressive thinking, you should be able to dramatically moderate your depression so that you feel much better than you do now.

I want you to meditate on the following scriptures:

Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
“Behold, I have inscribed your names on the palms of My hands;”
Isaiah 49:15-18a NASB

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
Psalm 139:7-12 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39 ESV

To Be Con. on the Next Post, Michael

 

[estesbob]

You are finding one of the flaws I did in some churches. Did you ever consider that there are multiple truths and that both are good churches to be a part of? Why not be both? You must choose your own path. Don’t let anyone do that for you.

Personally i would be very careful about taking advice from one who claims to be a Christian/Wiccan/ Buddhist-three “faiths” that are incompatible with each other. We have discussed before that you are a Gnostic who tries to dress your beliefs up by claiming to practice three different Faiths.

Gods love is always present -and all grace comes from him-not via some healing blast sent by a spirtituallhy confused human from afar.

[/QUOTE]

 

[Maria1212]

I recommend studying all you can about the early Church fathers and first Christians. The link between the first Apostles and the first Christian and todays Catholic Church is unbroken. It is amazing to study it. I also recommend attending Mass as often as possible, and praying even when you dont “feel like it.” A priest gave me some good advice on prayer. I had been going through a “drought” and was struggling with prayer and wasnt "feeling anything" when I prayed. This soon passed. The priest reminded me that we dont pray to “get something out of it.” We don`t pray to get a “warm and fuzzy” feeling or to get a spiritual “high.” Often God will reward us with grace and we feel such spiritual growth, but that is not why we pray. Once I was able to really understand this, and not expect prayer to be like “mood enhancer” things really improved.

I don`t know if I am explaining myself well. But please keep reading the Bible, and studying, and praying every day. Make new Catholic friends to help support you. Join a Catholic Bible study, or start one! When I feel doubt, I pray “Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief.”

Being Catholic is the best gift the Lord has given me, and I am so grateful for it! I am a cradle Catholic and didn`t fully appreciate this gift until I was an adult.

I will keep you in my prayers.

Sincerely,

Maria1212