Pope Francis: Don't use God to defend your own interests

[JimR-OCDS]

Vatican City, Sep 7, 2016 / 08:56 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday, Pope Francis warned against making Jesus into the person we want him to be, and thus creating obstacles to a true relationship with Christ and his mercy.

“The admonition of Jesus is always present: even today man constructs images of God that prevent him from enjoying his real presence,” the Pope said during the general audience Sept. 7.

“Some carve out a ‘do it yourself’ faith that reduces God in the limited space of their own desires and their own beliefs. But this faith is not conversion to the Lord that is revealed, in fact, it prevents him from arousing our life and our conscience.”

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-dont-use-god-to-defend-your-own-interests-28392/

Jim

 

[Lost_Sheep]

In other words, “Personal Jesus? Fuhgeddaboudit!”

 

[Robert_Sock]

The common saying that I hate hearing is: “God loves me just the way I am so I do not have to change.”

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The common saying that I hate hearing is: “God loves me just the way I am so I do not have to change.”

God does love you the way you are.

The problem is when we try to become some one other than whom God created.

Jim

 

[DaveBj]

The common saying that I hate hearing is: “God loves me just the way I am so I do not have to change.”

God loves me just the way I am, BUT He’s working on me to change me into the image of His Son.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

CCC

2713 Contemplative prayer is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gift, a grace; it can be accepted only in humility and poverty. Contemplative prayer is a covenant relationship established by God within our hearts. Contemplative prayer is a communion in which the Holy Trinity conforms man, the image of God, “to his likeness.”

St John of the Cross wrote of the soul’s relationship with the beloved. He often used the Song of Songs from Scripture, in describing the loving relationship between the soul and her beloved, Jesus Christ.

The Catechism above tells us how Contemplative Prayer is the mystery of prayer, and it is at the deepest level of prayer.

It is a gift and all you have to do is be open to receive it. It is through Contemplative Prayer, that Jesus gives us the transforming grace to become the person God had in mind when He created us.

Jim

 

[Lost_Sheep]

The common saying that I hate hearing is: “God loves me just the way I am so I do not have to change.”

Mr. Sock, for once I agree with you and this is a bad way for people to think.

Another great quote I once read is by the Rev. Timothy Keller which says “If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself.”

 

[mikekle]

Another great quote I once read is by the Rev. Timothy Keller which says “If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself.”

yes, more people need to hear and understand this today.

I heard another similar quote recently that is good, " if you are a christian living in the modern secular world and your life is fairly easy and comfortable, there is likely a problem".

 

[Lost_Sheep]

I heard another similar quote recently that is good, " if you are a christian living in the modern secular world and your life is fairly easy and comfortable, there is likely a problem".

“Like”

 

[Lea101]

A lot of people here also needs to listen to this

 

[JimR-OCDS]

yes, more people need to hear and understand this today.

I heard another similar quote recently that is good, " if you are a christian living in the modern secular world and your life is fairly easy and comfortable, there is likely a problem".

Yeah except for the Christian, we tend to not notice lack of comfort or status, because the joy of Jesus in our lives is all we desire.

However, the world notices and rejects us because they see us as losers.

Jim