Question About Mortal Sin

[larry85704]

Hello Smile1934

Good Point. Couple of thoughts. The Catholic Church is an Apostolic Church. It bases it’s authority on the Apostles and the Bishops and Popes, not Scripture. Certainly, at various times in our history, if you committed a sin the Church would execute you. Currently the Catholic Church has gotten away from that practice.

All that aside, if God wants to strike you dead for committing a sin the Catholic Church is not going to stop Him.

But, I actually agree with you, I think. People commit sins like there is no punishment. I don’t know about every place, but in Tucson sin is way out of control. Maybe if a few people would drop dead things would change.

It does bother me though, God, in Acts, reveals punishment for sin. God’s action is not inconsistent with His actions in the Old Testament. God, through Jesus, reveals Himself to be merciful and eager to forgive and not condemn. Think of the woman caught in adultery and the prodigal son. What Scriptural example do you want to base your salvation on? Is God being consistent?

 

[Pug]

So then, suppose I have this relationship with God. I am faithful to my wife, I go to church every Sunday, and pray with my family. That is to say my life has the outward appearance of a relationship with God. Now suppose I commit a grave sin, like missing church on Sunday. Doesn’t matter why. Next Sunday I go back to church, and go to Communion. My relationship with God was not broken because I missed church on Sunday. So then I’d have to say that even though I committed a serious sin, I did not commit a mortal sin. Any thoughts on that?

Huh! I know what you mean about not remembering where you picked an idea up.

Well, it does matter, the “why”, there. If the man was ill and missed mass, then that was not about his heart. It does not break friendship with God to be too sick to attend one week.

But that you place details in the outward relationship, that makes me wonder if there is a nuance to your question. The friendship with God is not just an outward thing. It is about our hearts. God places love in our very hearts, and we live in friendship with him not just in our outward actions, but in our being. The outward actions usually correspond, but we are not perfect, so there will be small imperfections in the outward actions. But big ruptures that flow from the heart (and maybe into our outward actions, or maybe not) are trouble. We can’t fix them. God can, though.

If the man in the example did a true mortal sin, he can’t fix the problem with his heart by going to communion on his own accord, as if his choice to do that will fix his heart. He must receive grace from God, conform his heart to it willingly (but God helps us do this), and go do as God would have him do. In the case of a Catholic, this would generate a trip to the confessional before communion. And then his next communion would continue to add strength to the love that is now back in his heart.

 

[thistle]

Then let us just agree to disagree…and be friends.

okay dokay!

 

[Jesus_N_Cherie]

Why? The OP is making disparaging remarks about Catholics and I simply want to know why when he does not state any religion at all.

Maybe, just maybe this person is searching for the TRUTH. It is obligatory of us to assume this and act accordingly.

 

[Jesus_N_Cherie]

Is it still true that mortal sin means the relationship between a man, or woman, and God is broken? Doesn’t our Church teach that the preferred way to fix the break is the Sacrament of Confession?

TOTALLY CORRECT. Remember that one has to have a firm purpose of ammendment for the Sacrament to work.

 

[Jesus_N_Cherie]

Well I disagree with you. I am entitled to my own opinion or is that forbidden??

What exactly are you disagreeing with?

 

[Smile1934]

Hello Smile1934

Good Point. Couple of thoughts. The Catholic Church is an Apostolic Church. It bases it’s authority on the Apostles and the Bishops and Popes, not Scripture. Certainly, at various times in our history, if you committed a sin the Church would execute you. Currently the Catholic Church has gotten away from that practice.

All that aside, if God wants to strike you dead for committing a sin the Catholic Church is not going to stop Him.

But, I actually agree with you, I think. People commit sins like there is no punishment. I don’t know about every place, but in Tucson sin is way out of control. Maybe if a few people would drop dead things would change.

It does bother me though, God, in Acts, reveals punishment for sin. God’s action is not inconsistent with His actions in the Old Testament. God, through Jesus, reveals Himself to be merciful and eager to forgive and not condemn. Think of the woman caught in adultery and the prodigal son. What Scriptural example do you want to base your salvation on? Is God being consistent?

I have been away for some time, but still would like to comment on something you had posted.

Jesus wants to forgive and as for the woman who committed adultery, you should understand that she had not the benefit of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Meaning she hadn’t yet come to know God.