Hello Everyone.
I’m new to the board and fairly new to Catholism as well, so perhaps I’m biting off more than I am qualified to discuse so I won’t go much further than to offer support for Lukewarm. Support in the way that I would for any soul who has lost their way. Of course we all know the Bible makes many statements toward our life as Christians and as recognized by the variety of protestant religions availible, opinons on interpretation are as many, if not more. Interpretation can set the stage for many things but not done correctly or taken out of context, can lead a soul down a dark and lonely path. Lukewarm, it’s appearent that somewhere along the way, you, as many others have done before you, have tried to analize your surroundings by finding your own answers to questions concerning your faith. Today, our society march’s lockstep with time. We readily seek answers to questions and demand the answers all most as fast as our drive thru orders. We’re constantly bombarded with information and we’re in such a race we have no time to enjoy what we have or what we once had. The important things, the things that really matter. If it’s the Truth you seek, please then, do so. God will give you the answers if you open your heart and listen.
In reading some of this thread, at times I wasn’t sure if you were truly lost and seeking directions, for which I might also state that we are all a little lost from time to time and generally the best one can do is to simply point in the direction where the path is lite and then it is your choice to either head in that direction or simply decline. Or, if perhaps there was a different reason for your perplexity. During our lives we stumble for many reasons. Other Christians can help when help is desired but when it comes right down to the crux, it then becomes a one on one meeting with your Lord God. If you are lost, seek his direction thru the best possible channels, that being prayer. For me, it seems, I’m easily distracted. But I’ve a lot going on, therefore I recognize the need to pray in solitude, where noise is at a minimum including visual distractions. Try early in the morning when it’s quiet. Just a suggestion. That way you’re not praying on speed dial while driving down the freeway with the radio blaring and getting the wrong, misguided or diluted answers you seem to seek. At times, the mind processes thought as though it were a ping-pong game where some of the important pieces go bouncing off the table. The kind people represented here on the forum are all qualified in some form to provide you with support and praise for your journey but remember…your heart must be open to receive the answers and that begins with prayer. Pray to the Holly Spirit that your conscience is clear to receive as well. Don’t forget to listen. Do not seek what is not Truth or you will be misguided and for some of us, it’s a rough journey just to make it back to the path once we’ve fallen, so be patient. That too is good to ask for as well. If you’ve fallen, try not to pull others down as well for everyone has weakness. Pray before you read the Bible that you might understand in full the literal and the figuritive and do not pull out of context anything but it’s true meaning. As stated, we’ll pull for you if it is the Truth you seek which as a Christian I’ll give the benifit of the doubt. If however I was still a pagan or a hypocrite, I would have been under the impression that what you were seeking lies somewhere beneith the Truth. I wish you well in your quest but I ask that you not belittle the gift that is made available to you. The mind is a wonderful thing when properly fed. God Bless You.
The Church teaches this very clearly.
