The Church as Medication?

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I’ve heard people point to a tragedy in their friend’s life as the driving force in getting that person to return to the Church, or as the reason that their friend “found God.”

I’m curious what forum members think about this notion. Do you think that most people “find God” or return to the Church because they are grief-stricken or confused about a tragic event in their life? Do most of us turn to religion to help us get through grief or hard times in our life?

I know that when I go through tough times, I think about making a bigger commitment to the Church and I tend to lean on God more at those moments. As a 30-year fallen away Catholic, I recently made the decision to return to the Church, and that decision was not based on any grief or tragedy. However, I feel guilty about the times when I am more eager to return because I am going through a tough time. This behavior is like temporarily using the Church and/or God as medication to numb a particular pain.

I know that many people go to church because they are true believers and they love the Lord. I guess that the people who label religious people as “just working through grief” are not true believers.

Any thoughts?
 
Jersey_Jeepster said:
I’ve heard people point to a tragedy in their friend’s life as the driving force in getting that person to return to the Church, or as the reason that their friend “found God.”

I’m curious what forum members think about this notion. Do you think that most people “find God” or return to the Church because they are grief-stricken or confused about a tragic event in their life? Do most of us turn to religion to help us get through grief or hard times in our life?

I know that when I go through tough times, I think about making a bigger commitment to the Church and I tend to lean on God more at those moments. As a 30-year fallen away Catholic, I recently made the decision to return to the Church, and that decision was not based on any grief or tragedy. However, I feel guilty about the times when I am more eager to return because I am going through a tough time. This behavior is like temporarily using the Church and/or God as medication to numb a particular pain.

I know that many people go to church because they are true believers and they love the Lord. I guess that the people who label religious people as “just working through grief” are not true believers.

Any thoughts?
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I think that God uses suffering as a tool. It makes us think more humbly. Makes us realize that we are dependant on God. When everything is just great than we tend to think that we don’t need Him. This is not how we should act when things are going great, but thats what does happen a lot. The important thing to do is to remember what it was like when we were suffering and were vulnerable. As horrible as suffering is, it is also a beautiful thing. Just as Jesus demonstrated on the cross. When I look back at my suffering I remember the times that I got really close to Jesus. And I long to be close to him just like those times every day. Not that I want to suffer, but I try to remind myself what it was like when I was suffering to help me get closer to God.
 
srferdave said:
I think that God uses suffering as a tool. It makes us think more humbly. Makes us realize that we are dependant on God. When everything is just great than we tend to think that we don’t need Him. This is not how we should act when things are going great, but thats what does happen a lot. The important thing to do is to remember what it was like when we were suffering and were vulnerable. As horrible as suffering is, it is also a beautiful thing. Just as Jesus demonstrated on the cross. When I look back at my suffering I remember the times that I got really close to Jesus. And I long to be close to him just like those times every day. Not that I want to suffer, but I try to remind myself what it was like when I was suffering to help me get closer to God.
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Hi “JJ”. I agree with everything Dave said, here. He said it well.

It is true, that sometimes Our dear Lord makes use of our sufferings in a way, to bring us back to the Church. Or, for those who are practicing the faith… to bring us closer to Him. I guess there are times… when the enemy work against us… and makes us think that our devotion isn’t genuine. Makes us feel guilty, or question our intentions for returning. That we’re only going to Mass, to make ourselves feel better. And I suppose, that sometimes… sadly, that does happen.

But personally, I think it always best to trust in Jesus. He can bring great GOOD from our suffering. If a person returns to the Church, due to some tragedy in their life… Our Lord can certainly use that as a “vehicle” for bringing much needed grace to that suffering soul. And sometimes… from that one incident… an entire life can be turned around for the better. It is truly amazing, how Our Lord “works” in our lives.

I don’t know if my “musings” were of any help in answering your question. I hope so. God bless you.
 
Yes, sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring one closer to God. It can also be illness too.

I’m a Cradle Catholic, but since my childhood was filled with abuse (from mom–verbal/emotional type), my faith in God was very weak coming out of high school.

Thanks be to God that I went to a Catholic University, where I began to go to Church–just to hang out with friends initially. Long story as to what turned me around, which can be for another time.

I graduated from college about 12 years ago.

About a year ago, I started suffering from very frequent “Immodium-moments” and have had it now for a year. I’ve lost over 60 lbs and feel ‘awful’ most of the time. I’ve been to different doctors and have had a gamut of tests–everything ‘obvious’ has been ruled out–parasites, Celiac, Crohns, diverticulitis, gluten/wheat allergy, etc. Removing dairy from my diet has helped a lot, but hasn’t eliminated the problem.

Prior to this really happening, I somehow remember praying to become closer to God, and before I knew it, I was drawn to the ‘throne’. And there were quite a few humbling (and embarrassing) moments along the way.

A couple months or so ago, I went to a Cursillo Retreat. I was surprised to have made it through the entire weekend without having to spend quality time in the loo. I cried the whole weekend.

And since, I’ve been going to Our Mother of Sorrows Church here in Tucson where they have the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in their Cenacle Chapel.

I’ve noticed that my health situation has improved immensely over the past few months. I’m still not 100% cured yet, but I know that I will be and I firmly believe that it’s the prayers that everyone has been praying, and mostly, the time that I’ve spent in prayer/meditation with Jesus.

It took illness to bring me on a deeper level in my relationship with Jesus.

God Bless,

Barbara
 
Interesting analogy…medication. Sometimes it takes a grave illness before we’ll see a doctor. And isn’t Jesus the ultimate healer? 😉
 
I will write a story about myself that I think sticks with this idea as God is medicine.

When I was a child, I think when I was 8 or 9, my grandfather died. We knew it was coming because he had been suffering for years after a stroke. The next year my other grandfather died of a heart attack. Two years after that my grandmother, and best friend, died of Lymphoma. After that I entered a deep depression but never showed it, I held all of my emotions in. I was extremely confused and Satan took advantage of my youth and emotional state to attack me and lead me far, far from the Lord.

When I was 14 I was daignosed with Crohn’s Disease. I had been suffering from extreme intestinal pain to the point that every time I ate anything I would after one or two bites I would keel over in pain. I kept with all things evil and repulsive. Last summer I was getting ready to go to college and I was really considering suicide.

I went to a Catholic college and I decided I was going to play guitar at church. That first Sunday my life changed forever. The Holy Spirit entered my body and rid me of the evil that was with me for such a long time. That day I was not depressed. I stopped seeing devils and hearing them laugh at me. Then a week later I went to a Matt Maher adoration concert and again the Holy Spirit entered me and again any evil thoughts that may have been in my mind left me.

A few weeks later I found out that one of my best friends on campus was wicken and I really didn’t know how harmful they could be and they were my roomate’s girlfriend so it was impossible to get away. After I met her I started to see grey faced people and I started getting attacked until a few weeks ago when I decided to delete her from my facebook and stop talking to her. I had been getting physically hurt from demons. One night I was across the chest while I was sleeping and I had a large red mark across my chest. Another night it felt as if someone was rubbing my hair and when I opened my eye’s I suddenly smelled a putrid smell, worse than anything I ever smelled before and I heard the most evil laugh. I prayed the rosary the next night and since then I have joined the Milita of the Immaculata. I have not had a problem with Satan anymore.

Whenever I lose trust in the Lord, even a tiny bit, I have problems. Then once I put my total trust in the Lord’s hands I all of a sudden feel loved and I get better.
 
kristie_m said:
Interesting analogy…medication. Sometimes it takes a grave illness before we’ll see a doctor. And isn’t Jesus the ultimate healer? 😉
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Yes, Kristie, Jesus is the ultimate healer. Very clever…🙂

I used the analogy of medicine in the temporary sense. In other words, some people turn to the Church to fix what ails them at the moment and when they feel better they fall away again. I think that this type of behavior is what causes non-church goers to remark that the people they know in their life, who return to the Church or have “found God,” have become religious out of desperation for a solution to a current problem.

I don’t subscribe to this way of thinking and I want to know what other forum users think.
 
A Bible verse on the topic:

"And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing that he ate with publicans and sinners, said to his disiples: Why doth your master eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

"Jesus hearing this, saith to them: They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. For I came not to call the just, but sinners. " Mark 2:16-17

~~ the phoenix
 
I think the difference would be that the majority of people who may initially return to the Church because of some illness or other trouble in their life end up continuing even after whatever problem or illness is resolved. No-one who takes medication continues to do so if they are completely cured of their illness.
 
LilyM said:
I think the difference would be that the majority of people who may initially return to the Church because of some illness or other trouble in their life end up continuing even after whatever problem or illness is resolved. No-one who takes medication continues to do so if they are completely cured of their illness.
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Thank you, Lily! This is the answer I prefer and I hope you are completely correct.
As I said, I am in the middle of a journey back to the Church. Knowing that most people who return to the Church remain faithful is soothing in the sense that I would love to see every Catholic church bursting at the seams with the faithful each Sunday.

Blessings.
 
the_phoenix said:
A Bible verse on the topic:

"And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing that he ate with publicans and sinners, said to his disiples: Why doth your master eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

"Jesus hearing this, saith to them: They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. For I came not to call the just, but sinners. " Mark 2:16-17

~~ the phoenix
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Thank you for the quote, Phoenix. I am in the initial stages of reading, and knowing, the Bible. The fact that there is a verse that perfectly fits the subject of this random thread I started intrigues me and inspires me to keep learning the Bible. This beautiful Book really does answer a lot of questions.

Blessings.
 
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