Think Less, Pray More

[PelagiathePenit]

The more I think about God. I sometimes do not want 2 b a part of Catholicism. Is everything really the will of God? I can name many tragedies & painful deaths I cannot imagine y God would want ne of that 2 happen. Sure all sins can be forgiven, but some sins irreparable damage 2 people. I find it insulting to say God’s wills people to suffer and die miserably. At times the deeper I think about God I no this is blasfeme - religion & God sound very controlling. I think we tri 2 make sense of a chaotic world. I think sometimes things just happen by chance, how is this blasfemous? I do not believe God wants ne 1 to die a horrid death. Sometimes I wonder y He does not intervene. I do not even agree with all the list of sins. Mi friend said I should tri maybe giving God & religion a break. If missing mass is a mortal sin, how am I supposed 2 do that?

 

[christofirst]

The more I think about God. I sometimes do not want 2 b a part of Catholicism. Is everything really the will of God? I can name many tragedies & painful deaths I cannot imagine y God would want ne of that 2 happen. Sure all sins can be forgiven, but some sins irreparable damage 2 people. I find it insulting to say God’s wills people to suffer and die miserably. At times the deeper I think about God I no this is blasfeme - religion & God sound very controlling. I think we tri 2 make sense of a chaotic world. I think sometimes things just happen by chance, how is this blasfemous? I do not believe God wants ne 1 to die a horrid death. Sometimes I wonder y He does not intervene. I do not even agree with all the list of sins. Mi friend said I should tri maybe giving God & religion a break. If missing mass is a mortal sin, how am I supposed 2 do that?

That’s a lot to process, but a few thoughts and suggestions. Do not confuse what God wills with what God permits. Like it or not, there is evil in this world, and God allows it to be so for the time being. Frankly, I’m not happy with all of the reasons the Church puts forth for why God allows evil and suffering myself, even though we often bring much of that suffering on ourselves by our choices. Free will is a heavy responsibility, and that’s just how it is.

We will never know on this side of the grave just how often God does intervene in our lives, and I think we will be amazed at how often He actually did assist us when our time comes.

As far as disagreeing with the list of sins, pride has often been listed as the first of all sins, and obedience does not always come easily, I know. Nevertheless, we are called to obey. Despite what nonbelievers will tell you, we don’t make the rules, God does. And more than just obey, we are called to love each other, which can transform simple obedience into joy.

I don’t want to sound hard, but if all you’re doing to live out your faith is spending one hour a week at Sunday Mass, and you consider that a great burden you need to step away from, it seems to me you’ve already more or less stepped away from your faith. Think about it.

My advice, become more engaged. I don’t necessarily mean with Church related things either, but get out and help someone as you are able. Help a friend, your family, or volunteer somewhere. Listen to Pope Francis, who spends more time talking about helping others than on following or agreeing with every single rule (to the chagrin of some). Don’t get me wrong, the rules are important, but living them out with love, instead of feeling oppressed by them, can give the Faith more meaning and purpose in our lives.

Keep praying over it too, don’t give up! May God bless you as you struggle through this.

 

[PelagiathePenit]

That’s a lot to process, but a few thoughts and suggestions. Do not confuse what God wills with what God permits. Like it or not, there is evil in this world, and God allows it to be so for the time being. Frankly, I’m not happy with all of the reasons the Church puts forth for why God allows evil and suffering myself, even though we often bring much of that suffering on ourselves by our choices. Free will is a heavy responsibility, and that’s just how it is.

We will never know on this side of the grave just how often God does intervene in our lives, and I think we will be amazed at how often He actually did assist us when our time comes.

As far as disagreeing with the list of sins, pride has often been listed as the first of all sins, and obedience does not always come easily, I know. Nevertheless, we are called to obey. Despite what nonbelievers will tell you, we don’t make the rules, God does. And more than just obey, we are called to love each other, which can transform simple obedience into joy.

I don’t want to sound hard, but if all you’re doing to live out your faith is spending one hour a week at Sunday Mass, and you consider that a great burden you need to step away from, it seems to me you’ve already more or less stepped away from your faith. Think about it.

My advice, become more engaged. I don’t necessarily mean with Church related things either, but get out and help someone as you are able. Help a friend, your family, or volunteer somewhere. Listen to Pope Francis, who spends more time talking about helping others than on following or agreeing with every single rule (to the chagrin of some). Don’t get me wrong, the rules are important, but living them out with love, instead of feeling oppressed by them, can give the Faith more meaning and purpose in our lives.

Keep praying over it too, don’t give up! May God bless you as you struggle through this.

I am definitely all for helping others. I would rather go to church & help others. I will tri that. Sumdayz the list of sins iz just 2 much 4 me. Ur thoughts R a sin. What u wear or do not wear. I actually dress quite modestly most of the time. It can feel like the church is alwayz telling U what 2 do. How 2 vote, how 2 feel about certain issues. I want 2 have mi own mind.

 

[pianistclare]

Where’s the joy?
Instead of focusing on what you think you’re missing…think about what you HAVE.

joy, It’s real. Try it.

 

[petra22]

That’s a lot to process, but a few thoughts and suggestions. Do not confuse what God wills with what God permits. Like it or not, there is evil in this world, and God allows it to be so for the time being. Frankly, I’m not happy with all of the reasons the Church puts forth for why God allows evil and suffering myself, even though we often bring much of that suffering on ourselves by our choices. Free will is a heavy responsibility, and that’s just how it is.

We will never know on this side of the grave just how often God does intervene in our lives, and I think we will be amazed at how often He actually did assist us when our time comes.

As far as disagreeing with the list of sins, pride has often been listed as the first of all sins, and obedience does not always come easily, I know. Nevertheless, we are called to obey. Despite what nonbelievers will tell you, we don’t make the rules, God does. And more than just obey, we are called to love each other, which can transform simple obedience into joy.

I don’t want to sound hard, but if all you’re doing to live out your faith is spending one hour a week at Sunday Mass, and you consider that a great burden you need to step away from, it seems to me you’ve already more or less stepped away from your faith. Think about it.

My advice, become more engaged. I don’t necessarily mean with Church related things either, but get out and help someone as you are able. Help a friend, your family, or volunteer somewhere. Listen to Pope Francis, who spends more time talking about helping others than on following or agreeing with every single rule (to the chagrin of some). Don’t get me wrong, the rules are important, but living them out with love, instead of feeling oppressed by them, can give the Faith more meaning and purpose in our lives.

Keep praying over it too, don’t give up! May God bless you as you struggle through this.

Good answer! And I want to add my thinking…

1. God made us. Out of Love, He made us.
   2.God gave us a free will, to freely love Him by our choice, not like a robot.
   3.We wanted to know good and evil, so we ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (at least our parents did and so we inherit that curiosity and longing…)
   4.The evil in the world is a lot of our own faults. It could be our pride where we think we know better than God. It could be the other 7 deadly sins pulling at us…
   5.God didn’t get tired of us and throw us away like damaged goods but he sent his only son, Jesus, to save us and bring us to heaven. He showed us the way.
   6.Jesus did not sin, yet lots of bad things happened to him even unto death.
   7.This is my own belief but I think God is good and He looks around at the evil that we create and makes something good out of it. I think this because I look at my own life and the lives of my family and relatives. I see BIG mistakes, some very painful, and I see where God turned that mistake into a good and holy thing. It takes a while for God to direct the orchestra (we are all the musical instruments in his hands) to make a beautiful composition… and we may not know the little part we played in the big picture until the very end when we are with God and he explains it all to us… but hang in there. One day you will be with God. All you have to do is…WANT to.