Too many binding rules?

[MojeIme1981]

Hmmhh…good point. So, skipping mass only becomes a mortal sin when a person is absolutely certain they should go and that it’s a mortal sin if they don’t, yet still they deliberately choose not to go?

I agree with the point you are getting to. Definition of mortal sin can include from barely something to almost anything, based on the fear and understanding of the particular Catholic. I don’t see why it has to be so complicated (although I have my suspicions), but anyhow I know that the Bible makes it plain simple:

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10)

I could imagine a particular Catholic getting paranoid because of his broad understanding of the definition of mortal sin. For this Catholic the question of salvation is simply a gambling game, in which he might eventually catch a positive, but most probably (as gambling is) he will loose. He just can never be sure if he has confessed all mortal sins on time.

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

Thanks to everyone for your information!

The issue with me is not that there are too many rules. People need rules, after all. The question, really, is this: Are people who deliberately skip mass when they know they should go damned because God says they are, or damned because the Church has used its power to define the penalty? If it is the latter, why is the Church putting the souls of its weaker members in such peril?

Personally, I like the Eastern explanation better. Missing mass is certainly a missed opportunity. To receive Christ in the Eucharist is truly a glorious thing, one which I myself long to participate in, and to miss out on this is to miss out on something wondrous, a great gift from God.

So, in this discussion, I’m not looking for the easy way out. I want to serve God, and I want to do all I can to grow in my faith. However, I am concerned that the Latin rite of the Catholic Church’s negative approach (i.e. do this or something bad will happen to you) can be harmful to the weaker Christian, whereas the Eastern (which, as StMarkEofE said, includes the Eastern Catholics) positive approach (i.e. if you don’t do this, you’re missing out on something good) could be more conducive to healthy growth. Just my thoughts…

God bless!

 

[thechrismyster]

picture an astronaut landing a space shuttle…

can you imagine him or her going “200 pages of schedules and switches to flip, nahhhhhh. too hard.”

you gotta land the shuttle. so you gotta do what you gotta do!

those 200 pages aren’t there for the sake of keeping xerox in business… it’s the things that can and can’t be done if you want that shuttle on the ground in one piece.

you CAN’T open the door when you’re going through re–entry… you’ll burn up… the rules are there for a reason!

The rules just help you guide yourself into heaven.

 

[Alterum]

I understand what you’re asking and I don’t quite know; it seems to me that the Church and God are cooperating, especially when it comes to defining mortal sin. If the Church really is guided by the Holy Spirit, then I don’t think it must be the breaking of EITHER the Church’s rules OR God’s rules that sends us to hell; after all, many of the rules may be one-and-the-same.

There is a sense in which being Catholic does make it more difficult to get to heaven. We are not ignorant of mortal sin. We have a lot of responsibility and God expects much from us, I think. We know the truth and purposefully turning our back to it is a rather grievous wrong. In a way, I think it’s easier for us to commit mortal sin because we can easily fulfill the requirements for committing mortal sin (full knowledge, in particular).

That said, God’s Grace abounds in the Catholic Church and we have so much to protect us from sin: the Eucharist every Sunday is vital in this regard. Also, the sacrament of Reconciliation is readily available to help us overcome sin and find forgiveness. So holistically, if we live as faithful Catholics, we should find that we move towards heaven and away from hell

I think it’s safe to say that whenever the Church uses Her power to “bind and loose,” which power was given to Her by Christ while He walked the earth, She is trying to bring as many souls as She can to salvation. Bearing this in mind, I rather tend to welcome Church rules!

 

[MojeIme1981]

I think it’s easier for us to commit mortal sin because we can easily fulfill the requirements for committing mortal sin (full knowledge, in particular).

yep :yup:

I think it’s safe to say that whenever the Church uses Her power to “bind and loose,” which power was given to Her by Christ while He walked the earth, She is trying to bring as many souls as She can to salvation. Bearing this in mind, I rather tend to welcome Church rules!

hopefully

 

[dmm2000]

Thanks to everyone for your information!

The issue with me is not that there are too many rules. People need rules, after all. The question, really, is this: Are people who deliberately skip mass when they know they should go damned because God says they are, or damned because the Church has used its power to define the penalty? If it is the latter, why is the Church putting the souls of its weaker members in such peril?

Personally, I like the Eastern explanation better. Missing mass is certainly a missed opportunity. To receive Christ in the Eucharist is truly a glorious thing, one which I myself long to participate in, and to miss out on this is to miss out on something wondrous, a great gift from God.

So, in this discussion, I’m not looking for the easy way out. I want to serve God, and I want to do all I can to grow in my faith. However, I am concerned that the Latin rite of the Catholic Church’s negative approach (i.e. do this or something bad will happen to you) can be harmful to the weaker Christian, whereas the Eastern (which, as StMarkEofE said, includes the Eastern Catholics) positive approach (i.e. if you don’t do this, you’re missing out on something good) could be more conducive to healthy growth. Just my thoughts…

God bless!

Your issue seems to be with an approach, not with the teaching. I compare it to the approach of a doctor, s/he can tell someone that taking medicine will save their life, or tell them, if you don’t take the medicine it can kill you. Both statements are true.

People are motivated differently, I believe the statement that the Latin Catholic teach negatively is simply not true. People do go to Heaven, and people do go to Hell. This must be taught, people must understand all consequences of their delibert actions.

The Latin Church gives both sides, as any good Mother would do.

God Bless