What does it mean to have a personal relationship with God?

[paspec]

It’s not overboard, mate. He really feels that. Wrongly so, in my books, but it’s a valid reaction. I am with his indignation.

 

[paspec]

Of course, unless there is some Jesus sense at work of appeasing the ones who are far away…

 

[paspec]

But ok, I grant you all that I got a bit facetious during the course of the thread. My main question still stands, though.

 

[GiftofMercy]

I think you are going overboard.

I don’t appreciate people telling me I am just like the people who hurt them, nor people saying I have no right to feel that way.
Respect is what this thread is about, and I am wondering where the charity is to be found on this thread.

 

[snarflemike]

Thought I already posted this, but apparently not…

If you want to understand having a relationship with God, the best source (other than the bible, very much including the Old Testament) is the writings of the saints. Take for instance this from Augustine: “Love God and do as you will.” That single sentence is worthy of a lifetime of contemplation and living out.

And speaking of ideology, Jordan Peterson says some interesting things. Here is one short video, there may be more detail in other videos or writings.

 

[GiftofMercy]

I don’t love god and in fact have no reason to do so. Was just interest in hearing why some people claim to have a relationship with god.

That is not what you stated in your OP, and indeed you came out and stated that you believe its about you not being good enough so therefore can’t understand how you can have a personal relationship with God.

in your words ’ all your fault’ and that amounts to an abusive relationship to you.

 

[paspec]

I stated “What does it mean to have a personal relationship with God?”

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Catholicism, for me, mostly meant that I am fighting a losing battle against god, because I am conceived a sinful person, no matter how hard I try will remain a sinful person, and therefore better be lucky enough to die in the state of grace so my wretched life may be potentially redeemed.

If a god so much wants me to be with him and wants a personal (and even loving) relationship with him, I don’t understand how it’s constantly about me “not being good enough”.

This sounds about as much fun as a tooth abscess, and less productive.

To have a personal relationship with God means he wants to be your friend, like a loving father who spends time with you and cares about you, not some nasty boss or teacher who is constantly running around with a checklist trying to find stuff you’re doing wrong so he can look for reasons to fire you or suspend you.

To have a personal relationship with God means I can wake up at 3 am all alone and with a lot of heavy stuff and worries on my plate, but know that God cares about me and is going to help me and we’re going to get through everything together.

If you read the Scripture about King David and how he got along with God, that’s kind of what it’s like. When God is angry with David he lets him know, and David is sorry and fixes his mistake, even if it’s a big mistake. But God is happy with David a lot too, and David talks to God every day and writes songs praising God and talking about his reliance on God. God also helps David when he needs help. A good relationship with God is like the one David had.

And now since Jesus was sent to redeem us, we can have a relationship with Jesus also, who’s like the nicest and coolest human friend ever, because he’s also God. If you have friends you like to hang out with, who don’t lead you into sin but you just have a great time talking about your lives and everything else while you go for pizza or whatever, Jesus is like that. He’s never too busy and he never blows you off for other friends because he has unlimited time for everybody and loves everybody. His mother is really awesome too, and his foster dad.

I am sorry you were raised to have such a bad image of God. How about rethinking and having God for your friend instead? I personally would probably not have stayed a Catholic if I were trained that God was looking to send me to Hell 24/7. That sounds like some weird form of fundamentalist Protestantism to be honest, not like Catholic teaching on God.

 

[GiftofMercy]

This is a public forum, you subscribed to it, nobody owes you anything,

And you are going to find people answer your original question, look at what you are saying and try to answer. Your original post was almost a cry for help, IMHO

btw I am a she

 

[GiftofMercy]

I stated “What does it mean to have a personal relationship with God?”

And then stated you believed your relationship with God, if any, if you wanted any, was to be defined as abusive. "in your books’

To fix a relationship, the idea that it is abusive needs to be addressed. Then a decision made as to what to do.

(And yes, I have heard "It’s not god throwing you into hell for your sins, it is your own willing to abandon god that does that; “the gates of hell are closed from the inside”, …but again all my fault…everything my fault…that is an abusive relationship in my books)

 

[paspec]

The tentative answer I have after tonight is: People are offended if i don’t capitalize “god”, they are sorry for me. they want to talk to me, but not until I have talked to a priest. they compare previous posts and want to use them to make me a troll. in summary: If i am not like them, i am not welcome

 

[paspec]

Correct. Did you ever ask me why that was so?

 

[GiftofMercy]

The tentative answer I have after tonight is: People are offended if i don’t capitalize “god”, they are sorry for me.

I am not sorry for you. I have empathy for you, a different thing. I am not offended if you capitalise God or not.
Being sorry for someone is a wasted emotion. It is empty. It requires no action or reaction. It allows us to say, ‘oh so sorry for you’ then just walk away.
Catholics should be reacting with dialogue, even if it is difficult dialogue, and prayer or physical material aide. Hungry? need a meal? need a roof over your head? need prayers? need comforting? need perspective?

What does your wife think. Have you spoken with her about this?

Correct. Did you ever ask me why that was so?

That is a topic for your Priest, the person in charge of your soul here on earth. I get you have been hurt, we all have. You are not distinct, or alone in being hurt. We cannot go through life without being hurt in one way or another. AS well as experiencing joy and happiness at times.
WE grow emotionally and spiritually through our pain. Jesus is the ultimate in suffering, as a role model for us. Jesus was hurt, yet He did not give up.

We can nurse our hurt and pain, or we can forgive and move forward.
Satan just loves it when we nurse our pain and don’t forgive those who have caused us hurt. Just loves it.

 

[Divine3]

Hi. paspec You seem like a person who has courage to be challenged and up for the challenge… The Story of the Miraculous Medal - Catholicism.org Mary just loves to help people get to know Jesus in a relationship. Check out this story and see if you can say the same words that Alphonse Ratisbonne said…just read his story in the link…and if you take my challenge for a full seven days…let us know what happened. Ok must go…peace…I liked many of your questions…thought provoking

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I have to say that if I was the OP and posted here and got the kinds of responses people are making, most of them wouldn’t exactly make me go rushing back to God’s loving arms.

 

[paspec]

“Catholics should be reacting with dialogue, even if it is difficult dialogue, and prayer or physical material aide. Hungry? need a meal? need a roof over your head? need prayers? need comforting? need perspective?”

And the first thing you care about is whether or not i capitalize “god”

Yes, I have spoken to my wife about it.

 

[paspec]

Thank you.

 

[GiftofMercy]

The first thing I cared about was your very distinct cry for help, the sense I got from your post that ‘‘God has abandoned me’ God is abusive to me’ God doesn’t really care about me’

I respond on any post on this forum with Hey capitalise the name of God. You are not unique in that way. I will do it on any thread I respond to. Its my first response to any post. You can take it on board and move past it to read the rest of my post, or you can stay with the ‘oh she scolded me’
For the record I did not scold you, as you claim I did and another poster did up thread. I pointed out that the convention is to give a name, especially the name of God, capital letters.
I then pointed out to you that in Jewish tradition the divine name when written as LORD is written in all capital letters.

 

[snarflemike]

And the first thing you care about is whether or not i capitalize “god”

Do you understand why a couple of people mentioned it? It is because we see writing “god” as usually either an innocent mistake (“Christians always capitalize God.” “Oh, sorry, didn’t know!”) or as an open sign of disrespect or contempt (“Christians always capitalize God.” “Oh, is your god-on-a-stick going to send me to hell?”)

So now you know the mind of most Christians regarding “god”.

 

[GiftofMercy]

Secondly we are all sinners, we all remain sinful people, Mary is the only human not to have been in any way sinful.
To die in a state of Grace, keep close to the sacrament of reconciliation, as we all do. Even Jesus said the only person who is good and perfect is God the Father in Heaven. What hope have we got then, if Jesus said this about Himself also.
God does not tell us we are not good enough. Your girlfriend expects you to conduct yourself in a certain way, and this is the same for God.
Would you girlfriend (wife) tolerate bad behaviour from you? That is different from tolerating your faults , or you hers. God tolerates our faults, but requires us to ask forgiveness for our bad behaviour

Here is the second part of my first post, in case you would like to re read it for my intentions.