Vox

A cradle Catholic, I spent 35 years wandering in the spiritual desert before I came home to the faith and the church a few years ago. Nothing has given me greater comfort, strength, or perspective. I try to live a life of service to others every day.

Often I fail miserably in many ways, because I'm human. But I always feel sorrow for my transgressions, gratitude for God's forgiveness (which I actively seek, not assume), and humility for my blessings.

I focus on the true work of the church -- interiority. No proselytizing. Yet, when asked the typical, "what was the last book you read" question, I answer, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church."

That'll shut 'em up every time.

And I think what happened to the Dolphins and Wannstedt sucks. Even though I'm a Redskins fan.

P.S. - Beware moral relativists, intellectually vain hubristas, and Godless commie pinkos. We take no prisoners and we're funny as hell.

I consider myself Catholic as I was raised that way and attended church regularly for 21+ years. After I moved to NYC and got married, I still consider myself Catholic but I don't go to church here. I tried, but I don't feel the same "community" as I did back home. I try to say the rosary when I can and I pray every day - sometimes more than once. I try to treat people how I would want to be treated and I try to do good deeds. I feel like I profess my faith in my everyday actions, not because I make an appearance at the same place every week. I don't know how I'll be judged in the end as that's not for me to decide but I do think I will be judged. I don't know what that says about my religious beliefs but at least I have beliefs.

I've known people who have gone to church every Sunday and every Holy Day. They do charitable work, etc. but as soon as the woman who's been divorced attends church, they make some stupid remark about how she should be repenting, etc. I don't get that. It befuddles me.

Great questions.

I think the church was God's idea, and we neglect it at our peril. While I am part of an organized church of 400 or so, I think a well done house church may be better. There is a lot wrong with church as we know it in America. But you can't say you're doing house church when you're really just doing nothing, which is what most people do.

I do think it matters to him that we avoid sinning as much as possible.

I think it's more important to declare God's love than to declare "I'm saved and you're not."

I do think that God expects our faith to produce good works.

Sharing one's faith is something that Jesus practiced and said we all should do. However, notice how much people considered sinful really loved Jesus, and how much the religious folks seemed to hate him.

And the something else.... the bottom line of all bottom lines: it matters to God that you know him as a friend and live that way throughout your life.

Nice blog.

Yay! A topic I love to talk about.

Salvation isn't about how often you attend church, or even how close your live your life according to Christian values. There is nothing you can do to earn your salvation. I know that sounds sort of hopeless, but bear with me a sec.

The good news is that God freely gives it to you. All you have to do is ask. I think that's what your ex is saying, that he's professing his belief in Christ, and the bible says that's what's required for salvation. The bible does say that, but it's an incomplete understanding of God's Word. God also says such faith without deeds is dead - in other words, faith alone is worthless.

What God asks of us is to repent, to turn away from the sins in our lives, and turn toward God. This means following the Word of God to the best of our ability (not just "nah, that's good enough, I got rid of half of my sins".) Once we turn toward God and follow his teachings, we are saved through His Grace, and His Grace alone. Faith alone doesn't free us, nor do our good deeds. Only Grace.

And once we have accepted God's Grace, then we are compelled to do good deeds to show our love for God. Living a life you know is sinful but believing in God.... *buzz* Nope, not good enough. That's faith without deeds, a dead faith. (James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.)

Jesus make it perfectly clear in Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

If you love the Lord, you will follow his teachings (i.e. read, study, learn, practice what is written in the bible). Then you put it into practice by loving your neighbor.

Avoiding sin? Pfft. Not possible. Just when I figure out I'm free of sin, I realize I have the sin of pride. :P (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). I know that I'm doing my best (not just "good enough") and when I slip, God forgives me through His Grace because of my faith.

Ok, so the answers to your questions. Hold on, let me ask God. phone rings. He'll be with me in a sec. Ah, God tells me the answers (2 Timothy 3:16-17) can be found in the Bible. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Whew. I thought I was going to have to answer on my own there for a second. :P So here is God's Word:

a) attend an organized church? Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 13:7, 17 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

b) avoid sinning to the best of your abilities? Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. Hebrews 3:12-13 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

c) declare to others that you are saved? 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

d) perform acts of service? James 2:14-20 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

e) share your faith with others, perhaps try to save them? Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

f) perhaps something else? John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In response to your comments on Faith & behavior:
As you stated, many people proclaim to be Christians but show little evidence in their behavior.
God gave us freedom to make choices and usually we makes decisions based on what would feel good or be of benefit to us. It’s all about us. This is not God’s will, it’s our own will. So we are constantly falling short, which is what the word "Sin" actually means - falling short of the mark, like missing the target. God did not create us to be self-righteous and self serving. He created us to glorify Him. Most people just never come to that realization and even if they do, they are not prepared to accept it and do anything about it (because life is all about them)! Because of the blood that Jesus shed for us, we only need to accept Christ into our lives as our Lord and savior, and then repent our sins. God immediately forgives and forgets. Let a human try that; we do pretty good with forgiving, but try the forgetting part, it’s not that easy.
When a person is baptized, it's a symbol of what Christ did for us on the cross. All of our sins are washed away and we are accepted by God as clean. We are born again. When you read and start to understand the Bible, it outlines what we are called to do. We are called to be like Jesus Christ himself. The disciples were taught by Jesus, then after Jesus did His job here on earth, He sent the Holy Spirit (HS for short) to dwell within the disciples. That is what’s supposed to happen to us when we are Baptized. If we are truly accepting Jesus as our Savior and we are ready to surrender to His authority, then the HS will fill us and direct us. The HS is working in us under the authority of Jesus Christ. So….. this is when you will begin to see a person really change. We are still human and with fault, but because the HS dwells within us and we have surrendered/yielded to Him, we have a different attitude about life and sin. God’s word (the Bible) tells us to worship (go to church), fellowship with other Christians and be knowledgeable about the Word of the Lord so that we can share the Gospel with others. This can be done without saying a word. God actually has a pretty good sense of humor and tells us that we should witness to others and use words IF we have to. In other words, actions/behavior speaks louder than words. Bible Study and small book studies are excellent ways to learn and grow in the body of Christ. We are required to do this stuff, it’s not optional. We are called to be disciples, and to teach other people to be disciples. So, as you can see, it’s not as easy as saying you’re a Christian. It may seem like a huge responsibility but God equips those that He has called and the reward is eternity in Heaven. I know that since I was baptized and surrendered to the H.S. the life change is me is awesome and it could only have come from having a relationship with Christ. And that is what Christianity is, it’s not a religion, it’s a relationship (with Christ).

Hi YaYa,

Regarding your distaste for those who exhibit Pharisee-like behavior -- that is, those who demonstrate to the outer world their faith, but do not develop it in their interior, let me reassure you:

Most every Sunday I see Kobe Bryant in our church. I've heard many castigate him and his being in church. The comments I won't repeat.

My reaction? God loves all of us. Everyone deserves a second chance. I came home to the church, and its walls didn't crumble. So, too, with Kobe. And everybody else.

We all need a place of solace, strength, and comfort. Worry not about the naysayers who are hypocritical. Or those who would twist Christ's message of forgiveness. Focus instead on his sacred, immaculate heart, his blessings, and his gift to us.

Don't let the forces of human fallability darken your view. It ain't about us, sister.

Amen.

It's easy to be led astray by the media, by the lost, by the evil, by the selfish. For those, "it's all about me." D and Gentleman above have them nailed.

How do you find the truth? Go to the source. Those that read the bible know that it's not some old, dead manuscript. It's God's Word, and He speaks to us.

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-­edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

We've talked so much, I keep having to go back and re-read the original question. It's far more simple than our answers. :p

All good answers. Best post among us was the one about Kobe.

The quick and easy answer to your question was given in the book of James, 2:19- "Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!" (NLT)
In fact, the first two chapters of James totally annihilates your ex husband's theology.

But again, it's not about being good, it's about being friends with God. I don't even like to say that we were created to glorify God, as if he needed to create his own cheering section.

We were created to be friends with him. And here is the deal: When we are on that level with God, he corrects our behavior.

Thanks Gandalf, I appreciate the comment.

Here's my view on attending church every Sunday: For me, it's the most important moment of my life, every week. I believe this is truly the body and blood of Christ, the source and summit of my faith, the Catholic faith.

Yet, I know non-Catholics, rare- to non-church-going folks who serve Christ in greater and more astonishing ways than I'll ever be able to emulate. People I work and volunteer with who also serve the homeless, the elderly, the infirm, the jailed, yet somehow find a way not to do it on a particular schedule, but do it 24/7/365. I know others of great faith who are regular and passionate church-goers, yet of a different faith.

Am I better? No. Will they be saved? I believe so (Remember, we're not allowed to pass judgment on anyone's final salvation -- gratifying as that might be -- only Christ is. We're called to render judgment on crimes and transgressions in this life -- 'Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?').

Do I learn from them, do they inspire me to be a better person, and do I love them for their hearts? YES.

That's the message of Christ, and His saving grace. To be an instrument of his love, peace, and service.

God bless all for participating in this discussion. This alone is a great act of the faith journey we're all on, no matter what our path or progress.

"'this' is truly the body and blood of Christ" = Eucharist

Regarding partial-birth abortion, it is nothing short of infanticide. There is no moral, ethical, spiritual (as if there's a difference) or physical reason for such a horrific and grave sin to be sanctified by the state. None. Clever obfuscation and language manipulation doesn't make it so. It's a deep, dark crime.

How do you think religion speaks to the War in Iraq and capital punishment? Isn't the Pope opposed to both?

Mr "Hello" with a comment completely unrelated to the question at hand

as usual