First of all, I would like to thank Dakota Bill for providing a comment (under “Bible Conflicts”) spelling out in much greater detail and with much better references to the bible than I ever could, some reasoning as to why I may not be completely barred from entering heaven. My simplistic reasoning was simply that if there is a heaven, a loving God would not keep people out who were basically good people but who for some reason did not have the level of belief that most of you have. And even with your high level of faith (Ben) you still have doubts about your right to enter. I’m quite sure you’re all OK unless you veer radically to the dark side later in life.
Second, I would like to explain who Dakota Bill is and why I invited him into this discussion. Bill grew up in South Dakota (hence the handle) and he and his wife were my high school Catholic youth group leaders in Sauk in 1964-66 or so. He is a writer and editor (now retired, but that’s why he does it so well) and a proud liberal in political and religious matters. Since we had discussions about topics Terry and I were occasionally discussing, and Bill always has good input, I asked him on board. And I’m glad I did. It is not a matter of numbers, or getting people who agree with me, it is just good for everyone to hear new voices every now and then – we all need to get out of our own echo chambers.
Third, (this is weird), the only person to keep in the dark on this discussion is Mom (& Dad). She doesn’t have a computer, doesn’t email these days, so is not likely to get involved unless someone raises the existence of the blog in discussion. I know she is not happy about all of you who fled the Catholic church and would be further saddened to see how non-religious I am (even tho she knows it she is in a bit of denial about the extent of it). I know it bothers her already, so it is better to not make it worse. She still feels like she has failed her religious obligations by not keeping us all in Mother Church. I trust you will understand.
And finally, I hope you are not thinking I am an obnoxious jerk about all this. I find it an interesting discussion and religion and its power fascinates me. Phyllis thinks I am a little crazy reading or watching TV shows about bible interpretation, archeology in the holy land, or debates between evolutionists and creationists, and lately I am very worried about how religion affects politics. I really would like to NOT be involved in politics, but we all get dragged into it because it affects our schools, our businesses, our dollars, the taxes we pay, whether the potholes get fixed, the snow gets removed, and now because of wars we fund (and send people to risk their lives). Church and state seem to be less and less separated and that worries me. This country was founded in large part to get away from state and religion being too mixed up with each other and now some feel we are headed down a similar path. It bears discussion and observation. So, we’re all involved in politics whether we want to be or not.
Please don’t be shy, and don’t think anyone will be insulted or hurt by your comments. This is a good place to state your opinion or ask questions that you might feel uncomfortable about in another place.
Love to all, Michael.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
It's too bad that the Catholic church hasn't seen fit to use the Holy scripture more to educate their members. I too was raised in the Catholic faith, with all of the teaching that was offered by the nuns and the Catholic schools. "Good works" and/or being a good boy was always emphasized as the way to heaven. What they failed to tell us (or maybe just didn't know) is that following the "law", or trying to be good enough to one day stand in the presence of a Holy God was never going to happen. That is why Jesus came to earth in the first place - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and God was providing a way for us to obtain salvation through the sacrifice of His Son. This is the loving God that you mention Michael. He doesn't want you to kept out of heaven or His embrace, so He has showed us the way. Deciding that your way is adequate will not suffice. He allows us into His presence under the covering of the blood of Jesus - by claiming Him as savior, when God looks at me, He sees his spotless and sinless Son, and not my tatterd and filthy efforts to be good according to mans' standards.
We've all seen the "fanatical" football fan with the sign, "John 3:16". Have you looked it up? (not word for word) It says, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever beleives in Him shall have eternal life. Also, Jesus said - "I am the way, the truth, the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me"! (Note: every translation that I have ever read - even the Catholic bible - has these statements.) These, along with countless other passages, make it pretty clear that God has given us an opportunity to share heaven with Him, but (sorry) you have to accept His gift on His terms.
I can appreciate Bill's comments, but as I'm sure you know, I have to respectfully disagree with some of his justifications. Working your way into heaven through good works and purification in purgatory just isn't reality, regardless of the Bible interpretation you read or the nun who told you that. Let's go "back to basics".
God created man in "His own image". This is not to mean that God looks like a human, or visa-versa, but that God placed in man the image of Him. God is spirit, and man is created flesh {earths dust}, soul {mind or intelligence}, and spirit {the image of God}. When we die, the body returns to dust, the soul ceases to operate, but the spirit lives on. Where does the spirit go? I believe, one of two places.
My spirit will either be reunited with my maker, or it will be rejected from that reunion if it is not washed in the blood of Jesus the lamb sacrificed for my transgessions.
Is Hell a real place? I don't know if it is a real physical place, but if my spirit longs to be home with the maker and master of all, but is bannished forever to a place where there is no presence of God, then that is Hell. Are there "people" or their spirits there? I am convinced that there are. Will they ever get out and go to heaven? I don't think so - that opportunity is given to us here on earth - the gift is offered, our choice is made, and then we die, and then we are to be judged.
We can talk about translations, interpretations, inconsistancies, denominations, good -vs- evil, etc., etc., but the basics of Christianity have mostly to do with the life to come, and where we will spend eternity. Following the "good book" should also help us to walk a good walk in the world in which we live, but ALL have and will sin, and even well meaning Christians screw up from time to time.
Sin is sin! We were told in Catholic school that venial sins and mortal sins were different, and depending on the severity of your sin, you would receive a different "penence" from the priest during confession. Looking back, how silly this is if you know the "big picture" that the Bible paints. Sin is Sin in Gods' eyes. He can't stand to be in the presence of sin of any degree, yet he knows that through the fall of Adam, all will sin. What a dilemma!
Have I ever lied? Have I ever stollen? Have I cheated? Have I ever hated someone? Have I ever swore or taken Gods' name in vain? Have I been jealous? Have I gossiped or spoken ill of someone? Have I been prideful, boasting, or hauty of my accomplishments? And the list goes on...but if so, then I have sinned, and I need a savior (Jesus) if I want to some day be spiritually reunited with God. That is God's way to adddress the dilemma, and allow sinfull man bck into His embrace. I'm sorry, there is only One Way - it's just that simple!
Post a Comment