A New Question...

[nippy316]

You see, Robyn, to us, remaining Protestant is saying, "Sorry Christ, the Church YOU founded just isn't good enough for me...Not enough fun, not enough excitement...I can't glorify myself there, where you humble YOURSELF so much to take on the appearance of Bread, just so that You can share Yourself and nourish your flock. 

You see, Lord, I wanna feel the breeze in my hair and dream dreams and follow my own aspirations...your Holy Spirit will be my spirit guide as I do what I please...

But thanks for establishing a Church for those other slobs who aren't open to the Holy Spirit themselves "

Great post Anna...that's exactly what I'm talking about!!

[BLAZEr]

St. Anselm called Theology, "faith seeking understanding." All of us are seeking that understanding, in one way or another, it is the faith we have a hard time with, myself included.

I don't judge anyone on the board, but based upon observation alone, it seems a lot of us, again myself included, believe that we are God's gift to the Church, and it is up to us to save it from the grip of evil. Of course, the moment we come to the realization that we think we can save the Church, we have already failed in doing what God has asked us to do. Like it or not, no matter how much we teach a person theology, philosophy, and how to find God, it is never us that are responsible for that finding.

Sometimes we tend to be more patient with ourselves, then we are with others. Conversion didn't happen over night for any one of us, nor should we expect it to occur to anyone else. Reflecting on your own lives, knowing where you've come from and where you are today, you should also be willing to give other people time to grow.

Why hasn't anyone on this board fully converted to the Catholic Church despite all our efforts, teachings, and prayers? Perhaps, because it is God's way of teaching us humility. Humility to recognize that in the major scheme, what we say and do means very little until God sanctifies it. Perhaps God wants us to remember that it is His Church, they are His people, and that until we are willing to recognize that what we say and teach is only giving them reasons, and only when God sanctifies will those reasons truly touch their heart.

Granted, I am not saying that we should stop teaching, praying, and giving reasons, rather, what I am saying is that sometimes we have to be willing to let God work in His time, and recognize that what we say may not have any bearing until years from now. As Archbishop Dolan once said, being a priest is a thankless job, I would say that applies to any Catholic in this day and age because through that thanklessness it is then and only then that we realize, it is not our will, but His Will that matters.

God Bless

Mad Props. It reminds me of being outside of an abortion clinic, and not having any turnarounds. This is an excellent post.

[Azriel]

St. Anselm called Theology, "faith seeking understanding." All of us are seeking that understanding, in one way or another, it is the faith we have a hard time with, myself included.

I don't judge anyone on the board, but based upon observation alone, it seems a lot of us, again myself included, believe that we are God's gift to the Church, and it is up to us to save it from the grip of evil. Of course, the moment we come to the realization that we think we can save the Church, we have already failed in doing what God has asked us to do. Like it or not, no matter how much we teach a person theology, philosophy, and how to find God, it is never us that are responsible for that finding.

Sometimes we tend to be more patient with ourselves, then we are with others. Conversion didn't happen over night for any one of us, nor should we expect it to occur to anyone else. Reflecting on your own lives, knowing where you've come from and where you are today, you should also be willing to give other people time to grow.

Why hasn't anyone on this board fully converted to the Catholic Church despite all our efforts, teachings, and prayers? Perhaps, because it is God's way of teaching us humility. Humility to recognize that in the major scheme, what we say and do means very little until God sanctifies it. Perhaps God wants us to remember that it is His Church, they are His people, and that until we are willing to recognize that what we say and teach is only giving them reasons, and only when God sanctifies will those reasons truly touch their heart.

Granted, I am not saying that we should stop teaching, praying, and giving reasons, rather, what I am saying is that sometimes we have to be willing to let God work in His time, and recognize that what we say may not have any bearing until years from now. As Archbishop Dolan once said, being a priest is a thankless job, I would say that applies to any Catholic in this day and age because through that thanklessness it is then and only then that we realize, it is not our will, but His Will that matters.

God Bless

:wub: Dude, that's amesome.

But, don't let it go to your head. ;)

[Theologian in Training]

Thank you. I didn't notice before, but the some of the second paragraph was borrowed from Archbishop Dolan's chapter on faith in his book, "Priests for the Third Millenium."

The other stuff is, I am convinced, from the Holy Spirit, because lately my own writing hasn't been flowing as smoothly.

Thank you again and thank God He gave me enough insight to write what I could.

God Bless

Edited October 6, 2003 by Theologian in Training

[Paladin D]

You see, Robyn, to us, remaining Protestant is saying, "Sorry Christ, the Church YOU founded just isn't good enough for me...Not enough fun, not enough excitement...I can't glorify myself there, where you humble YOURSELF so much to take on the appearance of Bread, just so that You can share Yourself and nourish your flock.

You see, Lord, I wanna feel the breeze in my hair and dream dreams and follow my own aspirations...your Holy Spirit will be my spirit guide as I do what I please...

But thanks for establishing a Church for those other slobs who aren't open to the Holy Spirit themselves "

So, you see Robyn, your remarks just seem very prideful from a Catholic perspective.

Jesus did not promise good times.

He said, "If you love Me, pick up your cross daily, and come, follow Me." This is what we Catholics endeavor to do.

I just wish you prots could quit with the sarcasm and really dialogue about the Faith. I doubt that the Holy Spirit has inspired you to post the things you've posted thus far, yet you brag all the time about being guided by him.

Raven and Clover show more love, and they're guided by....Lord knows who!!! (No offense, Raven and Clover!)

Exactly Anna, exactly.

Raven and Clover show more love, and they are pagan!

Edited October 6, 2003 by Paladin D

[skuba steve]

:P :P

[ReformationNow]

Exactly Anna, exactly.

Raven and Clover show more love, and they are pagan!

What about me? :(

[Joolye]

You see, Robyn, to us, remaining Protestant is saying, "Sorry Christ, the Church YOU founded just isn't good enough for me...Not enough fun, not enough excitement...I can't glorify myself there, where you humble YOURSELF so much to take on the appearance of Bread, just so that You can share Yourself and nourish your flock.

You see, Lord, I wanna feel the breeze in my hair and dream dreams and follow my own aspirations...your Holy Spirit will be my spirit guide as I do what I please...

But thanks for establishing a Church for those other slobs who aren't open to the Holy Spirit themselves "

So, you see Robyn, your remarks just seem very prideful from a Catholic perspective.

Jesus did not promise good times.

He said, "If you love Me, pick up your cross daily, and come, follow Me." This is what we Catholics endeavor to do.

Wow, you've got things a little bit wrong there.

Being protestant is not saying,

"Sorry Christ, the Church YOU founded just isn't good enough for me...Not enough fun, not enough excitement...I can't glorify myself there, where you humble YOURSELF so much to take on the appearance of Bread, just so that You can share Yourself and nourish your flock. 

You see, Lord, I wanna feel the breeze in my hair and dream dreams and follow my own aspirations...your Holy Spirit will be my spirit guide as I do what I please...

But thanks for establishing a Church for those other slobs who aren't open to the Holy Spirit themselves "

We do not go to church where we can be glorified. We seek to glorify God. We don't have the idea that the Holy Spirit is our spirit guide as we do what we please. We seek to do what God wants us to do as revealed by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes that is not what we want to do. If I were doing what I really wanted to do, I would not be where I am just now, I would be in Scotland. That is my selfish desire, but I know that I am exactly where God wants me and there are times that I struggle and want to leave, but when it comes to the crunch, I know that God wants me here, and regardless of what I want to do, I must do what God wants me to do. And I know it is the same for Robyn. The Holy Spirit doesn't always guide us to do the things we want to do, he guides us to do the things God wants us to do. We don't do what we want and ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us as we do that. We ask what does God want us to do (which the Holy Spirit may reveal to us) and do that in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus did not promise good times.

Boy do I know all about that! Life could be a lot easier if I left this town and did what I want.

He said, "If you love Me, pick up your cross daily, and come, follow Me."  This is what we Catholics endeavor to do.

That's what we endeavour to do too! That verse is Mark 8:34. Yep, we believe the Word of God and do our best to obey it.

[Robyn]

hehe...I am asked a question, I ignore it...it's repeated, again I ignore it....it's asked again and again I ignore it...it's asked again....and I unbite my tongue...

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW ;)