Feeling forsaken

Archeron

So when you have, for all your life believed, despite the circumstance that your religion is right, and that God loves you and that there is a heavenly kingdom awaiting; how do you compare and contrast when bad things happen to good people?
If you live your life according to the "rules", and at the end of it all, everything still sucks, how are you supposed to react?
I ask this question out of interest, as the weirdness of life still intrigues me, but as an attempting catholic, i really dont know where i am or quite how i feel.
Any suggestions on where i should turn?

robindch

archeron wrote:

Any suggestions on where i should turn?

Well, if the religiously-derived rules and customs that you're using aren't working for you, then perhaps you should think about changing them?

There are plenty more ways of understanding the world than the single way offered by the catholic church!

JimiTime

Archeron wrote: »

So when you have, for all your life believed, despite the circumstance that your religion is right, and that God loves you and that there is a heavenly kingdom awaiting; how do you compare and contrast when bad things happen to good people?
If you live your life according to the "rules", and at the end of it all, everything still sucks, how are you supposed to react?
I ask this question out of interest, as the weirdness of life still intrigues me, but as an attempting catholic, i really dont know where i am or quite how i feel.
Any suggestions on where i should turn?

Firstly, I'd say turn away from Catholicism. I learned more about God and Jesus and Christianity by reading things myself than I learned in 12 years at Catholic School. As for bad things happen to good people. Well, the best person that ever lived, Jesus Christ, had a pretty bad time of it. We are living in a system where the Devil is rife. Even the bible tells us that satan is the ruler of this world! He is trying everything he can to stumble and lead people away from the truth and the light. Be it guilt, heartache, anger, false knowledge, riches etc etc. Indeed, I have a friend whos life saying is 'there is no good deed that wont go unpunished':). While its not always like that, there is a reason why one of the gifts of the spirit is 'long suffering'.
My advice would be, to keep your faith, cast away the mental shackles of catholicism and get to know Christ. Build a personal relationship and don't see your faith as a book of 'rules', but rather a guideline to be a good person, a beacon for the truth of our lord. True happiness lies in this, but there are many obstacles that will make you think its too hard etc. But now I'm rambling, I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

BrianCalgary

I agree with JimiTime.

Bad things happen because that is the way the world operates. People out for themselves without regard to those around them.

As for natural disasters, the world is deteriorating as God, I believe, is stepping aside because we as humans have generally rejected Him.

Look to improve your relationship with God, set your eyes on eternity. The world sucks, and I do look forward to the resurrection of teh body and life everlasting.

There is some great stuff in those old prayers.

kelly1

Hello Archeron,

the first thing I'd say is ignore or better still pray for those people who trying to turn you away from/against the Catholic Church.

There is no need to compare and contrast. There is only one Church which teaches the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Jesus founded a Church based on Peter and the apostles and the articles of faith they received from Christ have been faithfully handed down from bishop to bishop under the protection of the Holy Spirit.

What was the legacy of Jesus? Was it a just a bible or did He leave us a Church to teach and guide us and administer His grace via the sacraments? There's no way that God would leave us with nothing more that the bible to guide us. Private interpretation is a dangerous folly. You only have to look at how different Churches have different interpretations of the same bible to see this. The question arises, how does one arrive at the truth? The answer is that Jesus left us a Church to teach us the truth as received from Him via the Holy Spirit. The Church is the compass that leads us surely to Christ and the Truth.

Consider the alternative. You have thousands of denomination teaching different things. There are so many differences in doctrine on matter such as salvation by faith alone, justification, the sacraments, the Eucharist, forgiveness of sins, Mary, apostolic succession etc and the root cause is private interpretation of scripture. How do you know your Church's interpretation is correct? You could take one passage of scripture and interpret it 10 different ways. Who's interpretation is true? The Church is there to lead us into the Truth of Christ.

It's important to keep in mind that before the Reformation, there was only one Christian Church who's docrines remain unchanged to this day. Then Luther came along and said it was OK to interpret scripture yourself and opened a can of worms.

As for the predicament you're in, I think I know how you feel.

The Lord sometimes withdraws spiritual consolation from us in order to draw us closer to Him. Consolation tends to lead us to a love of consolation and to complacency/pride. When we love God for Himself alone and not for any consolations He gives, we please God all the more. This is where faith is really comes in. At the end of the day, we either trust that God does what's best for us or we don't. But I believe God in His mercy and goodness rewards in this life those who are faithful and persevering. It's easy to love God when we have a warm feeling inside but it's far more meritorious to love God and live according to the Gospel when He appears to have abandoned us. In reality God draws even closer.

May God bless you.
Noel.

JimiTime

kelly1 wrote: »

Hello Archeron,

the first thing I'd say is ignore or better still pray for those people who trying to turn you away from/against the Catholic Church.

If this sentiment is genuine, i sincerely thank you Noel. Indeed, i would appreciate prayer on my behalf.

kelly1

JimiTime wrote: »

If this sentiment is genuine, i sincerely thank you Noel. Indeed, i would appreciate prayer on my behalf.

Good of you to say so Jimi I've no interest in point scoring but I am concerned with finding the truth. Doctrinal errors lead to the loss of souls. I'll keep you in my prayers this evening.

God bless,
Noel.

JimiTime

kelly1 wrote: »

Good of you to say so Jimi I've no interest in point scoring but I am concerned with finding the truth. Doctrinal errors lead to the loss of souls. I'll keep you in my prayers this evening.

God bless,
Noel.

Thank you:)

PDN

Good things happen to bad people & bad things happen to good people.

Christianity does not guarantee us against trouble or bad circumstances. What it should do is give us the tools to overcome those circumstances and to cope with them in a positive way. In my experience no version of Christianity has a monopoly in this regard.

wolfsbane

Archeron wrote: »

So when you have, for all your life believed, despite the circumstance that your religion is right, and that God loves you and that there is a heavenly kingdom awaiting; how do you compare and contrast when bad things happen to good people?
If you live your life according to the "rules", and at the end of it all, everything still sucks, how are you supposed to react?
I ask this question out of interest, as the weirdness of life still intrigues me, but as an attempting catholic, i really dont know where i am or quite how i feel.
Any suggestions on where i should turn?

Yes. Turn to the means God has given us to understand our lives - His word, the Bible. In it you will find, if you diligently and sincerely seek, all the comfort and assurance anyone can need. In it the way of salvation is set out, and the guidelines for walking in God's ways. You will find there that sorrow and suffering, indeed persecution, is a part of the Christian's pilgrimage. As it was for the Master, so it will be for His servants.
He suffered unjustly, but at times we are chastised by God for our sins, as any loving father disciplines those he loves. We may not know just why a particular trial has come, but we can be sure it is only by His permission and for our ultimate good. As an example of God's dealings with His people, the book of Job is superb.

Some texts that deal with the issue:

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:


“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

As to kelly1's comments on the 'one true Church', Christ did indeed leave behind both the Bible and the Church. But it is evident that the Church described in the Bible is not anything like the Roman Catholic Church. The Church of the New Testament was led by godly men, it was without silver and gold, without worldly power. Need I say more?

The true Church of the Bible is made up of all who have true faith in Christ, whatever their denomination. The denominations/local churches may to a greater or lesser extent hold and practice the apostolic teachings. Some are very pure, most have a way to go in understanding secondary doctrines, others have long ago departed from the faith altogether.

The true Church is found wherever two or three are gathered in Christ's name. Christ is there with them, by His Spirit. No greater comfort can be found than such fellowship. That's what you need, Archeron. Throw out mere religion, find God by believing on His son, and meet with His people to worship in spirit and truth.

JimiTime

^^ Excellent post.