[ksen]

Well. As I hinted at, frequent reception of the sacraments (really just Communion and Confession, we aren't into frequent Marriage or Baptism LOL) is food for our souls. If one chooses to distance himself from such then he is choosing to not avail himself of the gifts that God gave to help us grow spiritually. Without an intense life of prayer and discipline, and maybe even with, a person who starves his soul is in danger of losing it.

You guys seem to be dancing around having to come out and say what would happen if you stopped participating in the Sacraments. Let me try. If one were to voluntarily stop participating in the Sacraments that person would end up in Hell for all of eternity.

That being said, and please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong up above, how is that not work?

-Kevin

[IMRight]

please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong up above

Thanks. You are. :)

[SoothingDave]

You guys seem to be dancing around having to come out and say what would happen if you stopped participating in the Sacraments. Let me try. If one were to voluntarily stop participating in the Sacraments that person would end up in Hell for all of eternity.

It is easier, is it not, to do both sides of the conversation yourself? Since you are stuck with actual correspondents, how about if you let us speak for ourselves?

That being said, and please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong up above, how is that not work?

If my daughter sits in her high chair and opens her mouth, while I spoon feed her Heinz Baby Food is that work (on her part)?

SD

[Wordsmith]

If one were to voluntarily stop participating in the Sacraments that person would end up in Hell for all of eternity.

I would say it certainly increases the odds. But the Orthodox at least are not dogmatic about it. God will save whosoever God chooses to save.

Another important distinction is that we're talking about ceasing to partake of the Sacraments after having at one point believed in the need for the Sacraments. This is a different situation from never having believed in the Sacraments at all. Paraphrasing, "to him whom much is given, much is expected."

[malakhi]

You guys seem to be dancing around having to come out and say what would happen if you stopped participating in the Sacraments. Let me try. If one were to voluntarily stop participating in the Sacraments that person would end up in Hell for all of eternity.

Its more than that, Kevin. Failure to meet the Sunday mass obligation without good reason is a mortal sin. If a Catholic misses one Sunday mass for no good reason, and dies before confessing his sin, he goes to hell for all eternity.