Catholics, Get Ready to Suffer

NC Register ^ | January 31, 2012 | Matthew Archbold

[NYer]

I remember coloring in the lions on the paper my Catechism teacher had handed out. The lions in the coliseum were approaching a group of huddled Catholics.

My CCD teacher asked us if we too were willing to suffer for our faith the way the martyrs of old did? I remember looking at those cartoon lions and deciding that yes, I very much had the stuff to stare down a cartoon lion. Easy.

But it’s easy to answer in the affirmative when we’re talking about cartoon lions. It’s different when we’re talking real life. Real lions have teeth.

And make no mistake, real life is what we’re talking now. We have a government that mandates what pro-life counselors must say. We have a government now that mandates that Catholic institutions pay for things it considers sinful. We have a government that now says the cost of being an American is to abandon Catholicism.

Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska in response to the Obama administration’s contraception mandate said, “We cannot and will not comply with this unjust decree. Like the martyrs of old, we must be prepared to accept suffering which could include heavy fines and imprisonment.”

This scares me but it’s true.

Now is the time when decisions must be made by Catholic college presidents and hospital administrators and the heads of all sorts of Catholic institutions. Should I do what the government tells me or what the Church tells me is right? Some whom we have great hope for will choose poorly. Some will stand up unexpectedly and refuse to comply with the government. And they will pay a price for being Catholic.

We’re no longer talking about the slippery slope here. We’ve walked off a cliff. We’re in free fall.

[mitch5501]

"Wish I could work out how to do italics"

easy...< i > text < / i > just without the spaces.

BTW your post are refreshingly candid.Something we need a lot more of.

God bless

[EnglishCon]

Thank you for both the italics hint and the blessing!

I enjoy talking religion. It is a large part of life, and very important to me. And if you cannot be honest about your relationship with and understanding of God, what can you be honest about!

[EnglishCon]

I do love reading C. S. Lewis, though Mere Christainity is not one I have yet read. It is on the bookshelf, but not yet read it, to my shame.

He was a perfect combination of artistry and clarity when he wrote. He knew God and walked the path. Explained the path too.

One of the things he wrote - from The Screwtape Letters - is something I always bear in mind.

To paraphrase (I am behind on work, typing on my phone and can’t look up the exact quote right now):

If your mortal must go to church, make him shop around. Concentrate his mind on the usher’s squeaky shoes, or the deacon being the grocer who gives short weight during the week.

There is One Truth. God Is. Yeah, I left the customary 3rd word off.

There is one Washington D.C too. But there are a heck of a lot of roads you can take to get to Washington. Lot of roads to the One Truth too.

Some use a fast path. Some use a winding path. It still gets us all there. And none can say their path is better, merely better for them.

[marbren]

I just read that post. That is not true. You should not even misled whatever you believe in whatever form. That’s not right.

You know it is not true. I assume you do by faith. I do not know, Thank God, God knows. The reason I posted the Simon Magus pope question is because I do not know. I thought Salvation was a catholic so I was confused why a catholic would post a link that said Simon Magus was the first pope? I never got an answer. IMHO Salvation did not read the link posted. I did read it to try to answer my question and found the comment. Now I am still confused and do not know If Simon Peter was the first pope or Simon Magus was. I am done with the quest now because I am not catholic. I only put my Faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. If He wants me to know the answer He will tell me.

The rapture may be today! The Lord Jesus Christ told me this

[johngrace]

I thought I went to that post url. I did not see what you are writing. That's All. Maybe you meant another post to be fair.

Anyway freeper regards!

[metmom]

it is not about trust. Catholics have the Virgin and the saints as someone to talk comfortably with. As metmom said, we all need people to talk to.

But we have each other. We don't need to pray to saints.

When someone bypasses other living on the earth human beings it denies them the privilege of being Christ to those who are hurting.

God is always there. But, sometimes, he is a little intimidating - kind of like facing your Dad with a report card full of D’s. He loves us, yes, but he is going to be very disappointed in us.

I disagree. I think that reflects an inaccurate perception of who God is. I struggled with that for YEARS. God is not about judgment and condemnation for His children. He is their "Abba" father. He is daddy to them.

Worrying about God being disappointed with us and our sin puts our relationship with Him on the level of performance based perfectionism. I don't believe for a minute that He's "disappointed" with us. He loves us with all the capacity of His being, even those who choose condemnation. He can be grieved, as Scripture states, but disappointed? I don't believe that for a minute.

Yes, He's the judge to those who are rebellious, but to those who choose to become His child, He is mercy and compassion and steadfast love.

Romans 8:1, 14-15 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

When you look at how Jesus related to those around Him, He was firm with those rebelled (the Pharisees) and compassionate with those who received Him (tax collectors and prostitutes)

Matter of fact, look at the contrast, those who sinned and failed were the ones who we would think have to worry about disappointing God and having to have to worry about going to the principals office (so to speak) compared to those who were practically flawless in keeping the Law.

When Peter denied Jesus three times, how did Jesus respond? When Thomas doubted the resurrection, what was Jesus response?

Jesus always restored gently and with compassion. We should not fear going to Him to the point of feeling that we need to go through someone else first.

God always knows what we have done and what we need. He doesn’t need us to tell him. He needs us to tell ourselves. That is - or can be - very hard to do, as we are pretty good at fooling ourselves.

You nailed it there. Confession is for our benefit. It's not like we're telling God something He doesn't already know. The honesty helps us and I don't believe that God is disappointed with us. Honestly, I think it's more of an affront to Him to feel like we can't come to Him directly than the sin we're coming to Him about.

One of the most comforting verses in the Bible is Psalm 103:14

Psalm 103:6-14 6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

[metmom]

But people don’t bow down before the poppy or cross and pray to it and light candles to it.

Yes, a statue can be a reminder or representation, but when those other activities are directed towards then, it crosses the line from representation to idolatry.

[metmom]

In addition to italics, you can do < u > underline < /u>, < b > bold < /b >, and < s > strike out < /s >, and once you use HTML, you HAVE to use paragraph markers < p > to separate your paragraphs or you end up with a long, unbroken, unintelligible mess.

[marbren]

but disappointed? I don't believe that for a minute.

I agree metmom, disappointment comes from unmet expectations. How could God have unmet expectations? He knows everything!

This is a key for us as well. If we do not have expectations of others or situations and just live the adventure The Lord Jesus Christ gives us everyday in this life NOW not fearing the future or feeling shame and guilt about the past we will find THE JOY and PEACE that only HE can provide with no disappointments.

[EnglishCon]

When someone bypasses other living on the earth human beings it denies them the privilege of being Christ to those who are hurting.

You know, I honestly never thought of that aspect at all! It does pretty much stop people witnessing their faith completely to you, which is wrong.

Worrying about God being disappointed with us and our sin puts our relationship with Him on the level of performance based perfectionism. I don't believe for a minute that He's "disappointed" with us. He loves us with all the capacity of His being, even those who choose condemnation. He can be grieved, as Scripture states, but disappointed? I don't believe that for a minute.

Beautifully put and totally correct. The fear is still there though - we are foolish beings at times. The saints and the Virgin are a way to acknowlege that fear and reduce it for us to a managable level. I'd no more take that from someone than I'd take their coat in the depths of winter.

A few posts back I mentioned I had only asked for intercession once by the Virgin. It was a bad time, a time when I cursed God with all my heart. Without the chance to have a friend standing with me, I probably would have never got the courage up to talk to Him again at all.

I do respect the saints. They testified their faith even to brutally bad deaths and should be honored and remembered. They are, after all, the foundation of the church itself. The Virgin deserves respect.

And thank you for the Psalm - that is a beautiful one.

[aruanan]

This is what Salvations link said?

As the end of the 2nd century approached, the true Church of God in Rome had all but disappeared; and a LARGE COUNTERFEIT, UNIVERSAL CHURCH was firmly in place with a successive line of bishops or “popes” tracing their office back to — NOT PETER — but Simon Magus! The Catholic Church was founded on the PRIMACY OF SIMON MAGUS! Any church (Worldwide Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God included) that believes in the primacy of Peter and apostolic succession is knowingly (or unknowingly) following the system planted in Rome by SIMON THE MAGICIAN!

I think this is something of recent and imaginative vintage. There was, for instance, a book by Robin Cook that had as its premise the discovery of a Gospel of Simon Magus that would radically alter the understanding of early Christianity. What's alleged in the quote above appears to be yet another way to bash Catholics by claiming (as Mohammed and Joseph Smith in their turn did) that the true way was lost and replaced by charlatans who, of course, must be purged so that the light of truth, in the person of the "reformer," may once again shine out and guide the lost stumbling masses toward salvation, blah, blah, blah.

[marbren]

The rapture may be today!

[annie laurie]

You should definitely make time for Mere Christianity. It was the book that pushed me the final steps along the path to Christ (a path that I never, in my wildest imaginings, dreamed I'd walk). At some point while reading the book, the realization slowly dawned on me that I was now a Christian. Shocking! :) And delightful. :)

I usually re-read it about once a year, and never fail to find comfort and insight when I do.

[EnglishCon]

I have moved it to the top of the pile next to the bed. Shall be finished my current read tonight (it is on bowmaking, of all things) and will make a start on Mere Christianity.

Got an odd one to suggest for you, if you don’t mind going off the mainstream: The Mad Morality.
Yes, it is loosely associated with Mad magazine in that some of the art from Mad was used in it, but it is a rock solid examination of the Ten Commandments.

You may enjoy it, you may not, but it is certainly food for thought.

[EnglishCon]

The rapture may be today!

---

Not a worry for me. I won't be taken. Besides, the Lord needs fighting men here, not lazing in heaven. ;)

[marbren]

Not a worry for me. I won't be taken. :(

[metmom]

Not a worry for me. I won't be taken. Besides, the Lord needs fighting men here, not lazing in heaven. ;)

If you're not taken, you're not one of His. He's taking His bride out of the world before He unleashes His judgment on it.

If you're still here, you'll be in danger of the great delusion which He will be sending on those who have heard and rejected.

The real battle is going to be spiritual, for the horrific conditions which are going to exist during the Great Tribulation. Your chances of surviving that intact as slim.

Sorry if that offends you but we WANT you to be one of the ones who goes.

[Just mythoughts]

If you're not taken, you're not one of His. He's taking His bride out of the world before He unleashes His judgment on it. If you're still here, you'll be in danger of the great delusion which He will be sending on those who have heard and rejected. The real battle is going to be spiritual, for the horrific conditions which are going to exist during the Great Tribulation. Your chances of surviving that intact as slim. Sorry if that offends you but we WANT you to be one of the ones who goes.

How much more horrific do the conditions need to get? I can hardly get through a day's worth of news to contemplate worse. Besides that God created this earth to be inhabited and He only intends to destroy those that mess up His property. The 'tribulation' is best described in the devil tempting Christ, as it is Written the battle is not about flesh and blood. The tribulation is about mass deception, not about who gets the first ticket out of here.

[metmom]

God is going to be creating a new heavens and new earth. All this is going to be burned up anyway. God is going to refashion everything in an uncorrupted by sin state.

Revelation is pretty specific about some of the things that are going to happen, not everything, but there’s enough there that can be read literally that it IS going to get worse, much worse, and it’s backed up with what Jesus has to say in Matthew 24 about the end times.

[EnglishCon]

And I appreciate your worry and blessing. You may never know exactly how much, but it is more than you can imagine!

Yet, I am not a good man. I have killed (legally, don’t get me wrong), raged against God himself and severely mangled every Commandment (well except the adultery one, my wife is truly terrifying).

When the rapture happens, I shall not ascend. I know that. Accept that. It simply is.

But.

The Lord is my General. I shall not fail my duty.

Someone has to stay and fight evil. We are told that. A man who did evil and repented sounds like a solid soldier. Rearguard is not always a badge of shame. Yet atonement is also a thing to be considered. I do not feel worthy. None of us are, really, but I am really far from the people who would be raptured.

I do not fear the delusion. He talks to me, always. I know we personally are different creeds, but I will not be fooled, thanks to His grace and strength. He rules, not us.

We all owe a death, to join our Lord in joy everlasting. Lord, make my death mean something. Not a “welcome home” but a “you did well.” Not done that often in my life.

Would love to be one of the ones who ascends, but that is about as likely as me lifting a car over my head.
You probably will - you witness and live in his path. I know we are told, “judge not, lest you be judged” but you are a good and godly person.

Just spare me a thought once you get up there, OK :) Figure I’ll need all the help I can get. Besides - could I really miss a fight?

May he bless you and keep you safe in his arms. And, though you don’t like this aspect - May the Virgin receive you into His blessing. (it doesn’t hurt, and you have helped me)