this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2024
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So which is it? Is there "nothing you can do to earn God's blessing. It's a gift" or is it "I'd rather do something quick to earn God's favor than commit daily to living a penitent Christian life"
Because if it's really a gift, what's all this effort you're putting in to "earn God's favor"?
The life of a Christian is two-fold...
Living in accordance with the teachings of Christ is a requirement for salvation but not a guarantee. There's nothing we can do to earn God's blessing on Earth or in Heaven. The only thing we can guarantee for ourselves is damnation by rejecting Christ and the biblical revelation.
If I earnestly strive to live like Christ and believe him to be God. I will live a life that involves prayer, fasting and almsgiving. A generous life that helps others to the Glory of God. It is only after that life that I will be judged. God has perfect judgement and judges each person according to their means, understanding etc My hope is that God will examine my heart and grant me entrance to the Kingdom of God even though I am most unworthy.
Being told you'll never measure up to God's expectations all your life but he loves you if you try really hard is basically the same as being in an emotionally abusive relationship.
Thank you Sigmund Freud.
The only issue is that obeying God is literally the best thing you can do for yourself emotionally or otherwise. It will give meaning, purpose and structure to your life, provide an instant community and, while we rarely shirk sin entirely, a Christian life can break how beholden we are to the sin and idols in our life. Drugs/alcohol, promiscuity, pornography etc All these things are abused in our culture and you can see how it affects us by looking at the state of things outside your window. Moral and cultural decay caused by pursuit of self instead of God.
Returning to church and committing daily to Christ is by far the best thing that's ever happened to me. God loves us.
The meaning of life is what you make it. I don't need God to give me purpose.
I was raised catholic and this is a valid point. The issue is it's a community gathered around harmful ideas.
As for the rest, the placebo effect is scientifically proven to work. I have absolutely no doubt that believing in a higher power helps you beat addiction, etc. I don't think that justifies the harm organized religion has caused, particularly recently. Does God want to force 10 year olds to give birth? Because that's what's happening in his name.