Your link does help to show how current times and people have totally ruined the idea of Lent. It says that it is the preparation for holy week, well how is giving up beer or swearing, whatever the like, prepare you for holy week or Easter or any of it? It is nothing like what it was in the early ages of the church. So, it just goes to show you how it has been changed and modernized for the current tastes of man and society as a whole. They don't like to do it if it is too hard. Why should children and old people be exempt as well? Are they not sinners as well? My girlfriend told me today that the Catholic church says that children & old people are exempt. Don't they have to suffer too?
Lent is not about suffering.Fasting could kill an elderly person,or make them very sick.The same with a child.In fact,not fasting is in itself a form of penience.Most elderly,like my in ill health parents,ignore this loop-hole,anyway.
I don't like suffering.But I don't consider fasting-or dieting for that matter-to be suffering.
On your post you said that you did not understand why you should have to give up anything as a Christian...
...and that is my point.Some people think differently then you.I am one of them.Christ suffered for me by dyng on the cross.In the spirit of Lent,I can symbolically remember his suffering in any way I best seem fit.
I love Jesus.He has been a consent companion to me.His mercy has seen me through both some very good and some very bad times.
I will use almost any excuse to celebrate my Lord.Lent is one of these excuses.
If you do not celebrate Lent,I see nothing wrong with that.I don't even ask you to accept the fact that I and others do.
But the fact that you,Dharma,enjoy spiritual growth does please me very very much.Keep on your journey.Though you will travel a differnt path then me,I pray for you and that I can accept you for you the very best way that I can.
I believe that the Lord,Jesus loves you...and believe it or not...so do I.
Yes, our paths are very different for sure. I did not intend the comments to be, or seem cruel, but shouldn't it all apply to all across the board? That is the part that makes me crazy. Things like that, in a church doctrine, should be all or nothing. How can you give a spiritual pass to just certain people? Why doesn;t everyone have to follow the same material? That is my continual question? Also how can such small, seemingly petty things be considered as monumental as not commiting any of the "big 10"?
You see what I am asking? How can these small sacrifices make you a better person, just because you can do them, than someone who chooses to continue them? Why does just being a good person not count during this time of Lent?
Those are the questions that continue to bother me about the whole time period, but ones that will pass after the whole time period comes to an end and everyone stops talking about it etc.
Like I said, over at my blog, it has been a rigorous discussion, one that I have enjoyed. I know that we are polar opposites in our beliefs, but it has been an enjoyable debate.
Well,at the very least,I know that some people will still lose their drinking buddies for forty days or so:-)
There is a saying that goes,'Watch your pennies and the dollars will watch themselves.'
The big 10 as you call them are the basis for all the other laws and guidelines.But I have to ask you..what is big or small to God?Steal a billion dollar diamond-steal a cookie-what does it matter to him?
So,when you mention large or small what do you realy mean?That it is OK to steal a cookie or steal a drink,but not OK to Kill for the cookie or seduce for the beer?
It means nothing to God.
Steal a cookie,kill some one..I believe all is covered by the Grace of God.Does that mean I should sin?No.Why should I follow the dead end path of sin when Grace is already open to me?Grace gives me options that the law does not.it opens up the pathways to compassion and mercy that by the law would otherwize be closed to be.
Now,it is possible to help the sick and the untouchables.Now it is possible to not punish someone,but rather,with love,forgive them.
The world is much easier in black and white were everyone is treated equally,everyone is clothed the same,eat the same,live by the same rules.I think many religions go by such rules,both Christian and non-Christian alike.I respect this.
In order to respect these other groups ideas of the ideal,I may have to bend some of my own rules just to be tolerant of theirs.
The Law does not accept this,but grace does.
For you see,I do not believe in everybody being a clone of everyone else.The world would be a terrible place if everyone would have to act like me,you,or George Bush.
That is why I am OK with diversity,some people have talents or sickneses others don't.I fight the envy in me everyday.I don't see the specialness of myself...or any special closeness to God,but I see it in the rich,the poor,the pretty(all have beauty)the bum on the street,the pro athlete,the crying baby,the people that mourne,I see God's hand in every one of these,but I can barely grasp in in myself
4 comments:
Your link does help to show how current times and people have totally ruined the idea of Lent. It says that it is the preparation for holy week, well how is giving up beer or swearing, whatever the like, prepare you for holy week or Easter or any of it? It is nothing like what it was in the early ages of the church. So, it just goes to show you how it has been changed and modernized for the current tastes of man and society as a whole. They don't like to do it if it is too hard. Why should children and old people be exempt as well? Are they not sinners as well? My girlfriend told me today that the Catholic church says that children & old people are exempt. Don't they have to suffer too?
Dharma,your comments border on being cruel.
Lent is not about suffering.Fasting could kill an elderly person,or make them very sick.The same with a child.In fact,not fasting is in itself a form of penience.Most elderly,like my in ill health parents,ignore this loop-hole,anyway.
I don't like suffering.But I don't consider fasting-or dieting for that matter-to be suffering.
On your post you said that you did not understand why you should have to give up anything as a Christian...
...and that is my point.Some people think differently then you.I am one of them.Christ suffered for me by dyng on the cross.In the spirit of Lent,I can symbolically remember his suffering in any way I best seem fit.
I love Jesus.He has been a consent companion to me.His mercy has seen me through both some very good and some very bad times.
I will use almost any excuse to celebrate my Lord.Lent is one of these excuses.
If you do not celebrate Lent,I see nothing wrong with that.I don't even ask you to accept the fact that I and others do.
But the fact that you,Dharma,enjoy spiritual growth does please me very very much.Keep on your journey.Though you will travel a differnt path then me,I pray for you and that I can accept you for you the very best way that I can.
I believe that the Lord,Jesus loves you...and believe it or not...so do I.
Yes, our paths are very different for sure. I did not intend the comments to be, or seem cruel, but shouldn't it all apply to all across the board? That is the part that makes me crazy. Things like that, in a church doctrine, should be all or nothing. How can you give a spiritual pass to just certain people? Why doesn;t everyone have to follow the same material? That is my continual question? Also how can such small, seemingly petty things be considered as monumental as not commiting any of the "big 10"?
You see what I am asking? How can these small sacrifices make you a better person, just because you can do them, than someone who chooses to continue them? Why does just being a good person not count during this time of Lent?
Those are the questions that continue to bother me about the whole time period, but ones that will pass after the whole time period comes to an end and everyone stops talking about it etc.
Like I said, over at my blog, it has been a rigorous discussion, one that I have enjoyed. I know that we are polar opposites in our beliefs, but it has been an enjoyable debate.
Well,at the very least,I know that some people will still lose their drinking buddies for forty days or so:-)
There is a saying that goes,'Watch your pennies and the dollars will watch themselves.'
The big 10 as you call them are the basis for all the other laws and guidelines.But I have to ask you..what is big or small to God?Steal a billion dollar diamond-steal a cookie-what does it matter to him?
So,when you mention large or small what do you realy mean?That it is OK to steal a cookie or steal a drink,but not OK to Kill for the cookie or seduce for the beer?
It means nothing to God.
Steal a cookie,kill some one..I believe all is covered by the Grace of God.Does that mean I should sin?No.Why should I follow the dead end path of sin when Grace is already open to me?Grace gives me options that the law does not.it opens up the pathways to compassion and mercy that by the law would otherwize be closed to be.
Now,it is possible to help the sick and the untouchables.Now it is possible to not punish someone,but rather,with love,forgive them.
The world is much easier in black and white were everyone is treated equally,everyone is clothed the same,eat the same,live by the same rules.I think many religions go by such rules,both Christian and non-Christian alike.I respect this.
In order to respect these other groups ideas of the ideal,I may have to bend some of my own rules just to be tolerant of theirs.
The Law does not accept this,but grace does.
For you see,I do not believe in everybody being a clone of everyone else.The world would be a terrible place if everyone would have to act like me,you,or George Bush.
That is why I am OK with diversity,some people have talents or sickneses others don't.I fight the envy in me everyday.I don't see the specialness of myself...or any special closeness to God,but I see it in the rich,the poor,the pretty(all have beauty)the bum on the street,the pro athlete,the crying baby,the people that mourne,I see God's hand in every one of these,but I can barely grasp in in myself
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