Living on the edge?

Hmmmmmm.....tough question to answer. How does one "live on the edge?" I mean, I would think that one was either sinning or not sinning, right?

I know what it is to be living hypocritically. I know what it is to have a besetting sin, if that is what you are talking about.

Could you perhaps clarify a bit more?

Cordially in Christ and the Blessed Virgin,

Brother Ed

 

a besetting sin

______________________________________________

In simple form,,,,yielding to temptation

Cheers,

Jim

 

Besetting sin (a term I learned as a Fundamentalist) is not just yielding to sin. It is yielding over and over and over and over and over and over......

And no matter how guilty you feel next day, how you hate that you give in so easily, how you sense the frown of God hot upon your back, the very next time that same sin knocks on your door, you smile and let it in...

THAT is besetting sin.

Brother Ed

 

Sherrie!

Livin' on the edge????? I try not to move around too, too much until the firemen arrive--and I just hope they ain't out to lunch--which too many of us are!!

I've got a buddy of mine that was Chaplain of the Baton Rouge Fire Department--get the picture, now! Lots of times they'd be called out--somebody is threatenin' to jump off of the state capitol building(33 stories high) or off of the Mississippi River bridge--and he'd go in and try to talk and reason them out of doin' what it is they're tryin' to do!!

Isaiah 1: 18-19 says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land."

1 John 1: 9 is the New Testament version of that Old Testament verse--"But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

On the edge?? Don't move around much until Heaven's Chaplain gets there. He knows what we feel even before He receives the call---

Your brother,
Blackbird

 

Sherrie --

I have been pondering an answer to your last question all day. The situation your friend is in constitutes a real misery for her, and I don't want to just give a glib answer that seems that I am trying to ram Catholic doctrine down your throat while ignoring the real and substantive pain your friend is going through.

At the same time, I have been where she is now and I have had the experience of coming to a point of victory in my life THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

Let me say that again....THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

It was certainly not through anything which was of me, since my only inclination was to repeat this sin as often as it came knocking on my door for a date.

The thing that is interesting to me, and all I can do is to relate my personal story, is that when I joined the Church and began to recieve Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I began to notice a serious reduction in the power this sin had over me, along with an improvement in my overall demeanor towards others (although that still has MILES to go).

Honest Sherrie, I went to a Christian "support group" for 4 years and NOTHING happened, but when I joined the Church, things began to change. It is indeed circumstantial evidence, but I just believe that coming into intimate contact with Jesus has done this for me.

I would like to 'splain to you further, but as I said at the beginning, I am not trying to be a boorish snot and ram Catholic theology down your throat when you are looking for answers for a hurting friend. Therefore, all I can do at this time is tell you what worked for me.

I must say, in closing, that it has taken a bit of time to adjust to this new life. It is strange to have a sinful habit, live with it as if it is part of you, and then have it just leave. Takes a bit of adjustment. Oh, and the temptations still come around. They are just much easier to say a firm "NO!!" to.

Cordially in Christ,

Brother Ed

 

Sherie

I sin, but understanding the following has helped me battle sin.

Just as true faith manifests itself in works, true sorrow manifests itself in works.

If you are truly sorry you will try to repair any wrong you have commited to the best of your ability. Has your friend truly done this?

Does she pray every day about her sin.

You will also make a firm commitment to turn away from your sin and to avoid things that may tempt you to repeat this sin movies, magazines, etc. I think to repent literally means to turn away from evil. For a Catholic atleast to go into the confessional and ask Jesus for forgiveness and the grace to overcome these sins when we haven't truly repented would be a sacrlidge and just add to our problems.

All of us must deal with our dark thoughts, weak wills, and disordered desires that can lead to sin, we all have them. This is called concupiscence. How does your friend deal with her concupiscence. Does she turn away from them the moment they enter her mind or does she let these disordered thoughts start to burn in her mind.

For example, when a man sees a beautiful scantily clad women, concupiscence might lead him to view this women as a sexual object, but he now has a choice does he let these thoughts start to burn in his mind, a sin, or do he instantly recognize these thoughts as evil and try to look at this women as God does, a child of God, a daughter, a sister, a mother. Denying your self these silent perversions is critical. Jesus will give you the grace so that this becomes no effort at all you just have to accept it.

Our culture is not much in for self mastery, instead it promotes instant gratification, where we can satisfy these disordered desires instantly. Does your friend fast, does she offer up her suffering? Does she use birth control? Does she practice any sort of self mastery at all.In the end the only true way to master yourself is to turn over the Mastery to God. Maybe she should start with some fasting.

If your friend was a Catholic, I would add to partake of the Sacraments frequently they are channels of God's grace.

I hope this helps even a little.

God Bless

[ May 11, 2003, 03:33 PM: Message edited by: Born Again Catholic ]

 

Rom.14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

 

Sherrie,
I was an alcoholic when The Lord set me free. Almost immediatly, the desire and craving for drink was gone. As I became involved in the Church, I met many Christians who felt that it was ok to drink in moderation, which it may be for them. I felt it would be alright for me as well. I thought if I just drank in moderation, I would be able to handle it. Before long, I was right back where I started, only this time, I was leading a double life. The only way I was able to overcome it was to turn it completely over to Jesus. I don't have the strength on my own to overcome this temptation, but with Jesus, I can always overcome it

I believe the same is true for your friend. Whatever her struggle is, if she will give it to Jesus, He will give her the strength to overcome it.

Love in Christ,
Larry

 

In order to overcome sin, we need the grace of God, which is the life of the Blessed Trinity. We receive this life of grace in two ways: sacrament and prayer. The two sacraments of healing, which have helped me in overcoming sin are 1. The Eucharist and 2. Confession/Penance. And then, of course, daily prayer is essential.

I've been addicted to sin; I've made a good confession and experienced not only the divine mercy but also the power to stop sinning; I've been set free.

Really, Confession and Eucharist are jewels in the spiritual life; they are abundant gifts of life that nourish our spiritual lives with supernatural fuel.

 

Better it is to learn your Bible than to learn your catechism.

Psalm119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

Grace: "the free unmerited favor of God"
Grace: God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

There are no sacraments in the Bible. The word isn't even found in the bible, neither the concept. Grace is not found in, nor dispensed through sacraments. It is the free unmerited favor of God. It is not and cannot be earned in anyway. If it could, it would not be grace.
You can be like a Muslim: beat your chest til the blood runs out (a form of penance), but that will not draw you any closer to God.

Confession to who?? A sinful priest who just may be a pedophile! Sorry for being harsh, but the Catholic hierarchy for confessing sin is a farce. The Bible teaches the priesthood of the believer, not the priesthood of the Catholic priest. There is a big difference. Every believer can come straight to God without the mediation of a priest.

Heb.4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
--Christ is our high priest. We (born-again believers) are all priests

Rev.1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1Pet.2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
--As a believer in Christ, I have no need of any other priesthood. I go straight to Christ. He alone is my mediator. The Catholic Church cannot help me with my infirmities, but Christ can.

Let me sum that little paragraph up for you in just one succinct word: "Hogwash!"

John 8:30-32
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
DHK

 

Sister, what you have on your hands with this friend is a real problem that is growin' like wildfire throughout the world. I have had run-ins with the homosexuel agenda with at two to three dozen women in the area--I believe its part of the growing problem of lack of wisdom and understanding and a lack of self control and a growing problem of people becoming "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" They exchange the truth of God's word for a lie and God is giving them up to a repobate mind--the thought is the father of the deed!

My wife and I were eating lunch in a resterant with two of our church ladies--when in comes one lady known as a lesbian with three other ladies with her. One of the ladies eating lunch with us looks at me and asks, "What is she doing here??" to which I reply, "I imagine she is propagatin' her species!"

Romans Chapter One is going to be true even if everybody turns against it--its going to be true. God will give them up to practice in the flesh what is being harbored in their minds!! The thought is the father of the deed!! The thought is the father of the deed!!

Sister, I will pray for this buddy of yours. We don't have much time till Jesus comes and too many firemen are out to lunch!

Brother Blackbird