2006-08-05 02:55:48 · 11 answers · asked by gasp 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That depends totally upon whether you are being close to God because it is the accepted view or way and everyone else is doing it or if you have sought the 'truth' for yourself and feel the closeness.
I don't mean to offend, but the mass reprodution of religion and jumping on the bandwagon of religion to be accepted in society as going down the right path, I feel is much more delusional than the person who seeks the truth. Even Jesus said to doubt and seek the truth for ourselves.
2006-08-05 03:05:08 · answer #1 · answered by arvecar 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You most probably are deluding yourself.
Do you know how many people in this world are responsible for murdering the soul of others?
They then go to mosque and ask for forgiveness and repent. What is that? Deluding themselves?
Same thing in this case too.
2006-08-05 09:59:59 · answer #2 · answered by crazy s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To help answer your question I will put a spin on my favorite rock drummer's quote, Neil Peart of Rush, from his novel. He wrote a book entitled "Ghost Rider: Life on the Healing Road". In it he spoke of his plans to ride his motorcycle great distances. But He noted that there is the illusion of doing this and the reality of doing this. There is a difference between the two; illusion and reality. The difference is one has no consequences and the other does.
So it is with our life with God. If we are deluding ourself then we picture a life with God that has no consequences. A lot of Christians believe life with God is this way, yet the consequence of Christ taking on our flesh and living among us was His death by our hands. He was sent on a mission to redeem us and this mission was no delusion for He knew there were consequences to it.
As a Catholic I have lived a life of faith that is filled with consequences. I was beaten up several times as a child because of the color of my skin (I am a causcasion and living in South Texas). And yet in living close to God and imitating Him, I have never hated those who hurt or insult me (and even as a priest I still get insulted). I have been hated by my own country and countries abroad when I was with the Marines in Panama, Haiti, the First Gulf War, and the revolution in Liberia. Never have I hated the people.
And so, I think that we know we are close to God and not deluding ourselves because of the consequences we encounter, but not only this alone. The Christian knows they are close to God when they are able to bear and overcome (with God's grace) the consequences of loving a fearful world. Which is to be insulted by them, to experience their prejudice against us, to be estranged by them, to feel their indifference to us, and die by their violence towards us for loving them.
If one can bear all this then they know they are not delusional.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May the Lord shine His face upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john
2006-08-05 10:49:02 · answer #3 · answered by som 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your mind is always about of how are you going to increase your good attitude (that God loves). Ask your self about anything you didn't know. If finally you find the answer, believe me, you are loved by Him. As, everything people don't know are known by God. Bless you!!
2006-08-05 10:04:00 · answer #4 · answered by Yohanes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot know you are close to God unless a conservative fundamentalist-evangelical Christian tells you that you are living right. They are the only ones who know God's mind.
2006-08-05 10:02:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what do you mean close to GOD, you'll never be on the same level. But you can be close to GOD, because GOD is air breathe, and flowers you look at, GOD is nature...
2006-08-05 10:00:27 · answer #6 · answered by clovisfleischhund 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I follow His teachings, ask for the Holy Spirit to help me and receive Jesus in the Sacrament of the Mass--the Holy Eucharist--I also TRUST IN HIM.
2006-08-05 09:58:55 · answer #7 · answered by CatholicMOM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everytime I pray to Christ, good things come to me without asking. So I know his Father is watching over me.
2006-08-05 10:00:20 · answer #8 · answered by alabamalady813 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
god is close to all of us just try to listen to him
by diffrent sign ,which he send us ,when we need &
when he knows that we need him .although we need
him always.
2006-08-05 10:04:13 · answer #9 · answered by behnoush_k_1976 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are ever the sole survivor in a foxhole, you will know.
2006-08-05 10:01:12 · answer #10 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋