Help! I am confused about my Christan values?!?

Question

I was rasied Catholic, but recently have had some questions regarding my faith. It's hard to explain, but lately I have felt uncomfortable in Church. It just seems like it's so hard to maintain Christan values, I feel like I can never be good enough.

Answer 1

You really should start by asking your priest or lay leader any questions that you might have about your faith.
Noone can ever be good enough that is why it is not up to us but God. You see Jesus paid the price for all of our sins. We just need to confess our sins to God and one another to be healed.
I sure hope that this has helped you!

Answer 2

If you have questions about your faith, then logically you shoud go see your priest and speak to him about that. However . . ., from what I've observed of priests--sorry to say this--most don't know a hill of beans about what's in the Bible! I know they're taught church doctrine in divinity school, but that's not the same as what's in the Bible, for the most part.
Yes, it IS hard to maintain Christian values in a world with moral values that are on a quick downward spiral. Why? Because it's in Satan's control.--2 Corinthians 4: 3, 4. So, you are one individual trying to fight a losing battle with unseen superhuman forces, like everyone else. Find someone who can tell you what the Bible says, without all the hooplah of church doctrine. Don't try to go it alone. And don't give up easily; one of Satan's best devices to nip a Bible-based faith in the bud is discouragement.

Answer 3

What do you mean Christian values? I do not wish to attack Catholicism, but will say that many Churches tend to add extra stuff into their dogma that is not outlined in the Bible. Granted they are usually to help, but it can cause doubt not unlike what you are experiencing.

Example: The Nazarenes used to frown on Movies and Dancing. Catholics believe in "hail Mary's" for absolving sin. Some Baptist have a once saved approach. etc...

If you are feeling uncomfortable you need to figure out why you are feeling this way. You are right in one regard none of us can be good enough. Thankfully we have an advocate to speak for us and he is good enough. But, this does not mean we get a free ticket to sin and all forms of indulgences. We have a duty to act like a Christian and do as God has instructed us to do while we still have time.

If you believe it is your Church then I suggest going on a quest to find a good Bible believing Church that lives up to what it reads. You will notice I am not telling you my Church because I do not want you to think I have said all the above to pull you into my type of Church. Seek and you shall find...believe it.

Answer 4

How much of your life is Gods way and the teaching of the church? Are you in mortal sin when receiving the Eucharist ? Do you have a prayer life? Do you fast and do penance?
We all fall and come short of the Glory of God. There are times I feel the same way and its usually because of a sin that i have committed. What I do is go to confession to receive a new infusion of Gods mercy, never doubt Gods mercy. You must have a strong love for God otherwise you would not feel so inadequate. Are you going to mass EVERY Sunday for the love of God and not out of habit?. Maybe also you can try to do something good for someone else. Just remember God loves you with faithful love even when and especially when we are miserably unfaithful. Fight the good fight St. Paul said to the end.
God love you

Answer 5

You are right, you will never be good enough. That is why we have the perfect sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.
Joh 14:6 Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.
With Christ we are "good enough" to go directly to God with no intercessor.
John 16:23 When that day comes, you won’t ask me any more questions. I can guarantee this truth: If you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you.
26 When that day comes, you will ask for what you want in my name. I’m telling you that I won’t have to ask the Father for you.
Also, study Christ's teachings and make sure you aren't following the traditions of man. Every church has pet doctrines that they push off on people which can leave a person feeling dissatisfied as you do now.
John 15:10 If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love.
If you haven't done so already, ask Jesus for forgiveness of your sins and commit to following his teachings.

Answer 6

Being "good" isn't the standard for entry to heaven. If a person stands before God and thinks that their righteousness or good deeds or the way they lived their life will gain them a right standing before God they are mistaken.

+But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6 KJV HOLY BIBLE

|| A filthy rag was a rag that was used to cover sores that had puss and blood on them and then were discarded where they fell. Can you just look at the site of this rag and the smell that comes off of it. Well that is our righteousness. We have no righteousness. Jesus Christ better be your only hope or you have no hope. ||

++For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV HOLY BIBLE

+++So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV HOLY BIBLE

Answer 7

You may want to explore more religions. For example, when I was growing up then I went to a Jehovah's Witness church and then I fell out of church then 6 yrs ago I started back but this time I went to a baptist church. I felt more of a spiritual feeling at this baptist church then I did at the Jehovah's Witness church so what you might be experiencing is a different type of faith that you might get at an example- a baptist church or other religion. You must take this opprutunity to explore different faiths.

Answer 8

I don't know what you have been taught about salvation, but the Bible teaches that you are not saved by being "good enough." You are saved through faith, not works.
We are saved by grace alone. Recall that in Acts 16:31 the jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved. They responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." The jailer believed and immediately became saved.
Close to 200 times in the New Testament salvation is said to be by faith alone - with no works in sight. Consider the following:
John 3:15 tells us that "everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
John 5:24 says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
In John 11:25 Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
John 23:46 says, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 20:31 says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
If salvation were not by faith alone, then Jesus' message in the Gospel of John - manifest in the above quotations - would be deceptive, stating that there is one condition for salvation when there are allegedly two - faith and works.
I must emphasize that we are saved by faith for for works. Works are not the condition of our salvation, but a consequence of it We are saved not by works, but by the kind of faith that produces works.

Eph 2:8-10 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this: It is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Answer 9

I don't think what you're going through is unnatural. I was raised Catholic as well, but after a while I also began to question my beliefs, and I decided that Catholicism wasn't for me. I'm not trying to persuade you one way or the other, but I think you should consider your options, and if it is not right for you, then there are other options available. You don't have to be Catholic to believe in God. I'm sure if you truly believe in God, he will love you no matter what you decide.

Answer 10

The Christian should live to please God - compelled by love and gratitude for what He has done for us, His sacrifice on our behalf. We can never be good enough to atone for our own sin, otherwise Jesus never would have had to die for us. So in response to your question about being good enough I remind you brother that we are saved because of God's grace - it is a free gift to all who would receive it. Therefore, confess your sin before God, know that He loves you, and embrace Him.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Answer 11

You are right, you can't be good enough, that is why Jesus died and his blood was spilled to be the atonement or payment for your sins so you can be forgiven, and stand clean before God. Read your New Testament, expecially all the books by John (St. John, 1st, 2nd and 3rd John). Invite Jesus into your life to guide you and be your friend. - yes your friend. He is not your enemy.
Tom L