Should a Church be afraid people might leave them if they teach the true faith?

Question

For instance if they instruct their parishoners in how to act in their private lives? I thought that was what it was all about. Not just in how they should be IN Church. Do you think it's right that a priest instruct someone to desist in provacative and shady actions?

Answer 1

absolutely not, God is not a respecter of persons, people should not worry about worldly events.Everyone has the option of listening to the word of God, some people are too selfish with sin,lust and what the world thinks when they don't realize that their time on earth is nothing compared to eternity

Answer 2

I think instruction is one thing. Insistance is another. With instruction, the individual can still choose to take it or leave it, but will at least know where their church stands on the issue. So I suppose a priest could "instruct" someone to, for example, stop sleeping around with so many men. But for the instruction to be really effective, I think the priest needs to have better reason than "Because the bible said so" or "Because God doesn't like it." I mean - those can be reasons, sure, but there are often really good, common sense, real world reasons why people should not partake in certain activities. Like sleeping around can be the manifestation of lack of respect for oneself, and it opens the individual up to unwanted pregnancy and STDs. Drug use can be harmful to one's health. Over eating can be harmful to one's health. Adultry can destroy marriages and families and so on. Just a thought.

Answer 3

the priest as leader of the parish has a responsibility to the faithful in the area,as the rank goes (priest, up to pope) the responsibility grows as does the accountability of the actions. fr. corapi gives a great sermon on this(should be able to find it on ewtn.com, can't find the link sorry). by and large you are right, why go to church if you are just going to be christian in church that is why the catholic mass is beautiful from beginning to end especially "go in peace to serve the lord" and we all know the response. confession is a great example in which the priest can guide and instruct individually. how peaceful it is to know that even our pope must go to confession. there is always to a degree the concern that someone may be lost when taught or instructed in the true faith. the intentions of the priest are not in the least wrong when instructing someone. god bless.

Answer 4

Well... for starters... im only 16 but here is my view of this.

Religion is the belief that there is a higher power than that which we hold our selves. Once we believe in this supreme being(s) we find our selves in a sense of secureness which helps us live everyday. Once we get into a hole we look for help and rely on our religion. If we don't have something to ponder upon we can't do anything. For example; Christians and Catholics have been arguing about which religion is the true religion... well let me tell you something - One came from the other while the other does not follow the rules in their own Bible... now how do we make sense of that? Now as to teaching true faith... there is no true faith but that which you hold in your mind. Psychologically speaking - You hold a concept true and reliable if you believe it your self. Ask a religious person if their god truly exists and they will say yes. Ask them if you can see him and they will tell you yes. But tell them to show them to you... it's the same way with faith. You can't see it but you know its true. However... NO, the church should not be afraid to teach what they believe their faith TRULY MEANS - Notice that its not saying true faith but what it really means ;). The truly religious people will stay whilst the imps will leave once they hear the word. Remember, we never like to hear our defects and that is what religion makes us change as well. I know this is getting long but I have one more thing to say.

As to personal life - It can't be helped. Many religions limit women and men to certain types of clothing and hair styles while others let them do what they want. Let's not ponder on what will happen but let's think about how we can fix it. Instead of " making them " - "Encourage them" - This way it will be a transition they will make without really looking at it.

I hope this somewhat makes you think a bit more and give your self an answer since religion has a way of never having an answer but rather has various possible answers ;p. If you want to chat some more you can always E-mail me.

Answer 5

No the Church should not be afraid of people leaving if they taught the true faith. In fact they should expect it. If we truly believe the Church leaders are representatives of God then we should not fear or reject them telling us how to live our lives. Priest's or Christian's leaders if you will have a God directed duty to instruct us else they are not fulfilling their duty to God and us. There are Bible versus that warn those in these positions and teachers too will be judged very strictly and it would be better for them on the day of judgment to tie a mill stone around their neck and go for a swim than to lead people astray or lead them poorly. Finally, those that do not obey the leaders should remove themselves from the body or be removed by the leaders. Oh, and through separation of Church and State the Government should not allow any lawsuits to be filed for those that think they got the bums rush.

Answer 6

I suspect most people will answer that the clergy should stay out of the parishioners' private lives. I completely disagree. I think a Christian minister has an obligation to ensure his flock are living according to the gospel. I am really disgusted that so many churches these days will let people come to church and worship the Lord and then go home to have sex with their partners to whom they are not married. That's why I belong to a church which preaches morality and excommunicates those who mock the Lord by proclaiming him with their mouths when their hearts are far from him. Those engaging in serious sin (Adultery, child abuse, drug taking) who are not permitted to belong to the church until they repent and change their ways. (Although not belonging doesn't mean they can't attend,)

Answer 7

the church is a private orginization. and as such can run itself however it sees fit.

but at the same time they are subject to the will of the people that support them.

recent example..

you can fire your choir leader and organist because she sells sex toys for a living.

but you cannot stop a loyal choir from quitting your church when you do.

the congregation usually elevates the choir to just under the Priest in status in the church. thes many will follow the whims of the choir.

and when friends start talking, more will decide that the church is not right for them...

you have to keep the people happy in an orginization that depends on THEIR money.

Answer 8

It depends if the actions reflect the entire body... to me the line is drawn when it comes to folks private lives. After all you can never know what everyone is really doing in their private lives and who knows what that priest might be doing? He's another person. General scriptural guidelines YES, but no intrusiveness.

Answer 9

Of course it's right. Priests are the shepherds of the flock, and it is the duty of a shepherd to try to steer members of the flock away from dangerous situations. For a priest to know of such a situation and do nothing would be irresponsible at best.

Answer 10

Churches will teach in a manner that generates the greatest revenue. Christianity is fed highly on feelings of guilt and fear. That's why they preach sin and condemnation.

The Church of the True Faith will stick to morals and not budge one bit. The Worthy shall be truly Worthy and not spoonfed sugarcoated lies in exchange for cold hard cash.