Author Topic: Are unrepentant sinners "Christians" (Read 1267 times)

MrsZ · « **on:** February 01, 2013, 07:52:10 PM »

How can an unrepentant sinner be a "Christian" ?

My relative told me the other day that another relative who is living in sin with a woman he left his second wife for ... is a "Christian." This doesn't make sense to me. If you are a Christian, you repent of your sin(s) and stop doing the thing that is a sin. This man has not done this.

Is it right to refer to him as a Christian?

songbird · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2013, 09:39:39 PM »

You are right, he is no follower of Christ. Some people may purposely say things to get you "stirred". They want to get your reaction! For example: I have nothing good to say about a ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ, my own mother called them "children of God." I told my mother, "say that to your daughter----, who's husband was a ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ before they married and she will tell you it was no marriage and he was a liar!

MrsZ · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2013, 03:50:55 PM »

I think this derives from the belief of some Protestants that "once saved, always saved" and that they can literally do nothing to earn or lose their salvation.

I guess it's really not a place for us to even comment on the situation, "these things should not even be spoken among you" ... but it's difficult when this type of behavior is all around and there are apologists for it as well.

If you say anything though you get the response that we're all sinners and who are we to judge another. The fact that they are currently in a state of mortal sin and would not go to heaven if they were to die in this condition is considered to be an extreme response to a personal situation.

The individual in question is also very "nice." He told my relative that he's come in the morning to see her crying while she reads her Bible. So, see she has feelings and she's just so full of love and everything that she is just not at fault in any way for the circuмstances. The whole relationship between the two of them is just love, love and more love.

I just want to further isolate myself and just try to not see or hear any of this.

rowsofvoices9 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2013, 04:39:36 PM »

Probably while they live they are to be considered Christians because the Church is full of unrepentant sinners. I'm sure there is much Christian doctrine that they do believe.

songbird · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2013, 04:45:16 PM »

Yes, the situation is deplorable! the Protestants think, "All I have to do is say I believe and I am saved, and Christ died for all my sins." Does it make any sense to them that they can commit the most foul of sins and they are saved?! How stupid. For those I think and say, "Well I guess Christ came in vain!" as St Paul is famous for saying. His Precious Blood is the Power in all the 7 sacraments and it is up to us to go to the Precious Blood, to be saved. Yes, I would keep my distance. But the one who was betrayed, rejected needs help. As for him, he does too, but his mind is aloof with the devil.

MrsZ · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2013, 05:40:25 PM »

And yet, those mired in sins of the flesh are not as much to blame or will be held to as harsh of judgment as those who act in pride and judge them as being sinners. So I am sinning "worse" here for commenting on this than they are who are living in adultery. Now I guess my main fault here is talking about it, stating that they are living in sin and that they are in a very dangerous spiritual place.

I'm not acting in charity because of this. The girlfriend is kind and loving, she only has done what she has done because she wants to be loved. She has not actually committed a real "sin" here because while maybe misguided, she was only acting out of her weakness and need.

I, on the other hand, am a harsh critic, prone to fault finding and legalism. I minded someone else's business by noticing what appears to be a very serious transgression and questioning it.

This is what I'm struggling with....and the only way to function is to close my eyes and ears (and definitely close my mouth!) to all of that and focus on my own life.

It's only a problem when I have to go to their house. Or other situations of a similar nature. But then I've been admonished with the "Jesus ate with sinners.." who are YOU to feel discomfort with this situation? It's their problem, not yours. You're called to be an example of the Faith. That's it.

And so it goes.

MrsZ · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2013, 05:50:15 PM »

And back to Confession I go. Thank God for it!

Telesphorus · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2013, 05:50:39 PM »

You know they're talking nonsense. I noticed reading something from my high school today that these liberal "Catholics" are living in a bubble world where anything that disrupts their mutual "affirmation" is greeted as though it was some sort of horrible nails on chalkboard sound.

The most important thing to do is to fortify yourself and not let it bother you.

This society will overwhelm anyone who thinks he can convert it. You'd be lucky to find even a few sympathetic people. The days when large numbers of people could be roused to support any sort of traditional position are over.

Ambrose · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2013, 06:44:01 PM »

When we have a Pope again and the hierarchy is fully restored, the Church will shine again and pierce the hearts of sinners with the truth.

In this garden of souls, saints with heroic virtue and the gift of miracles will surely appear on the world scene again, demonstrating the truth of the Faith.

Our job at the moment is to keep the Faith, and help those few who will still listen. We also must keep praying, especially for God to send us a Pope.

Things will not get better, it will only continue to get worse, until a Pope comes again.