Enoch and Elijah

[MikeK]

So as a person living in this world today, what do I do to make it better tomorrow? How do I help starving children globally, help those displaced by war, ensure that the sick have the health care they need, the planet is cared for and able to sustain human life at these numbers, and people are treated justly regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or religion etc.? How do I use the tools at my disposal, like my ability to vote, the time and limited funds I can share, access to social media, etc, to change the world for the better?

Those are the exact sort of questions we should ask ourselves and be ready to answer at our judgement.

 

[pdudgeon]

So as a person living in this world today, what do I do to make it better tomorrow? How do I help starving children globally, help those displaced by war, ensure that the sick have the health care they need, the planet is cared for and able to sustain human life at these numbers, and people are treated justly regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or religion etc.? How do I use the tools at my disposal, like my ability to vote, the time and limited funds I can share, access to social media, etc, to change the world for the better?

the first step is to pray.
as a Catholic there are all sorts of opportunities to get involved with what is happening in the world. many of them could be right in your parish.
if you feel inclined to do so, there are children who need to be taught the elements of faith, there are babies to be loved in the nursery, there are homeless people to be fed and sheltered, there are wounded vets to be visited and encouraged, there are older people living alone who could use a helping hand, a visit, a card to let them know that they are remembered, or a ride to doctor's offices.
or you could contact your local voting registrar and offer to provide transportation to polling places or work on election day. there is roadside trash to pick up, churches to clean, novenas to pray, animal shelters that need volunteers, etc.

the main thing is to be available for God to use. His eyes are everywhere, and He knows who needs help.
and may God bless your work!

 

[benedictaoo]

So as a person living in this world today, what do I do to make it better tomorrow? How do I help starving children globally, help those displaced by war, ensure that the sick have the health care they need, the planet is cared for and able to sustain human life at these numbers, and people are treated justly regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or religion etc.? How do I use the tools at my disposal, like my ability to vote, the time and limited funds I can share, access to social media, etc, to change the world for the better?

Is there something about following Jesu's policies you disagree with? If we followed the Church's social justice teachings, you think that would be bad? Do you feel the laws giving us license to kill babies and even ourselves, is even necessary? Do you think same sex couples have to marry or they won't have equality? If they want the same legal rights as marrieds, that's fine, by why does it have to be called holy matrimony when it's literally an impossibility?

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

It's not that I disagree with them, it's just that I don't think that it's enough to say I'm pro life, for instance, when plenty of kids go to bed hungry, violence still rules part of the world, and drought and famine are causing global misery. I don't think it's enough to simply pray about those things either. If we can fix the world tomorrow, by being true to Christian values, then we need a plan as to how to apply those values.

Is there something about following Jesu's policies you disagree with? If we followed the Church's social justice teachings, you think that would be bad? Do you feel the laws giving us license to kill babies and even ourselves, is even necessary? Do you think same sex couples have to marry or they won't have equality? If they want the same legal rights as marrieds, that's fine, by why does it have to be called holy matrimony when it's literally an impossibility?

 

[pdudgeon]

It's not that I disagree with them, it's just that I don't think that it's enough to say I'm pro life, for instance, when plenty of kids go to bed hungry, violence still rules part of the world, and drought and famine are causing global misery. I don't think it's enough to simply pray about those things either. If we can fix the world tomorrow, by being true to Christian values, then we need a plan as to how to apply those values.

there are plenty of good Christian plans already out there, and people who are working on them and making a real difference.
you could be a part of that difference if you chose to do so.
what won't work is to believe that the problem is impossible to fix if it's not all fixed by tomorrow.

yes, children still go to bed hungry. but fewer of them are hungry tonight than were hungry last night or last week.
somebody fed them.

yes, violence still rules part of the world. but parts of the world where violence ruled in the past are peaceful now.
somebody is helping them, and teaching them new skills.

yes, drought and famine and floods and earthquakes and hurricanes and typhoons and fires are happening.
somebody is comming to the rescue to help, comfort, shelter, and feed them.

we can choose to see a bucket as being half empty, or we can choose to add a cup of water to that same bucket,
and with the help of others we can fill it up.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

there are plenty of good Christian plans already out there, and people who are working on them and making a real difference.
you could be a part of that difference if you chose to do so.
what won't work is to believe that the problem is impossible to fix if it's not all fixed by tomorrow.

yes, children still go to bed hungry. but fewer of them are hungry tonight than were hungry last night or last week.
somebody fed them.

yes, violence still rules part of the world. but parts of the world where violence ruled in the past are peaceful now.
somebody is helping them, and teaching them new skills.

yes, drought and famine and floods and earthquakes and hurricanes and typhoons and fires are happening.
somebody is comming to the rescue to help, comfort, shelter, and feed them.

we can choose to see a bucket as being half empty, or we can choose to add a cup of water to that same bucket,
and with the help of others we can fill it up.

We can all help individually, but it's clearly not enough, we must help collectively. But many of the things that are proposed to help on anything larger than an individual scale are regarded as sinful by some ..like taxes being used to help the poor. The claim was made that the world would change overnight if we all adopted Christian values today, and as I contemplate elections and other events where I have a small say in changing the world on a global scale, I wonder what the best path is.
I'll keep on with what I can do as an individual, but to really improve things I'll have to also look at what can be done on a larger scale.

 

[pdudgeon]

We can all help individually, but it's clearly not enough, we must help collectively. But many of the things that are proposed to help on anything larger than an individual scale are regarded as sinful by some ..like taxes being used to help the poor. The claim was made that the world would change overnight if we all adopted Christian values today, and as I contemplate elections and other events where I have a small say in changing the world on a global scale, I wonder what the best path is.
I'll keep on with what I can do as an individual, but to really improve things I'll have to also look at what can be done on a larger scale.

you're still not getting it. working with governments is not the answer here, and it never has been.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

you're still not getting it. working with governments is not the answer here, and it never has been.

I'm going to have to disagree, I think that problems and issues that we face are better solved by a collective, organized effort. Individuals should do what they can, but that also includes supporting larger efforts.

 

[MikeK]

you're still not getting it. working with governments is not the answer here, and it never has been.

Our Bishops' conference had repeatedly said that we should call on our government to help the least fortunate and to adopt programs that help those who cannot help themselves. Remember when we were called upon to contact President Obama and demand that certain illegal immigrants not be deported? There are many times when we are specifically called upon to demand government action that respects human life (the policies the Church calls for regarding gun control, abortion legislation, euthanasia, healthcare, the death penalty, nuclear weapons,etc are other examples). We can and should serve as individuals, and our governments must also serve.

 

[pdudgeon]

but from the beginning it was not so.
our governments, by their very nature, are secular.
and in this world of increasing secular involvement,
cries to them for compassion, justice, mercy, and pleas for life--in fact all cries from a moral viewpoint-- are increasingly falling on deaf ears.

It is God who hears those cries and who responds.
Sometimes He uses governents, sometimes groups of people, sometimes individuals.
Other times He responds directly.
But whatever the resource He uses, it is God who is the ultimate source of all good things.
God the Creator, the source of all life.

so those who look to help from the resources and honor them forget God,
the true source.

 

[benedictaoo]

It's not that I disagree with them, it's just that I don't think that it's enough to say I'm pro life, for instance, when plenty of kids go to bed hungry, violence still rules part of the world, and drought and famine are causing global misery. I don't think it's enough to simply pray about those things either. If we can fix the world tomorrow, by being true to Christian values, then we need a plan as to how to apply those values.

Well we're not going to fix things with man made sinful laws. This is what everyone here, people of faith, has been trying to say to you. We, man, can not do a darn thing apart from God. We need His blessing, we must work with God, respecting life (we kill babies, we do not respect life in all sincerity). You can try all you may on your own apart from God to make life better, you'll only get what you've been getting and that's failure. A worsening world, not better. People are still suffering, still hungry but hey, we kill babies, so there that. Its not about being pro life. Its about everyone understanding apart from God, we can do nothing. Its about understanding we have to run to God, not turn from Him.

 

[benedictaoo]

We can all help individually, but it's clearly not enough, we must help collectively. But many of the things that are proposed to help on anything larger than an individual scale are regarded as sinful by some ..like taxes being used to help the poor. The claim was made that the world would change overnight if we all adopted Christian values today, and as I contemplate elections and other events where I have a small say in changing the world on a global scale, I wonder what the best path is.
I'll keep on with what I can do as an individual, but to really improve things I'll have to also look at what can be done on a larger scale.

You can do nothing apart from God. You'll be trying in vain. It's when you turn to Him in faith, things will change.

 

[benedictaoo]

you're still not getting it. working with governments is not the answer here, and it never has been.

It can be if government, nations, the world would be converted to God and serve Him. Seek ye the kingdom of Heaven first and all these things will be added on to you... Until then, it's only the individual that can help.

 

[benedictaoo]

I'm going to have to disagree, I think that problems and issues that we face are better solved by a collective, organized effort. Individuals should do what they can, but that also includes supporting larger efforts.

Right. And imagine if they turn to God and serve Him first how this world would change before the next sun up. Can you not understand the whole reason why there is hunger and suffering in the world, still in 2015 with all the wealth and resources is because man is hard of heart. They turn away from God so this is what we get. The world must convert to God and that is the only way to end greed and a lack of caring for others.

 

[benedictaoo]

Our Bishops' conference had repeatedly said that we should call on our government to help the least fortunate and to adopt programs that help those who cannot help themselves. Remember when we were called upon to contact President Obama and demand that certain illegal immigrants not be deported? There are many times when we are specifically called upon to demand government action that respects human life (the policies the Church calls for regarding gun control, abortion legislation, euthanasia, healthcare, the death penalty, nuclear weapons,etc are other examples). We can and should serve as individuals, and our governments must also serve.

And unless the government listen to them, nothing will change. You know the call is also to rid the world of these abominable laws. Don't play like they are not also calling them this as well. Its only when we stop offending God will this world change. I wish, because you are a man of faith, I wish you would understand that from the same greed and hardness of heart that brings us abortion, its from that same hardness of heart we have world hunger and war. We have to be converted, the world.

 

[benedictaoo]

but from the beginning it was not so.
our governments, by their very nature, are secular.
and in this world of increasing secular involvement,
cries to them for compassion, justice, mercy, and pleas for life--in fact all cries from a moral viewpoint-- are increasingly falling on deaf ears.

It is God who hears those cries and who responds.
Sometimes He uses governents, sometimes groups of people, sometimes individuals.
Other times He responds directly.
But whatever the resource He uses, it is God who is the ultimate source of all good things.
God the Creator, the source of all life.

so those who look to help from the resources and honor them forget God,
the true source.

Crying to the government for help when we should be crying to God for help. Crying to the world, who Jesus says Satan is the prince... And what's the result of our going to the world for mercy? Death. Abortion, euthenasia, culture of crime and murder. Oh, how's looking to, crying to government for help working for us?? Sigh... We ask the government for life, they answer by giving us death. I hurt for those who are so blinded by lack of faith that they can not so clearly see, how we ask for life and are given death.

 

[MikeK]

And unless the government listen to them, nothing will change. You know the call is also to rid the world of these abominable laws. Don't play like they are not also calling them this as well. Its only when we stop offending God will this world change. I wish, because you are a man of faith, I wish you would understand that from the same greed and hardness of heart that brings us abortion, its from that same hardness of heart we have world hunger and war. We have to be converted, the world.

Uh, I do understand that. Nothing I've said should be taken to suggest otherwise.

 

[benedictaoo]

Uh, I do understand that. Nothing I've said should be taken to suggest otherwise.

You should explain this to Mountain Girl then, your post read as, yes we should look to government, the bishops look to government. No, they implore governments everywhere to look to God. That's the only way we will have peace on this earth. I don't think she understands the perspective of faith in God, our government, all governments conversion to faith in God almighty is the only solution to the world's problems. I mean how obvious is it? We look to the world and we get this culture of death as our answer. When are we going to wake up and get it?

 

[MikeK]

Actually, I think she gets it perfectly and that a few others are misunderstanding her, deliberately or otherwise.

 

[pdudgeon]

Actually, I think she gets it perfectly and that a few others are misunderstanding her, deliberately or otherwise.

she has said that she and I disagree on this subject,
and i would not argue with that conclusion.
she knows her own mind, and i know mine as well.