The Push and Pull

[CelticMetal]

I walked away from the church over a decade ago, mostly due to the priest scandal. And some theological disagreements.

Over the years, I keep feeling the pull back to the church. But I just feel like I can't go back. I'm a total a**hole, ruin relationships, hurt people, swear, drink, smoke. I'm the most un-"Christ-like" person you'll probably ever meet.

I have no idea how to live like a Catholic when I'm a total prick. I have no idea how to change my behavior. I'm just so torn.

 

[Thunder Peel]

Instead of worrying about being Catholic, you need to focus on being a Christian. The denomination isn't what's important, whether you identify as Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, etc.

Spend time in prayer and read The Bible. Jesus said that all who believe in Him will be saved. Start there and everything else will fall into place.

 

[Tigerfan01]

I was raised Catholic, but never truly felt my life change until I started seeking a true relationship with God. It took me coming to a point where I didn't know what else to do or where to turn. I grabbed a Bible in a translation that I could understand and took a couple verses at a time. Maybe you need to forget about the formalities and just make it about you and God. Worked for me.

 

[Sketcher]

You're not too bad to return. You don't clean up so that you can return, you return and then you get clean.

 

[look4hope]

@CelticMetal

This might sound painfully simple and like a cliché. Plunge back into it. Like @Tigerfan01 said, forget about formalities and just make it about you and God.

 

[Brianlear]

I'd hang out with you if you came back to my church.

 

[Kayeliz]

I havethe same problem because I have generalized anxiety. Anxiety is something Christians shouldn't have and I know that and I know this makes me incredibly flawed as a Christian - if God wants me in that state which I am in. But I still joined a church, figuring that if I want the chance of getting better, it is much more likely to happen with God than without Him. When I die, whether that is soon or in several decades, maybe I will find out that God turns away from me and tells me He doesn't know me because of the anxiety. But then at least I have tried to know Him.

 

[Tigerfan01]

I havethe same problem because I have generalized anxiety. Anxiety is something Christians shouldn't have and I know that and I know this makes me incredibly flawed as a Christian - if God wants me in that state which I am in. But I still joined a church, figuring that if I want the chance of getting better, it is much more likely to happen with God than without Him. When I die, whether that is soon or in several decades, maybe I will find out that God turns away from me and tells me He doesn't know me because of the anxiety. But then at least I have tried to know Him.

Anxiety is definitely a long struggle. Seems to be better one day then hits u like a freight train the next. God said to worry about nothing, but instead pray about everything. For can worrying add a single second to your life? I've read that 1000 times, but it's not that easy sometimes. God will never turn His back on you. If you accept that Jesus gave his life for you, God sees you as a new creation,flawless. It's a constant battle, but just keep fighting. God knows everything u go through.