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**amberamuletuk** · 12-28-2007, 10:09 PM

I have come to the conclusion that there is definitely error in the church, it makes me mad! It makes me sad, it drives me to prayer, it brings tears to my eyes and a real ache in my heart! Many don't even seem to see it! God help me I do. I earnestly pray for our leadership, I can't judge their hearts, they cause me real concern and disappointment. I hope they have Love as their motivation, I know Christ will not abandon us as He promised to be with us to the end. God help us all.

INXC,
Seraphim

Dear Seraphim (or should I call you Elijah?), You ain't the only one! There's at least 7000 others.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus.... Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." (1 Kings 19) I understand how you're feeling. In fact, I sent Fr Raphael an almost identical pm some days ago. His reply to me was like medicine to my soul, so, I hope you won't mind if I share it with you:

We have to keep our heads down as it were, not to promote ignorance in ourselves, but rather to not be distracted by sights that in our eyes do not have their true shape in the larger context of the Church. This is very important, otherwise some occurrence, which is truly distressing in itself, is not seen in its proper way.

To see properly though we must strive to see with the eyes of Christ. This means first to not trust our own assessment of things and then to drive mistrust from our hearts. Then surely Christ in His own will show us where the truth of things is.

Which doesn't mean there are not trials or difficult things- but it does mean these things take on a completely different look inasmuch as we see them through the eyes of Christ. Indeed when you think of it this is how the Church is never overcome by our sin. It is continually overcoming it through its life in Christ.

In Christ- Fr Raphael I get bogged down by details, and forget the larger picture. The larger picture starts way back at the time of the Apostles and continues to this day. Isn't it mind boggling to thing that all of our sins in all these 1000s of years still haven't destroyed the Church? Isn't it amazing that we still find healing when we go to Church, Confess, and partake of the Eucharist? In that respect, nothing has changed in the Church.

I'm glad your concerns are leading you to pray for our leadership. I'm with you. For a long time, I didn't think it made any difference if I prayed for them or not, so I didn't. But I've decided to let God be the judge of that, and I just pray.

His promises are true. We will not be overcome by the gates of Hades, not even by our own sins.

Peace in Christ,
Mary.

12-28-2007, 10:09 PM	#34
amberamuletuk Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 363 Senior Member	I have come to the conclusion that there is definitely error in the church, it makes me mad! It makes me sad, it drives me to prayer, it brings tears to my eyes and a real ache in my heart! Many don't even seem to see it! God help me I do. I earnestly pray for our leadership, I can't judge their hearts, they cause me real concern and disappointment. I hope they have Love as their motivation, I know Christ will not abandon us as He promised to be with us to the end. God help us all. INXC, Seraphim Dear Seraphim (or should I call you Elijah?), You ain't the only one! There's at least 7000 others. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus.... Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." (1 Kings 19) I understand how you're feeling. In fact, I sent Fr Raphael an almost identical pm some days ago. His reply to me was like medicine to my soul, so, I hope you won't mind if I share it with you: We have to keep our heads down as it were, not to promote ignorance in ourselves, but rather to not be distracted by sights that in our eyes do not have their true shape in the larger context of the Church. This is very important, otherwise some occurrence, which is truly distressing in itself, is not seen in its proper way. To see properly though we must strive to see with the eyes of Christ. This means first to not trust our own assessment of things and then to drive mistrust from our hearts. Then surely Christ in His own will show us where the truth of things is. Which doesn't mean there are not trials or difficult things- but it does mean these things take on a completely different look inasmuch as we see them through the eyes of Christ. Indeed when you think of it this is how the Church is never overcome by our sin. It is continually overcoming it through its life in Christ. In Christ- Fr Raphael I get bogged down by details, and forget the larger picture. The larger picture starts way back at the time of the Apostles and continues to this day. Isn't it mind boggling to thing that all of our sins in all these 1000s of years still haven't destroyed the Church? Isn't it amazing that we still find healing when we go to Church, Confess, and partake of the Eucharist? In that respect, nothing has changed in the Church. I'm glad your concerns are leading you to pray for our leadership. I'm with you. For a long time, I didn't think it made any difference if I prayed for them or not, so I didn't. But I've decided to let God be the judge of that, and I just pray. His promises are true. We will not be overcome by the gates of Hades, not even by our own sins. Peace in Christ, Mary.
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