I'm posting four more answers to your questions for our second attempt at "Ask Father Rudy". I
welcome your questions and will try to answer them for you. Feel free to
ask more questions via comment, message on facebook (www.facebook.com/olgbronx), direct message on twitter (www.twitter.com/olgbronx) or e-mail olgnsgbronx@gmail.com. I can't wait to respond to the next set of questions next week Wednesday. Stay tuned!
God Bless You Family in Christ.
Question
1:
Primarily, I was (what I now realize) a church
fanatic. I had read the Bible daily – Correction – memorized it. I’m now an
atheist. I feel I don’t know enough to say with confidence that God doesn’t
exist. My question is: Why is it that people, when things go well, praise God,
but there’s no credit to God when things go wrong? God does smite.
We can
only appreciate the results of "when things go wrong" after they have
happened; we have grown, and can look back and realize that yes, this or that incident,
problem issue happened for a reason. Through our perseverance and faith
we get through it and can realize that God was there all along. When
things are going wrong, it’s hard to praise God; yet if we have a strong faith,
deep down we KNOW that God is in charge, we are not, and he WILL take care
of us. BTW: If you feel with confidence that you cannot say
that God does not exist then you are not an atheist! Hang in there and be
open to God's love for YOU.
Question 2:
Question 2:
Can you break down tithing responsibilities
especially in these trying economic times and financial responsibilities people
have in their household?
Tithing is not only scriptural, but
it is also a test of our faith in God. Logically, if we are facing hard
times, as all are in this economy, it’s difficult to see how we can give 5% of
what we make to God's church and 5% to a charity; and yet, when we DO, it all
comes back in one way or another as God has promised, see the following: and
test God when you give back to Him from what he has given to you..
·
Proverbs
3:9 (ESV)9 Honor the Lord
with your wealth
and with the first fruits of all your produce
and with the first fruits of all your produce
·
Malachi 3:1010 Bring
the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And
thereby put me to the test, says the Lord
of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for
you a blessing until there is no more need.
·
2
Corinthians 9:7 7 Each one must give as he has
decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver.
Question
3:
How does one become an authentically caring person
without burning out, being taken advantage of, or an enabler?
One becomes a caring person when one truly sees
Christ in those whom He puts in our path to care for, while at the same time
seeking time and caring from others ourselves. We need to value ourselves,
and care for our own needs before or better yet, while caring for
others...."love God and neighbor AS you love yourself."
Question
4:
I’m married to a non-Catholic. My partner and I are
having a hard time raising coming to an agreement with how to raise our child
and nurture them spiritually. My partner is a practicing Muslim, but, in
general, what do you suggest as things we should reflect on to come to some
sort of compromise if possible?
As a Catholic you took on the responsibility of
raising your children Catholic and your husband should have been informed of
this; thus baptizing your children and bringing them up in the faith.
Practically, this may be difficult, yet that is still YOUR responsibility.
Along with that, you can take whatever credences involve the law of LOVE which
comes from each faith and teach your child to be loving, compassionate, and
good. If both of you are strong in each of your faiths, you will be able
to do this: respecting one another and wanting the best for your child.
Fr. Rudy
