Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 121.  Thu  8-15-91  6:43
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Keith Horton
 Subject: Christians Sinners?

³ I work with several persons who claim to be Christians. From what I can
³ gather from the language that they use, and the talk of drinking beer and
³ partying. And the talk about sex and everything. I don't know but I think
³ that a Christian should be like Jesus, and not Satan. I'm new at this so
³ just be patient with me. It seems like to me that everyone has a choice.
³ One way or the other, if your going to be a Christian, then live that way.
³ If your going to sin all the time then choose that life. But I don't
³ believe that God will alow sin to enter into Heaven, and how can it get
³ there unless God alows us to go in that have sin in our lives. Sure I want
³ to go to Heaven and I believe theres a God. And I believe that Jesus is
³ who he claims to be the son of God. But I don't believe I can Lust after
³ women, weither in person or a gif file, and be a Christian. I think you
³ must choose which life you want to live. So are Christians, Sinners or
³ not?
 
Dear Keith,
 
Christians indeed are called to be holy (1st Cor 1:2).  God did not
call us to impurity, but to holiness (1 Thess. 4:3, 7).  But God in
his mercy, knowing our weakness, is ready to forgive  us as often as
we come to Him in love and sorrow repenting our sins (1 John 1:8-10;
5:16-17).  We must have a firm purpose of amending our lives.  He has
given us the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, in which sins are
forgiven (James 5:13) in serious illnesses.  He has also given us the
Sacrament of Penance or Confession in which sins are forgiven (James
5:16; John 20:21-23).
 
Sin happens among Christians.  Read Galatians and 1st and 2nd
Corinthians.  But God's mercy is infinite and the sinner may repent
and be forgiven.
 
There is nothing sinful in drinking beer in moderation and partying.
There are parties, and then there are parties.  God blesses innocent
recreations.  Remember that Jesus drank wine and went to parties.  He
even supplied the wine on one occasion.  (John 2:11).
 
Please read Luke 6:37 and Romans 14:4-12.
 
                                   Sincerely in Christ,
                                   Father Mateo