SORRY I PUT THIS IN THE WRONG SECTION
After becoming Catholic, I realized that, although I was a Christian before, I really lacked a sense of authority in my life. The consequences included problems with people at church, at my job, and in the community. Whenever I met someone who wasn't showing me, what I considered to be equal respect, the gloves would come off. I would make sure they knew who they were disrespecting.....which never went over too well with the narcissistic men at church or any of my bosses at work. In fact, there was a time that my mouth moved so independently from my brain - I actually worried what I would say to God on Judgment Day. I was a really problem and I did not see a solution.
As a Catholic, I encounter authority like I had never seen it before. It was solid, yet patient. It was nice to not have to re-interpret the Bible every time I read it - 2,000 years of scholars gave me a foundation for my own understanding. I remember the first time I visited my monastery - the food was cold, the mattress caused me to have to sleep on the floor, I was herded into prayer 7 times a day - and no one bothered to tell me the retreat was silent. To top off the experience, I missed my oblation ceremony because this old monk wanted to talk about the mortification practices of Catherine of Siena. The deaf ears I complained to about my terrible experience taught me all I needed to know about authority and the proper response to it. Sometimes you don't get everything you want.
God is our ultimate authority, but He uses the authority on Earth to shape our character - with out it, we would remain undisciplined. Submitting to authority is picking up your cross and following Him.
Authority is important because it teaches us emotional regulation (keep your mouth shut), delayed gratification (you have to wait for good things), suspending your disbelief (faith), cognitive flexibility (you must be the flexible person sometimes).
Comments?
After becoming Catholic, I realized that, although I was a Christian before, I really lacked a sense of authority in my life. The consequences included problems with people at church, at my job, and in the community. Whenever I met someone who wasn't showing me, what I considered to be equal respect, the gloves would come off. I would make sure they knew who they were disrespecting.....which never went over too well with the narcissistic men at church or any of my bosses at work. In fact, there was a time that my mouth moved so independently from my brain - I actually worried what I would say to God on Judgment Day. I was a really problem and I did not see a solution.
As a Catholic, I encounter authority like I had never seen it before. It was solid, yet patient. It was nice to not have to re-interpret the Bible every time I read it - 2,000 years of scholars gave me a foundation for my own understanding. I remember the first time I visited my monastery - the food was cold, the mattress caused me to have to sleep on the floor, I was herded into prayer 7 times a day - and no one bothered to tell me the retreat was silent. To top off the experience, I missed my oblation ceremony because this old monk wanted to talk about the mortification practices of Catherine of Siena. The deaf ears I complained to about my terrible experience taught me all I needed to know about authority and the proper response to it. Sometimes you don't get everything you want.
God is our ultimate authority, but He uses the authority on Earth to shape our character - with out it, we would remain undisciplined. Submitting to authority is picking up your cross and following Him.
Authority is important because it teaches us emotional regulation (keep your mouth shut), delayed gratification (you have to wait for good things), suspending your disbelief (faith), cognitive flexibility (you must be the flexible person sometimes).
Comments?