Some Roman Catholics Don't Want to Get Saved Because They Love to Sin
It's not a general statement that all Roman Catholics love to sin. I observe that some Roman Catholics do try to live their best lives, they don't cheat, they do charity work, they do the best they can to live peaceably with all men. Yet, there are Roman Catholics who actually live like they've got a license to sin all they want. I was thinking that my sinful relatives were many of them are religious Roman Catholics. Many are even active in the parishes while living in sin. Some are even going to Sunday masses together with their live-in partners. Other religious Roman Catholics are even involved in illegal activities, much to the surprise of well-behaved Roman Catholics.
The double standard is really something to think about. At one moment, you have Roman Catholics who say that the doctrine of eternal security teaches a license to sin. They can brag all they want about how they are working on their salvation with "fear and trembling," demonstrated by their rituals. However, the same group ends up falsely accusing born-again Christians as legalist killjoys. I even remembered some Roman Catholic parents who ended up pulling their children out of a Baptist school, not because of the religion but because of the school being a "killjoy".
It made me think about how being a born-again Christian means having a change of life. The moment you ask Jesus into your heart, your life changes. One reason why today's sinner's prayer evangelism is a failure is that it's just "repeat after me" rather than truly asking Jesus into your heart. When you invite Jesus into your life then doesn't He change your desires? It's a common observation that some religious Roman Catholics love their sin, and they don't want to give it up. When they notice somebody has become a born-again Christian, the person says something like, "Go out for a drink of whiskey? Mardi Gras? Disco? Pornographic movies? Go to the Playboy store? Sorry dude, it's no longer allowed for me because I've been born again!"
The Roman Catholic system of "righteousness" is really questionable. How often is it to sin from Monday to Friday, go to confession on a Saturday, attend Mass on Sundays, and the cycle repeats itself all over again? Worse, a lot of sins they are committing are considered mortal sins in their catechism like living in adultery or being involved in a life of crime. I remembered what it was to really confess my sins to a priest. After reciting the act of contrition - I'm told to pray X Our Fathers, Y Hail Marys, and Z Glory Bes. It becomes a tape recorder prayer. I don't see that in the Bible. When I read 1 John 1:9 for the first time as a Roman Catholic - I was really shocked that confessions to God must be done to God directly! What's the point of teaching the "Our Father" when you confess your sins to a priest? The "Our Father" says, "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us," without confession to a priest? It nearly made me think that I could sin all I want, then I could just go to the priest and I'll be fine? Unfortunately, some Roman Catholics subscribe to that mentality. It's because trying to work your own righteousness is ignorance of the righteousness of God.