I’m thinking more about people who wrestles with some of the specific issues presented here. For example:
1.) You give me this gift of life which I didn’t ask for but then expect me to do this, that and the other thing because of it. And if I don’t I’ll probably go to hell, right God? I mean, I can’t even turn the gift down (suicide) without some horrible consequence.
2.) Well, what does it say about your love if the gift is flawed to begin with by original sin? I had nothing to do with any of that Adam & Eve stuff and now I’m at a considerable disadvantage. How just and loving is that! Maybe you owe me an apology for creating me as a flawed human, God.
3.)You say I’m free. Yes, I’m free to do what I want, but not free from the terrible repercussions that follow if I don’t do what you say. And what I want is to just live my life simply, without this added turmoil of whether I’m going to heaven or going to hell. I mean life is hard enough and I don’t need to complicate it with wondering if I’m bound for eternal damnation because I’m not in some lovey-dove relationship with a God that is pinning for me.
What would you say to the person to convince him that his thinking about God is wrong? You can’t just say, “God Loves You” as if that makes all this go away.
We can share the Good News so that His creator loves him and wants him to share Heaven with him if he is good and follows the commandments (guidance from God) to love God and neighbor. Our conscience helps us understand good and evil.
It is his choice whether he chooses good or evil. We can be a friend and show him how we lead a good life and share our friendship.
Suicide is generally a evil selfish act and normally goes against our natural instincts of self preservation.
God’s love isn’t flawed and he gives us graces to understand His love, but we must accept it and allow it to grow in us.
Suicide is not turning a gift down, but destroying life.
God is good and loving and doesn’t owe anyone an apology. Life is not always fair because others have free will and their actions can affect us in good and bad ways. Our struggles and suffering can help us grow into better persons or we can allow it to defeat us.
God has offered eternal happiness with Him or eternal Hell. The choice for each person to be good or evil. Adam and Eve didn’t have original sin but they committed sin. I presume that they were sorry for their sin and repented and regained God’s graces after Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected.
For most of us it is an easy choice to do good. It is harder to admit our sins, be sorry for them and ask forgiveness. We often like to do things that are sinful and Catholic have the Sacrament of Confession for forgiveness of our sins.
Tell him to go seek the Truth. Advise him that there are many false prophets and false teachers. Read the Bible and ask for help to understand. Pray. Go sit before the Blessed Sacrament at a Catholic church and talk to God and listen. Tell him to consider a RCIA program at a Catholic Church to learn about God and the Catholic faith, and if he finds it difficult he can always stop.
The mission of the Catholic Church (which consists of its members) is to proclaim God’s Truth and help all reach eternal life with God. All of us want love and acceptance. God can be a best friend if one allows it.