Cross/Rosary wearing trend SMH

I typed this up and posted it on my Instagram a couple days ago hoping people would see it and realize that the Cross is not an accessory. I admit I wore the cross, scapular and bracelets and was wearing them while doing some shameful stuff, consciously embracing sinful acts. And that's why I'm letting you guys know because I'm embarrassed but I've changed and so can you.  I'm starting to understand the responsibility of letting people know that you believe in Christ. It's a serious matter. It should actually make you think and want to change when you see it. People all over the world have been put to death and martyred for worshiping that cross. And here you come along (my former self included) wearing it because celebrities are wearing it, because you think it looks cute with your outfit, because you want to represent that you're a Christian/Catholic and therefore a good person. I know it's a sin to get angry and pissed off but I'm working on it. Now that I've realized the truth I get so frustrated. My little sister can vouch for me. Being born and raised a Catholic Filipino means that I was born into a lot of faith influenced traditions. One tradition involves a statues of the Virgin Mary and Santo Nino (Baby Jesus) coming to our house and placed on a makeshift alter. During the evening we stop whatever we are doing and come and pray the rosary as well as other prayers. When I was younger I used to kick and scream to not do it, but as I got older I started to appreciate the prayers and what those actions represent as a whole. You're taking time out of your "busy life" and from the things you'd rather be doing to thank God for blessing you've received. You also pray to get through your daily hardships and for the people you've lost. I strongly doubt that those kids and adults who wear those rosaries nowadays around their necks like necklaces, actually use them for what they were intended for. You're not even supposed to be wearing them around your neck. It's disrespectful and that's what I've always been taught. I'm sure that there are some that do have the right intentions, but if your not one of them stop and educate yourself.

The reason I wear a cross is to remind myself that when I'm in public, I need to represent accordingly. I take on that responsibility that with every action that someones sees me doing, should be Christ-like. If I'm doing something not Christ-like I hope someone would catch and check me on it. I'm doing this so you won't feel embarrassed if someone does check you. The rosary is a beautiful prayer and you should learn how to do it. And go ahead and wear the cross, but just be conscious of what you represent.

How to pray the Rosary-

History about the Rosary-

Hypochristian- Karness (P4CM) <-------REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!!

Your lifestyle has got to match what you want to represent. These artists rep Jesus but do their lifestyles reflect his message and what was beaten and killed for? Look at their lyrics, look at their behavior. Don't idolize or support people with a clear Identity Crisis.

The whole you shouldn't judge others explained. 

This video is pretty intense. Viewer discretion is advised!!!!!! To be honest I was almost in tears after I watched this. I put it on here because it's the truth. It's what actually happened to those who believed in Jesus. All you guys who rep your faith with tattoos and jewelry, think about what the early Christians had to go through when they claimed to be a Christian.

Serious Question: Do you really believe?

Do you believe in God? 

 

Really think before you answer that question

I didn't ask if you go to church.

I didn't ask if you if you sing in the church choir.

I didn't ask if you prayed before you ate.

I didn't ask if you were baptized.

All those questions besides the first were all questions that you could have answered yes to because it describes the actions a person that believes in God would do, but you could have also answered yes because you were forced into doing it. Not because you have a relationship with God, but because someone made you do it or you felt the need to do it to please someone other than God.

Initially growing up I went to Catholic School until senior year of high school. I went to church every Sunday, prayed before I ate, went through the sacraments of initiation, was an alter server etc. I knew growing up that God exists but did I truly believe it. I told everyone I did. They saw me praying when an ambulance passed, before I ate, at church, in front of a statue of Mary and the Santo Nino with my family. They saw me wearing my cross, my scapular, my bracelets and ashes on my head on Ash Wednesday. How could you doubt I believed in God? In Jesus Christ? I rep him around my neck wherever I go.

Let me ask you another set of questions:

Do you look at a girl lustfully?  (Imagine hooking up with her, watch pornography). Having premarital sex? 

Do you eat until you can't move? Food coma? Drink until you get faded?

Do you not share? Do you always want the best clothes, shoes, hats etc?

Do you sleep in all day? Not because you've worked all night, sleep in because you know you can?

Do you hate on someone right now? And talk smack about them because they piss you off?

Do you wish you were living someone's life? Wish you had what they had (job, materials, relationships)?

Do you boast about what you have that others don't? Putting other people down for not having something?

Do do know what sin is?

Do you know what the seven deadly sins are: (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride)

If you believe in God you believe in Jesus, who God sent in order to teach us how to live. You also believe then that he was betrayed by his friends, beaten almost until the point of death so much so that there was no blood left to flow out his body when they pierced his side, and nailed to a cross naked all so that we might take God's message seriously. It's not a story. It's something very serious. Let it marinate. Every time we sin we are ultimately saying "thanks for dying but no thanks." "Thanks for going through all that, but I'd rather keep doing what I've been doing."

Note: Catholics should be reading the New American Bible. King James Version is the Protestant Version

Matthew22:36-39 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Galations519-21"Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you as I warned you before , that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 John2:4-6 Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived.

God set up these rules because he knows that if followed life would be better. Not to restrict us from enjoying life. If you don't get drunk, you won't kill anybody on the road, you wont lust over someone's significant other and break up a family, you wont be tempted to injure anyone because of pride and so forth. If you're at peace with what you have you'll want to share extra supplies. You won't want to damage or steal property because of jealousy.

God strategically made it impossible to follow his commandments on our own. We need him for help. The whole point of God creating us was to enjoy what he created and for us to give me the props he deserves. Even though we fail a majority of the time, he's always going to be there to forgive. He doesn't hold a grudge on you.  He gave us the gift of free will. You can decide for yourself to what to do with a negative situation, either be bitter and infect everyone with your negativity, or be positive and thank God for the tools that he gave to deal with the hardships. He always provides something whether you take notice of it, it's up to you. He always provides a way out. It's not God that puts you in hard times. Sometimes it's your sinful decision or decisions that you've made in the past that set you up. Think about it. Go to confession. Be right with him. If you believe make an effort to avoid sinful behavior.

Honestly for me I've realized there is so no way you can go to a club or be in an environment where there is a lot of alcohol and woman dressed immodestly and not be exposed or tempted by sin of that nature. He died for me. So I'm going to try my best and do what he wants of me. 

How can you say you believe in God but go against what he stands for? It's definitely hard. It's a daily struggle but if God is real, heaven is real and so is hell, I want to live my life to avoid hell completely. Matthew 16:24