3 former slaves on their road to sainthood
Godly Encouragement in a Godless Culture
The culture of today is a godless culture that continually presses in and smashes down on Christian beliefs. The average Christian may be too afraid to stand up for truth in the face of such adversity and heresy. The one who stands for truth faces such actions from those opposed to God such as anger, name calling, retaliation, or being a victim of “cancel culture”.
Remember the Jewish religious elite were the first “cancel culture” when they tried to silence Jesus and his followers by crucifying him and labeling him as a law breaker. They crucified him between to criminals. Yet, Jesus allowed it. Why? He allowed the hatred from those opposed to truth because of the end goal. The mission was salvation, and the mission was ugly. It was not wrapped in gold and a palace. It was wrapped in blood and crowned with death. But, it was successful.
“Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor boy prostitutes, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. That is what some of you used to be; but now you have had yourself washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:9-11)
We all have a past. We all have a present and a future. Sin is a part of our story. St. Paul encourages us in the letter to the Corinthians that yes, we have a past and are slaves to sin, but we have a future thanks to Jesus Christ and the redemption he provides.
Living a godly life is not pretty. If it was pretty, free from hate, and appealing to everyone then Jesus would not have died. He would not have been killed if living a godly life was accepted by everyone because no one has lived a godly life better than God himself. He was loving, yet he was hated. He was perfect, yet he was treated as a criminal. He gave us eternal life, yet his life was taken.
Be proud to be a Catholic. Be proud to be a Christian. Be proud that Jesus Christ is your Lord and your God. Be proud to speak truth, even when those you are speaking to refuse to listen.
Recommended Stories
More Stories By :
About the Author
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
