Dear God

Letters to the Lord

9-8-23

Dear God:

It's Napoleon again. I’m sorry that I haven't written to You in awhile.

Maybe You can answer a few questions that I have been struggling with over the past few months.

• Did Jesus establish a Church and is that Church the Catholic Church?

• Do You will that everyone accept Jesus as Savior, and enter the Catholic Church and live by its teachings?

• Does it even matter if anyone goes to any Church, let alone the Catholic Church?

• Does preaching the Gospel to others even matter anymore or should we just shut up as to not offend anyone?

I started this substack two years ago, specifically to try to understand the narrow path of living a Christian life, and especially a Roman Catholic life. Why do Christians/Roman Catholics choose to limit their activities on this earth for an eternal reward in the next life? It seems masochistic. Why do we do it and should we? Can't we just be "spiritual" and leave it at that? Why all the Churchy rules and regulations?

I used to live the "spiritual" way before I stepped back on the narrow path of Church. I've found that the narrow path is hard, rocky and lonely. The previous "spiritual" wide path was easy, paved and full of other people to have fun with on the way through this life. I know Jesus said to enter at the narrow gate because the wide gate leads to destruction. But he also said the wide gate is where the people are at, while the narrow gate that leads to life is found by few people.

Why? Is the narrow gate Church or specifically the Catholic Church upon which Jesus established with Peter? I believe that it is and yes, it is very, very narrow and lonely. The Catholic Church with all its rules and regulations is icky and a waste of time for the majority of the world. It's gross, stupid, and full of pedophiles and money grubbers. It's murdered hundreds of millions of people throughout its history and is just trying to control peoples' lives. All that is true. So why should I encourage others to join such a Church? Jesus said spread the Gospel to the whole world, does that mean spread the Church?

People don't like to be preached to. People don't like Churches. People don't like the Gospel. Even people closest to me have told me to stop writing about religious topics so much (as if there are any other interesting topics to write about). In addition, my marriage fell apart specifically because I returned to the Church. I just feel like I should shut up about the Gospel, Jesus, the Catholic Church because nothing good seems to come from it. What do You think Lord? Is it time for me to be "spiritual" once again, and abandon the Catholic Church and its narrowness? Is it time for me to leave the narrow path and find the broader path? Surely You and Jesus don't expect us “narrow pathers” to be miserable every day of our lives as we stumble along the rocky, lonely path.

I've tried the best I could to try to follow the Gospel, and the Catholic Church Jesus founded, but I'm not a Saint and never will be. For sure I know I am not someone that anyone wants to hear preaching from. Also, my going to Church every Sunday is not a badge of honor and nobody is watching my life and thinking "gee, there goes a good Christian, I should be more like Napoleon!" Maybe the narrow path is not for me.

So, please Lord, answer the many questions I posed in this letter. Let me know if I should stay on the narrow path, or take that vee in the road. I will await your answers knowing that you will answer me soon.

Sincerely,

Napoleon

PS: Please wish the Blessed Virgin Mary a Happy Birthday today!