Posted on 09/28/2014 6:24:41 PM PDT by RoosterRedux
Spent the last week with Mom in hospital. A very close friend of Mom's (like an adopted daughter) is a wonderful help, but as a Catholic, is always fearful of her destination.
She says that assuming that she will go to Heaven is beyond her...so she is painfully afraid and spreads that fear to others.
Please help with your opinions.
What should I say to her? She is neurotically fearful of her own future and spreads that fear generously.
She should really see a doctor. The right type of prescription anti-anxiety medication can work wonders.
And those wonders come from God too.
You are correct. She is neurotic. It has nothing to do with the teaching of the Catholic Church, even if she is able to quote snippets from Saint Paul and other Scripture, and from Catholic sources that “justify” her neurotic fear. That’s just the neurosis talking.
True, the Catholic Church does NOT teach that “once saved, always saved.” The Catholic Church teaches that it is POSSIBLE to commit mortal (deadly) sin.
But the Catholic Church DOES teach the mercy of God, the forgiveness of sins, etc. It’s right there in the Apostles Creed: I believe in the the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
“All Christians are in the same boat. All we have is our faith.”
All we have is our triumphant SAVIOR, who paid the full penalty for sin. It is all we need.
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." - I John 5:13
Has she actually repented of her sins, asked Christ into her heart, asking for forgiveness, and then been baptized? If not, she is justified to doubt.
Thx much AM. Very helpful.
2 Timothy1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
She has, but is still unsure of her salvation.
If I were there, I would tell her she needs to keep her anxiety to herself around your mother. Explain that your main concern is that your mother should have peace.
Bring her always back to the Gospels: John 3, or even Romans, and others.
If she believes and has received Christ she will be saved, of course there is always the possibility that she isn’t saved.. in that case in love you should share with her what Jesus, Paul and others have said about being saved in love (”For it is by Grace that you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves it is a GIFT of God that no one can boast”).
You can’t go wrong brining her back to scripture, but she must examine her own life before God. Either Jesus has taken it all, or she doesn’t really believe.
-JS
And Jesus doesn’t lie, He always tells the truth, so if He said He can save those who call upon His name..well all we have to do is trust Him!
But that won't be available for another 77 years...
With all due respect, in John 3 Jesus states otherwise: 18 “18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
If we believe Christ, then we don’t need to worry about losing our salvation. Would the Creator of the universe that cares about you be powerless to keep you once you placed your faith in Him? Stop worrying (or working for your salvation if that’s what you’re doing-because I don’t know you in real life I can’t read into your heart and do not presume to make judgments), and just believe Him.
-JS
Any doubts that you friend may have as to herself can be remedied through prayer, through sincere belief, and through practice of the Catholic faith and its sacraments, especially penance and the forgiveness of sins. Most of all, your friend should recognize that the Catholic faith is not meant as a series of obstacles, requirements, and pitfalls, but as advice and guide markers for us toward the salvation that God wants and means for us to attain.
In sum, your friend should put aside her fears and doubts and trust in the Lord's enduring love for her. She should be joyful and have faith that God has prepared her place in heaven and wants and experts her there.
“So, you either believe this or you make God out a liar.”
You don’t see the problem do you? If you actually think about it someone can believe in Jesus but “snatch them[selves] out of” Jesus’ hand. You are creating a false dichotomy. It is not:”either [you] believe this or you make God out [to be] a liar.” I believe everything in that verse. Every word of it. I also believe that we can lose our salvation by our own actions separating ourselves from God.
“It sounds as if she has an unconfessed sin weighing on her conscience. As[k] her to request a priest and go to confession.”
BINGO!!! .
The logical argument:
Was Jesus a lier? If Jesus is not a lier then Jesus said:
“I am THE way, THE truth and THE life. NO One comes unto the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
And the Bible teaches
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
So the questions are:
1) does she believe in Jesus and
2) has she accepted him as her Lord and Saviour.
Have her read those scriptures and then ask her is she is going to call Jesus a lier.
John 15:10
“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
So, if you don’t keep Jesus’ commands you will not remain in His love. Clearly more than just faith is needed. You must actually keep Jesus’ commands.
She needs to read the Bible every day and pray for wisdom. She should ask God to show her the root of her disbelief and she needs to confess and ask for forgiveness for whatever is really troubling her and then ask God to take it out of her life. She also needs to believe what God has promised in the Bible, especially the salvation promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ. And she needs to ask all this in Jesus’ name. I will pray for her gain confidence in Christ and to trust Him at His word.
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