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[__ Prayer __] Dad Just Went to Hospital...

QUOTE="KevinK, post: 1222487, member: 6888"]...short of breath (he has a weak ticker), not in pain, but was stumbling around a bit. Can I ask for a couple prayers at this time, please? Thank you.[/QUOTE]
Prayer up.
 
More miracles abound! Mom just told me that Dad is not really an athiest. He just says that to be contrarian. At least I have something to work with now. Unfortunately, Mom is RC, so I have to work with things like works-based salvation, purgatory, idolatry,.... Never easy.
 
KevinK said:
More miracles abound! Mom just told me that Dad is not really an athiest. He just says that to be contrarian. At least I have something to work with now. Unfortunately, Mom is RC, so I have to work with things like works-based salvation, purgatory, idolatry,.... Never easy.
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Were you raised Roman Catholic?
They don't believe in work-based salvation. They believe in Ephesians 2:8 just like we do. They DO believe that one works toward sanctification, just like we do. They get the two a little mixed up, but ii's okay. Idolatry should also not be a problem. Idolatry means that you think someone other than God is God. They know Mary is not God. They're supposed to be praying to her for intercession, not for worship. I still think it's wrong but let it go. Just concentrate on Jesus. They get turned off if you try to change their mind about their doctrine because they believe it's the only true doctrine and Protestants don't have "all the truth."

Purgatory and Confession are serious problems. But why bother with it? If they're saved, they're saved.
Just concentrate on Jesus and His sacrifice and how it's all-sufficient. That works best. See as you go...

Praise God if they're both saved!

Wondering
(sorry if I've told you stuff you already know...)
 
Yes, I was raised RC, but no longer consider myself thus. All your comments are right on. Basically the problem I am facing with my father, comes from the couple but troubling issues: my Mom says Dad will of course go to Heaven because he's been good all his life. Thus there's not the pressure to accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Then there's if he doesn't quite make it, there's always Purgatory. Again, what do you need JC for? A few years back in a serious hospital stay a priest gave him a scapular medal; I can't for sure say it's idolatrous, but it would worry me.

Well, the situation is not perfect, but interestingly it's more than what I had to work with before (hard-core atheist). Throw some prayers my way, if you can, thanks.
 
So they don't really understand Catholicism either. Buy them a CCC. Catechism of the Catholic Church. I have the Doubleday softcover copy. $8.98. Get the complete one, not the short one. At the end of each chapter it has "In Brief". It has an index in the back and a total of 2,683 paragraphs.

The entire beginning is absolutely beautiful. It explains really well how Jesus is our salvation. It does not say that good works get us to heaven. Try asking them if good works get us to heaven, what's the difference between an atheist and your dad? Explain to them about how we cover ourselves with Jesus. Romans 13:14 and Galatians 3:27. It's like we put on Jesus so God will not see our sins, but will see Him.

This is one of the problems confession causes but don't get too much into it, it'll only start an argument.

Regarding purgatory and if he doesn't quite make it. This is a misconception many have of purgatory.
It is NOT a third choice. It's not for people who "don't quite make it." There are only TWO choices:
Heaven and hell. Purgatory is for those already destined for heaven. It is NOT a third place. This explanation can be found in paragraphs 1030 and 1031. Maybe you could couple this with 1 John 1:8-10, but I doubt it.

They might accept the CCC more than the bible. I do hope the transition to the bible will eventually come.

Again, I'm sorry if I repeat things you already know. Not everyone that has been raised Catholic knows Catholic doctrine. I know this for a fact.

Good luck Kevin!
Take your time with this.

W
 
Thank you, W. My mother has said some wierd things that are not consistent, IMO, with RC canon. Like being a "good peson" gets you in. Mom was raised as a Roman Catholic, as was I, but my Dad had no religious upbringing at all. Neither one will read a book like that.

As far as time, that's the problem- we don't have any. He's even been acting like he's ready to go.

But, do keep up the prayers. That's the one thing I know is helping. I have a gut feeling that will make the difference.
 
KevinK said:
Thank you, W. My mother has said some wierd things that are not consistent, IMO, with RC canon. Like being a "good peson" gets you in. Mom was raised as a Roman Catholic, as was I, but my Dad had no religious upbringing at all. Neither one will read a book like that.

As far as time, that's the problem- we don't have any. He's even been acting like he's ready to go.

But, do keep up the prayers. That's the one thing I know is helping. I have a gut feeling that will make the difference.
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Absolutely Kevin.
God is able if the heart if open.

Wondering
 
KevinK said:
Do keep up the prayers. That's the one thing I know is helping. I have a gut feeling that will make the difference.
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Brother KevinK, you speak of prayer making the difference, and that is sure; possibly not in the manner we may be looking for.

I’ve used this example before, but in war soldiers will dig foxholes to crawl in to avoid enemy fire, and many times that brings about what is known as foxhole conversions. They think they are going to die, cry out unto the LORD, and are instantly saved.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (You may have been the preacher even in the changes of your life your dad has observed, and believe me: if you’ve only witnessed one time (Seed was sown) he has been watching your testimony.) Let’s remain in prayer for your dad and trust God to give the increase. (1 Cor 3:6).

:wave2
 
KevinK said:
More miracles abound! Mom just told me that Dad is not really an athiest. He just says that to be contrarian. At least I have something to work with now. Unfortunately, Mom is RC, so I have to work with things like works-based salvation, purgatory, idolatry,.... Never easy.
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Good morning Kevin,
Just a footnote; Being some type of Protestant does not mean safe and being RC doesn't always mean they are lost. There will be some of every Christian Sect in Heaven and if he fully relies on Jesus and nothing else for his salvation, he be cool!
 
th1b.taylor said:
if he fully relies on Jesus and nothing else for his salvation, he be cool!
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I think this is where we are at. He doesn't have Jesus Christ in his life. And I don't think Mom is helping the matter, as she thinks judgment is based on how good or bad you lived your life. I'm praying for Jesus to come into his heart somehow.

One other good thing, though, he recently got water-baptized in the Roman Catholic Church at the insistence of my mother.
 
KevinK said:
I think this is where we are at. He doesn't have Jesus Christ in his life. And I don't think Mom is helping the matter, as she thinks judgment is based on how good or bad you lived your life. I'm praying for Jesus to come into his heart somehow.

One other good thing, though, he recently got water-baptized in the Roman Catholic Church at the insistence of my mother.
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Then we all need to pray for Jesus to enter in. Praying!
 
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