Comments on: Is Obama saved? http://blog.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/2010/10/04/is-obama-saved/ Time for the Timeless Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:51:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: leon http://blog.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/2010/10/04/is-obama-saved/#comment-663 leon Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:25:47 +0000 /post/Is-Obama-saved.aspx#comment-663 I like to think that, too, John, and of course the "one thing" we need to focus on is our own conversion to Christ, making Him the center of our lives, which (super)naturally leads us to proclaim the Gospel to others. Still, we all have different opinions, mindsets, etc. I know there are people who believe that pretty much everyone is saved (such a mindset does encourage laxity, "tolerance," etc.) while others think the opposite, which encourages scrupulosity. And while that approach is far less common today, at least it takes seriously the Lord''s admonition that those who find the narrow gate are "few." Do we need to evangelize non-Christians? Do non-Catholic Christians need full communion with the Catholic Church? Do Catholics have a free pass, or do their actions matter? We know and accept the Church''s authoritative teaching on these issues, but until we pass to the other side, we won''t know for certain how all this plays out in practice. More later, but I''ve been studying 1 Corinthians 5-6. One is hard-pressed to read something like that and think that the widespread evils in our culture isn''t leading some (God only knows how many) to perdition. Of course that raises issues of excommunication, the appropriate disposition for receiving Communion, etc. I like to think that, too, John, and of course the "one thing" we need to focus on is our own conversion to Christ, making Him the center of our lives, which (super)naturally leads us to proclaim the Gospel to others. Still, we all have different opinions, mindsets, etc. I know there are people who believe that pretty much everyone is saved (such a mindset does encourage laxity, "tolerance," etc.) while others think the opposite, which encourages scrupulosity. And while that approach is far less common today, at least it takes seriously the Lord”s admonition that those who find the narrow gate are "few."

Do we need to evangelize non-Christians? Do non-Catholic Christians need full communion with the Catholic Church? Do Catholics have a free pass, or do their actions matter? We know and accept the Church”s authoritative teaching on these issues, but until we pass to the other side, we won”t know for certain how all this plays out in practice.

More later, but I”ve been studying 1 Corinthians 5-6. One is hard-pressed to read something like that and think that the widespread evils in our culture isn”t leading some (God only knows how many) to perdition. Of course that raises issues of excommunication, the appropriate disposition for receiving Communion, etc.

]]> By: JohnE http://blog.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/2010/10/04/is-obama-saved/#comment-662 JohnE Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:44:20 +0000 /post/Is-Obama-saved.aspx#comment-662 I like to think that most are saved, but I don''t think God wants us to approach salvation with that attitude. From our perspective, it is indeed a very narrow gate that is impossible to enter without God''s help. God wants to bring out the best in man and wills the salvation of as many as possible. I think that''s much more likely to occur if man is challenged to strive to enter the narrow gate. If most attain heaven and man somehow knew that, it will be much easier for him to be lax. And if he becomes lax, the chances increase that he might walk away from salvation altogether, or that his level of beatitude would be less than it would have been had he strived for the narrow gate. I like to think that most are saved, but I don”t think God wants us to approach salvation with that attitude. From our perspective, it is indeed a very narrow gate that is impossible to enter without God”s help. God wants to bring out the best in man and wills the salvation of as many as possible. I think that”s much more likely to occur if man is challenged to strive to enter the narrow gate. If most attain heaven and man somehow knew that, it will be much easier for him to be lax. And if he becomes lax, the chances increase that he might walk away from salvation altogether, or that his level of beatitude would be less than it would have been had he strived for the narrow gate.

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