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HenryV
Guest
Should we be as concerened for the salvation of others that we are with our own salvation?
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Woodstock
Guest
We should love our neighbor as ourselves, so we should be as concerned for our neighbor, or even more concerned for him, than we are for ourselves.
However, we should not place our own salvation at risk, hampering our own walk with Christ, in an attempt to help another. We wouldn’t attempt to “sell our souls to the Devil” (which is impossible) to guarantee our loved ones’ salvation. The ends do not justify the means and it does not assist anyone for us to backslide in our own walk with Christ.
As we advance in our own spirituality, we will naturally have a love and concern for others and their salvation. We know that it is the will of God that all should be saved (I didn’t say they will be), and we know that God has unmeasurable love for everyone. As we become more Godlike, we also will emanate this love of God.
This is particularly true in marriage, when the salvation of our spouses and children should be a priority and should guide us in our decisions. Even when we are pulled to selfishness or sin, the knowledge that our actions will hinder the salvation of our loved ones should stop us from acting out of self-centeredness and should call us to a greater service and love. This isn’t the ideal expression of that love, but it is a positive step in that direction. It most definitely is not a farce, a con, or going through the motions. Instead, it is a small act of selfless love and is therefore a reflection of the immeasurable love of God.
However, we should not place our own salvation at risk, hampering our own walk with Christ, in an attempt to help another. We wouldn’t attempt to “sell our souls to the Devil” (which is impossible) to guarantee our loved ones’ salvation. The ends do not justify the means and it does not assist anyone for us to backslide in our own walk with Christ.
As we advance in our own spirituality, we will naturally have a love and concern for others and their salvation. We know that it is the will of God that all should be saved (I didn’t say they will be), and we know that God has unmeasurable love for everyone. As we become more Godlike, we also will emanate this love of God.
This is particularly true in marriage, when the salvation of our spouses and children should be a priority and should guide us in our decisions. Even when we are pulled to selfishness or sin, the knowledge that our actions will hinder the salvation of our loved ones should stop us from acting out of self-centeredness and should call us to a greater service and love. This isn’t the ideal expression of that love, but it is a positive step in that direction. It most definitely is not a farce, a con, or going through the motions. Instead, it is a small act of selfless love and is therefore a reflection of the immeasurable love of God.
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littleone
Guest
Hey I Iike that, god bless you for sharing
littleone
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Della
Guest
Not that you are asking this, but in case you are, or if others might wonder:
We should be concerned about everyone’s salvation since God is. But, we have to be careful not to judge anyone’s potential salvation according to what we think they should or shouldn’t be doing. That’s a very easy pit to fall into.
Concern ought not to turn us into busybodies nor consume our lives so that we are no earthly good to them or ourselves. The best thing we can do is live the love of Christ before them and with them. We should pray for understanding and compassion to be of real help to them if and when they want it from us.
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LilyM
Guest
You know the announcement they make on airplanes ‘if you have children with you and you need oxygen masks make sure you put your own mask on first before helping them’. If you’re in extreme difficulties yourself, no way you’re gonna be fit to help anyone else.
I think the best way to lead others to Christ is to be an example - at least of someone who’s a few steps further along the road than they are
I think the best way to lead others to Christ is to be an example - at least of someone who’s a few steps further along the road than they are
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puzzleannie
Guest
sure as soon as my salvation is assured I will start working on that of others. Personally, my own spiritual health is a full time job, I don’t have much energy left to worry about other people.
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fin
Guest
absolutely. i especially pray for others, so in that way i also look after my own salvation.
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Greg27
Guest
Personally if you are going to evangelise, I think it is essential to give a reasoned explanation of your faith and hope. Telling people they will go to hell unless they join the Church will not work (I found such approaches repulsed me from many Churches before becoming Catholic). A better approach for Catholics is to explore and share the riches of their traditions and wisdom, especially to other Christians from whatever denomination who may be feeling alienated or lonely or frustrated in their faith (in a lot of ways these are the most important people to consider in our secular age) as well as thinking about what you believe so you can intelligently defend it against even sophisticated intellectual attacks.
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mommyof4
Guest
Not even our spouses or our children?
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jmm08
Guest
Those with assurance of salvation are in heaven and can no longer do many of the things that we can do. If you have no worry for others you may find yourself in the wrong crowd.
Matthew 25:41-43 (Jesus speaking) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’”
If instead you decide to help other people you may find that you were helping yourself even more.
Matthew 25:37-40 (Jesus speaking) “Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
As Catholics we know well these verses:
John 6:53-55 “Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.’”
Note also what Jesus said in John 4:32-34 “But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat of which you do not know.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Could someone have brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.’”
Don’t these verses also say something that we should consider? That we can also receive spiritual food by doing the will of God?
And note that Jesus was talking to the woman at the well because He was concerned about the salvation of Samaritans. If you want to be saved, imitate Jesus. Imitate Mary. They are concerned with the welfare of others, especially those in need and of those especially those who know they are in need and want to change their lives to better please God.
Concerning mental health – I noticed that many of the mentally ill are especially concerned about things about themselves (while they suffer in their illness). Their focus is often on themselves.
Those who enjoy good mental health generally share this characteristic – their concern is for others. Their focus is more on the needs of others and in helping others.
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My reply to the original question: if we are concerned about our own salvation, I think one of the best ways to make progress is to help work towards the salvation of others.
jmm08
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CSN
Guest
If you give money to someone, I honestly believe you will get that same amount back. I don’t mean figuratively, like spiritual value or something, I mean that actual same amount of money back.
By analogy, a prayer for someone else is like a prayer for yourself. And if you pray for your enemies, and suppose that your prayers helped lead your enemy to heaven, how could it be possible that this person would then refuse to pray for your salvation in return?
This is also why it’s a big help to pray for the souls in purgatory. Once they’re out, they are looking out for you !!
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Well said!
We should not develop what is referred to, “Messiah Syndrome,” where we see ourselves as saviors for the souls of other people. We only have need of one messiah and that of course is Jesus Christ.
Jim
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Sheeniac
Guest
I strongly agree!
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jmm08
Guest
I learned a little more about the “Our Father” prayer recently. For one thing I haven’t read what the CCC says about the prayer and it actually says quite a bit. I need to read it sometime.Our Father, who art in heaven
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
What I learned recently is that after asking for forgiveness of sins, we are asking not be led into temptation but delivered from evil. Which is so very Catholic because we are supposed to want to avoid the occasions of sin. That is a part of contrition.
Another thing I see here is that we ask for our daily bread right after praying that God’s will be done on earth. And if we are sincere about wanting God’s will to be done on earth, I suppose we are willing to do something about it. I believe each of us as Christians is called by God to do something for others.
I do not wonder if we will receive food to eat (as Jesus did) when we are active in doing something God wants us to do. I know that this happens. It seems to me to be an explanation of how some non-Catholic Christians are doing so well doing what God wants done. I know what I’m talking about concerning some non-Catholic Christians, because I am a convert and I’ve been there.
Looking back on my past as a non-Catholic Christian, I think I have been fed the most when I was working towards helping others. If you want to know what I’m talking about, pray and ask God what He wants you to do. For some, it is to be an usher. For others it might be to visit those in the local jail or prison. For others it might be to get involved with St. Vincent de Paul. And for others it may be to sing in the Choir. For some it may be to pray, or perhaps to pray and do penance for the Holy Souls in purgatory.
I think it would make a great difference if more Christians and more Catholics had a desire to seek what God wants them to do for others in a personal ministry.
For the last few years, I’ve sung in our choir. It is really not much and I enjoy it a lot. And I have a few other small things going on the side.
jmm08
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HenryV
Guest
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