[Apologetics] "Assurance" of "salvation"

[Marty Rothwell]

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for your reasoned approach to this issue.  It speaks very well of
you.  Maybe among other things you could suggest that you know of some
Catholics in the area who could talk to them.  Maybe they could join the
apologetics group.

Marty

-----Original Message-----
From: apologetics-admin at gathman.org
[mailto:apologetics-admin at gathman.org] On Behalf Of Stuart D. Gathman
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 11:36 PM
To: apologetics at gathman.org
Subject: [Apologetics] "Assurance" of "salvation"

My friend at Truro has Catholic coworkers.  They have approached her,
and 
asked how they can have the same confidence that she does.  They have 
confided that they try to do all the things required of them, but live
in 
fear that it it not good enough.  Having been to the "Catholics and 
Evangelicals" class, she wants to be able to help them without
suggesting 
that they "convert".  

So this is where I hope you can help us out.  I understand that there is
always a "logical possibility" of "falling away" by deliberate, sober
choice, but Catholics should have a "reasonable assurance" of
persevering
to the end, because He who has begun a good work in you is faithful, and
will bring it to completion in the day of Christ Jesus.

What kinds of Catholic resources are there to help take the focus off of
our failures, and onto the Bridegroom who calls "Come away!  Come away
with Me, my love?"  That help them understand that their confidence is
in
His Grace, not their own feeble efforts.  That "work out your salvation
in
fear and trembling" does not mean to cross your fingers and fearfully
hope
you have done enough to pass the exam, but instead means to fearfully
bare your
heart before the Divine Surgeon, and tremble as He gently touches our 
infirmities and makes us whole.

Although I usually welcome getting picky about errors in language, 
just this once, please don't get picky.  We just want to feed the
Spiritual
hunger of these Brothers and Sisters from within their own community.  
We're looking for books addressing this issue, Catholic Bible Studies
or other avenues for fellowship and encouragement. 

The Therese movie addresses this, but is unavailable.

-- 
	      Stuart D. Gathman <stuart at bmsi.com>
Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.

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