I have a couple of different questions-so please bear with me. First of all-I had a friend who died in Nov when she was only 17 in a car accident. She is catholic-and I just wonder how when Jesus says in the Bible that he will protect all who believe in him that this could happen ? Secondly-I have a pretty close relation with a catholic male. If marrige comes about, or I decide to convert to the Catholic faith, what steps are neccessary ?

Thank you.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 1998

Answers

Beth,

You have asked one of the most asked questions in the world. Why? We must put our trust in the Lord.

However, with all of this, I have not been able to find in the bible where he says he will protect all that believe in him. If you give me the bible you are using and the chapter and verse I will take a look at it. I did find in the Gospel of John the following:

John 17:15 I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. The New Jerusalem Bible: Readers Edition, (New York: Doubleday.) 1990.

11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.e{e Or from evil} The New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1989.

With these passages (I did a global search on the King James Version, the New Revised Standard Version, the New Jerusleam Bible, and The New American Bible... I haven't been able to add the RSV, and the NIV yet so I will have to look at these by hand :::sigh:::) I searched on Protect and Belief, Belief, and Protect alone and this was what I was able to come up with.

the context that Christ is speaking is about 1) Unity, that they may all be one. And the second context is to Satan or the Evil one. Satan wants us to sin so he can have our souls. Christ knows this, for he will not be around in the body for much longer. Notice in the first one he says he doesn't wish for us to be removed from this world. This is a key to this passage IMHO, what it means is that he is looking out for our spiritual lives, not our physical ones. Realize that we are only going to spend a few years upon this planet. After that we will either spend eternity in Heaven in praise to our Lord and God, or in Hell in eternal misery.

Let us keep our Trust in our Lord that your friend was in a state of Grace and now she is in heaven.

Realize the flip side of this is that there is a chance for eternal damnation.

The Catholic Church doesn't teach once saved always saved. (neither does scripture) What the Church teaches is that with Christ's grace we can live a live a good life, but when we slip and fall into sin he has given us the sacrament of Confesson where we go and confess our sins. Why do we do this? Because Christ gave this power to the diciples in The Gospel of John:

21 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

Finally if you are intrested in learning more about the Church, I would recommend the Catechism of the Catholic Church. If you are intrested in converting, the you would enter the RCIA process. I would suggest that you check around, there are some lousy ones and some good ones. Get involved with a program that teaches what the Chruch teaches, not one that gives into this material world and compromises the truth.

Your Brother in Christ

John Gibson

-- Anonymous, April 14, 1998