This pain is something I could never prepare myself for. They've always loved me first and foremost did things like baptize me when I was a kid. Could that be a plus in Gods eyes? The thought of their souls going to hell for eternity in exchange for me living as a decent Christian feels so disturbing.
Convert feels
Prayer is an incredibly powerful thing, OP. Pray for your family, pray for them a lot, and God will guide them to Himself. It could take a long time, but don't give up. Even if your father happens to die before he comes around, your prayers won't be in vain if you just keep praying.
I don't have years. He only has a couple of days left at most, I can only pray that God gives him some mercy. But thanks for the consideration.
First things first: I’m sorry to hear about him. But second, maybe try telling him how much it would mean to you if he converted, or even if he tried to believe. I’m just growing out ideas here.
But wouldn't that potentially just lead to him saying things to put me at ease instead of actually meaning it?
Not him but it looks like you don't really have a choice. A failed attempt is still better than doing nothing. I'll be praying for you and your family user.
You don't need years, only faith.
It's a tragedy, user, but they've had their chances and of their own free will they have chosen most unwisely. My mom prayed for me for 5 years and I became Catholic while she essentially ascribes to Moralizing Therapeutic Deism. Now her soul is lost and I have to pray for her.
yeah I guess you’re right. Worth a shot though
I feel you user, my dad is vehemently anti catholic and I find it really hard to see him ever embracing the church, the ego is too hardened. He got called me a traitor for going to mass last year.. I haven't been a good Christian myself, God has been, and is still showing me the truth. I still haven't joined the church, I almost got through to my mom, but I'm a winnie the poohup
God saves people not you.
Sometimes God might use you as an instrument to change others but you shouldn't feel responsible.
It's on them and on God.
And many people will be saved who are not 'explicit' and 'external Christians' but who are Christians internally, by a circumcized heart and mind.
God is good, there is literally nothing to worry about, ever.
He might be more receptive to simple questions like "but what if you're wrong?", given the fact that he's close to death and is probably afraid. If you know why your father doesn't believe, then maybe you can discus that. Your mother might be more difficult to reach. Those who simply don't want to walk the narrow path often ignore evidence and deceive themselves. The best testimony is a life that is truly dedicated to Jesus Christ. Maybe she'll think more soberly about death and the next life if she's completely convinced that you believe what you claim to believe. And never stop praying, brother.
My father doesn't let me go to church
Is there a way to get a priest baptize your father and give him last rites? Try your utmost to do it, Christ is specially merciful to those on their deathbed.
Baptism and last rites won't save him, he has to accept Jesus Christ as his lord and savior and put his faith in Him.
He obviously can't because he can't use his reason anymore, did you even read the thread? And water baptism, bar invincible ignorance, is absolutely necessary for salvation.
...
St. John Chrysostom
St. Ambrose
St. Augustine
St Gregory Nazianzen
those are some nice men, too bad they arent Holy Scripture.
If they really believe the useless act of sprinkling water, the mere symbol of an internal and eternal transformation of one's soul, is the gate to the loving of and love of God, then they are fools. Do you TRULY believe the eternal all knowing never changing God judges a man on whether some water touched his skin? That is merely the remnant of Roman paganism, the society of rituals, having its effect on early writers who did not understand that the only thing that matters is an individual's individual relationship with God.
birth by a mother
the inner change, which we are called to symbolize through baptism, though the baptism itself is useless.
Yeah, Christ totally charged the Apostles to do something absolutely unnecessary. Also then, was st. Paul adhering to 'pagan rituals' when he baptized the men in Acts 19:1-5? I mean, good luck with your personal relationship man.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The Church Fathers are men of great authority and wisdom, but even they are not infallible. The official teaching of the Church says that Baptism of desire is valid.
There is a truth contained in the sayings of the Fathers here, that it is better to actually receive the sacrament than it is to die in desire of it. It's not a minor difference either, considering that the fires of Purgatory are just as painful as the fires of Hell But an infinitely merciful God will surely not damn an earnest, repentant, and non-heretical believer over a technicality.
you were an idiot to convert to a religion was a pure evil god
Bro do you even read the bible?
Baptism of desire is not the point here. The point is water baptism is absolutely necessary for someone who can't use his reason normally anymore. I'd advise the OP to baptize his father himself before he dies if he can't get a priest to do it.
That's elder abuse
Read the bible damn it
How?
They will burn in Hell forever and so will you heretic
...
From what I've gathered brother, most people are proud and don't like being wrong, (I'm not exempt from this at all), because of this it's best to to avoid any direct confrontation or debate with them.
Instead I would recommend gradually raising questions on a small scale, something that encourages them to think for themselves rather than you setting out to prove them wrong (which in the case of abortion they are of course in the wrong). So for abortion I would recommend starting a conversation on the limits of abortion, if we have the right to abort children in the womb, do we also have he right to murder those over say 80 who are infirm?
Does that mean I could baptize my father in his sleep/state of dementia and potentially get him saved?
To be honest you're better off asking your priest and some random people on the internet
You're better off asking your priest instead of random people on the internet**
Sage for shity dictation
I always just say "but what if you're wrong?"
and they're forced to face the reality.
Most won't realize the truth at first, but they will at least be forced to consider that maybe their actions will be judged to be sinful by God and they will have to answer for it.
It seems that it's possible in danger of death if he showed at least some desire to be baptised, but google it further.
going to trick god and find a loophole? Always a good plan.
Totally homo.
Sucks to be you.