Separation Anxiety of an Eternal Nature

[MidnightsPaleGlow]

Hey all, many of you who know me here know that I've suffered from anxiety and depression issues for almost the last 10 years of my life, as I have been pretty open about on this board, but lately, a new type of separation anxiety has been afflicting me. One of my greatest fears over the years has been losing people close to me, including family and friends, but now, it has taken on a very cruel form, eternal separation anxiety. As the only person in my family who is saved, I have struggled with trying to share the "good news" with my family, only to result in some kind of conflict/disagreement and fail. As I think about the prospects of potentially being separated from family members that I love dearly forever and ever, it has sank me into another bout of depression. I want my family to be saved, but unfortunately, thanks to years of being enslaved by the Roman Catholic Cult, they've been deceived greatly and they don't realize the danger they're in spiritually, and I've tried to point it to them over and over, only to have to back off so things wouldn't go overboard. It has been a source of periodic tension since I first announced that I got saved to my family, an event that took a few months for me to work up the nerve to do out of fear that it would tear the family apart. And now, this very cruel thing happens to me. Any words/prayers of comfort would be greatly appreciated...

[DawninPA]

Hi Midnight;

I can definitely relate to how you feel - it scares me sometimes too that I there may be loved ones that are not with me in Heaven. I worry that my father, who passed away in May, is not there, or my unoffcial "stepson" who passed away at age 20.

I think sometimes we just have to have faith that God will do what is good and what is just. You mention that your family are Roman Catholics - doesn't that mean that they believe in God and that Jesus died on the cross? Isn't that what God asks of us in order to be with him in Paradise?

I am not a Biblical scholar and I'm sure others will come along with better advice, but I think bottom line we have to have faith that God will manage. Heaven is a joyous place, so I cannot believe that we will be unable to enjoy it because ones we cared about here on Earth are not with us.

Continue to pray for your family and let them see by your life that it is good to be a Christian!

[MidnightsPaleGlow]

You mention that your family are Roman Catholics - doesn't that mean that they believe in God and that Jesus died on the cross? Isn't that what God asks of us in order to be with him in Paradise?


Yeah, but unfortunately, Mariolatry, belief in the 7 Sacraments and Purgatory are part of their equation, I've tried to point to them that there's nothing in scripture about giving Mary all of this excessive exaltation, I've also pointed to the "2 ordinances (not sacraments since they're NOT salvific in any way)" and how there's no "7 sacraments," and that there's no such place as Purgatory. The RCC has perverted the gospel in such a way that the teachings of the RCC regarding justification can save nobody. Most Catholics aren't trusting in Jesus alone for their salvation, but Jesus plus their works, and you cannot get into Heaven that way...

[OneofHis777]

First of all I would like to say DawninPA gave you the best advice:
"Continue to pray for your family and let them see by your life that it is good to be a Christian!" God has it all under control it was determined before the foundation of the earth who would accept Christ and who wouldn't and God save he would save your house. I too have argued with people in my family about coming to the Lord before it is too late, it has never worked. The ones I have prayed for with no attempt to covert them have since been saved. As we come to realize that God is fully in control and does not need our assistance and it is not are responsiblity to save the whole world but to wait on God and do what he ask when he ask we become free from the bondage that we don't do enough, or pray enough. Do you very best to Love God with all you heart and Love others as you do yourself and let God take care of the rest. Pray that God would send others to witness to your family because a profit is never accepted among his own people. Do your best to live out a Godly life in front of friends and co-workers and you will be surprised what God can do.

[Richard H]

Hi 'Glow,
At breakfast, I used to sit with my Mom - a stanch RC at the time.
I’d be sitting there drinking coffee and reading the Bible. Soon we were talking in a non-confrontational way.

I asked her about what RCs believed (she was raised pre V2), and was astonished to hear what she told me.
I was raised RC but never thought of the Immaculate Conception as being that of Mary.
Anyway, I’d show her where Scripture seemed to say something else.
Things like: there is one mediator, Christ Jesus and so on.

By reading in front of her, the topic was sure to come up.
By asking her about her faith, she was happy to talk.
By showing her the Scriptures and not really arguing about it, she was able to see the truth.

Later, it was clear to me that she had internalized all this and had a personal relationship with Jesus.
She read and studied her Bible and gained an excellent understanding.
She still wanted to go to mass and adhere to the sacraments, but knew that Jesus was her savior.
She even told me once that He had rebuked her for something. That’s when I really knew everything was OK.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev 3:19

She’s passed on now, but I fully expect her to be with us in the resurrection.

Richard