Once we consider, “I have an immortal soul that will either spend eternity in perpetual pain or unending joy.”, we are forced to choose. Some make this bet: “Hey, I bet my soul that God is kind and loving and I am a good person! I don’t need a Church or any formal stuff that just gets in the way. My soul’s eternity comes down to me and God and, maybe Pastor Bob.”
Others are reminded of Jesus, nailed to a cross. “This may not be some simple-minded feel-good exercise between me and God and Pastor Bob. Prophecies were made, thousands of years before Jesus was born in the predicted town, place, and family. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of such prophecies. I bet my soul on this because the prophecies are were written down long before Jesus and the accuracy of the writings were confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls that also pre-dated Jesus. The Bible clearly says in Mt 16: 18-20 that Jesus only founded one Church. That is why I bet my soul on The Only Church Founded by He Who Fulfilled the Prophecies.”
As we near the end of our time on earth, many choose to ignore risks in the coming Judgment. “I bet my soul, if I have a soul, that God, if there is a God, will be nice to me because I am a good person.”
Each passing day brings each of us closer to the coming Judgment. “Hmmm. Once, I bet my soul that God would be nice to me because I am a good person. But, am I a good person? As I get older, I realize that I am vain, greedy, lustful, lazy, far too self-absorbed, and overly concerned with silly fads. Am I a really good person? Have I been missing something?”
We realize, “I am dithering. If I can’t make up my mind in time, then I bet my soul that I can get into Heaven by being neutral and vacillating. Jesus, and the martyred saints of The Only Church He Founded did not vacillate. Should I bet my soul that I should try to be like them, firmly and consistently Catholic?” Many prefer perennial pondering as days and decades slide by.
We may hear our soul whisper, or scream, “Fool! Are you going to wake up!? If you don’t make the smart bet, I’m the one who ends up burning in hell. That’s when you will realize, you incomparably conceited ass, how important it is that you make the decision to save me. I am you!”
The Catholic Fundamentalism analysis of Probability Theory makes the argument for choosing the best religion on which you bet our soul far more urgent. Even the dimmest unbeliever, from the dumbest to the richest Pastor Bob and Bobbist knows that his own life is not an infinite series. The diminishing time remaining requires the best answer to “Should I bet my soul on The Only Church Jesus Founded?”
Some take the incredibly stupid risk that they’ll have time for a deathbed conversion or Confession. “It only takes a minute to repent. If there’s a priest handy, the entire power of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Last Rites are on my side. I bet my soul on that.” For a lapsed Catholic to gamble on enough mental clarity to make a Confession in the last few minutes is as stupid a bet as it’s possible to make.
Even the never-Catholic souls are likely to be unable to say with sincerity, “God, I am sorry for having offended you.” Many die with their final thought “I am a good person.” echoing emptily as its erroneous meaninglessness is transformed into agony.
Understanding that every lost soul lives with dwindling days for salvation gives Catholic Fundamentalists a special duty. We must not hesitate to remind people that the time they have left, while unknown, is always shrinking. Even more frightening, the risk of a sudden death without time for reconciliation with God is increasing.
The smartest conclusion anyone can make is to say “I bet my soul that The Only Church Jesus Founded has the surest Sacraments to save my soul.” Our wagering window closes a little farther every day. Is it wise to say “I bet my soul” on some silly Pastor Bobism and go to Judgment without the Sacraments of The Only Church Jesus Founded?
