Any advice on evangelizing to non-denominational Christians?

[jtodisco]

Trying to explain and witness to the Catholic faith is something I’m getting used to doing with my mostly agnostic/atheist peers, but I’ve recently come across a situation that in many ways seems more difficult to me.

I’ve become friends with a non-denominational Christian who I am trying to explain the faith to without being overbearing. She is a devout person who certainly loves Christ, but it is also clear that she has grown up with a very individualistic concept of Christianity that at times is lacking in structure and coherency. For instance, she firmly believes she has been saved and yet she has never bothered to receive baptism. It’s these types of things that get me stuck and I don’t want to come off as judgmental or insensitive because I know that will just make her defensive and ruin any chances of real communication about faith in the future. I also recall how much learning I’ve had to do over the years and that if people were not patient and gentle with me I would not have gotten very far (to say nothing of how much farther we all still have to go in the spiritual life).

Anyway, I was hoping there may be converts to Catholicism from non-denominational Christianity out there who might be able to give me some advice on how to evangelize in this situation? Or if any Catholics on this site have successfully evangelized non-denominational Christians in the past, and how?

I appreciate any advice people here may be able to give me. Thanks.

 

[silicasandra]

I’ll be watching this thread with interest - my MIL is a lapsed Catholic who now attends a non-denominational church. She was even “rebaptized” in this new Church. No idea why she thought that would even be necessary.

I have been thinking for a while that I should make some kind of attempt to bring her back, but I’m not sure how (actually I have a thread about my specific situation here).

Looking forward to all ideas and suggestions.

 

[josephback]

Just answer her questions as they come up and witness by your lifestyle. Be a good Catholic and it’ll rub off I never felt a need to convert until I realized that Sola Fide wasn’t true. Until we have a crisis we tend to believe that our own experience of things…-and don’t treat her as completely ignorant. She has no doubt received a bad education, but there are places of agreement that you can build on. Good luck.

 

[josephback]

I’ll be watching this thread with interest - my MIL is a lapsed Catholic who now attends a non-denominational church. She was even “rebaptized” in this new Church. No idea why she thought that would even be necessary.

The place she goes now no doubt teaches believer’s baptism (for adults and usually not for salvation) which would make her infant baptism invalid. It’s something they do to declare their new found faith.

 

[silicasandra]

The place she goes now no doubt teaches believer’s baptism (for adults and usually not for salvation) which would make her infant baptism invalid. It’s something they do to declare their new found faith.

This makes sense. I guess I just wished that, despite everything, she knew more than that! When DH and I heard about it that really told us that she was in deep.

I will offer a little advice here: PRAY! Even in front of the person. I prayed the rosary during a thunderstorm to calm down my son and it turned into a lesson for MIL when she asked what I was doing.

 

[Redbaron998]

If you are looking for some literature to give them the pamphlet “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth” by CAF would be quite useful. Just order some and keep them around and then when they ask one time hand them one and just say “This may help address some of those questions” kinda thing.

That and make sure you show a real joy about being apart of the Church and recieve the sacraments.

 

[Andrew1983]

I’ve always felt kind of awkward with evangelization, so I generally try to appeal to the intellect and introduce tidbits of church history. I mean on some level it’s a case by case scenario.

One of my co-workers is a Non-Denominational Christian who admits to having troubles with keeping lustful thoughts at bay. Rather than say, hit him over the head with Catholic teachings or documents, I’m having him read through the first 8 books of St. Augustine’s Confessions. It probably won’t convert him, but the idea is more to show the best of us and introduce him to a little bit of church history as well.

 

[alaindelong]

Evangelization is the great commission of our church. Jesus said "Go therefore into every nation baptizing in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them all I have taught you. We are all called to do this. One of the things I talk about with fallen away Catholics is the centrality and foundation of Christ’s church, the Eucharist. When Jesus said in John 6 in the Bread of Life Discourse, "Unless you eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Son of man you have no life in you. It is important to point out that Jesus was not speaking metaphorically or symbolically. That is prcisely why His desciples left Him.Did Jesus go after them and say , hey come on back. I am speaking about a symbolic prescense. It prompted Jesus to then ask His own apostles if they were going to leave Him too!
We share in Christ’s devinity each time we recieve the Eucharist while Christ shares our humanity. The great exchange.

 

[anp1215]

I’m not a convert (yet, might be within a couple of months) but I was non-denominational before. I have been interested in Catholicism my entire life (really, since I was little) but what really got me going was when some friends invited me to Mass (Easter Vigil). Maybe try to invite your friend to Mass. The worst she can do is say no. But if you do invite her to a vigil, let her know how long it is. My friends did not and I ended up leaving a couple of hours in because I was STARVING.

 

[PJM]

=jtodisco;8351724]Trying to explain and witness to the Catholic faith is something I’m getting used to doing with my mostly agnostic/atheist peers, but I’ve recently come across a situation that in many ways seems more difficult to me.

I’ve become friends with a non-denominational Christian who I am trying to explain the faith to without being overbearing. She is a devout person who certainly loves Christ, but it is also clear that she has grown up with a very individualistic concept of Christianity that at times is lacking in structure and coherency. For instance, she firmly believes she has been saved and yet she has never bothered to receive baptism. It’s these types of things that get me stuck and I don’t want to come off as judgmental or insensitive because I know that will just make her defensive and ruin any chances of real communication about faith in the future. I also recall how much learning I’ve had to do over the years and that if people were not patient and gentle with me I would not have gotten very far (to say nothing of how much farther we all still have to go in the spiritual life).

Anyway, I was hoping there may be converts to Catholicism from non-denominational Christianity out there who might be able to give me some advice on how to evangelize in this situation? Or if any Catholics on this site have successfully evangelized non-denominational Christians in the past, and how?

I appreciate any advice people here may be able to give me. Thanks.

IF it can be done without hurting her feelings ask: How may God’s, How many sets of Faith beliefs and how many Churches does God Permit, allow, ecnourage? The answer is solidly biblical: One and One ONLY! BE ready to prove it; and allow her the opportunity to disprove it.

God Bless,
Pat

 

[BigDave31]

As a life long evangelical it is history that did it for me. Read the early church fathers. Especially St. Ignatious of Antioch. Convinced me of thr real presense of Christ in the bread and wine. AS he was an disciple of St.John the apostle. Everything else afterr that got easier for me. Praise the Lord and the Holy Spirit for His leading!!

Praying for all that seek to lead others to His One True Church~~

 

[Qwikness]

A good ice breaker is to ask, “Do you have any questions about the Catholic Church?” Everybody has at least one.
A very most excellent resource is the Catechism. If you have one loan it to them. But don’t just hand it to them. Take five minutes and show them how to use it. Show the Table of Contents and explain how it is laid out like the Creed. Show the index about particular topics such as divorce etc.
Next take them to Mass but don’t rush it. Before you go explain about the Real Presence. Send a link about how serious we take it. This will ease them about why they can’t partake of the Eucharist. It will also teach them something. At Mass show them the Order of the Mass in front of the Misselette so they can read what we’re saying and not feel left in the cold. Mass is so Christ centered she’ll be blown away.
Also talk to them about interesting Christian topics in General, not denominational, stuff like struggles against atheism, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawkins etc.
As far as baptism, maybe suggest that even Christ was baptised and surely John the Baptist and all the apostles were so shouldn’t she follow there example?

 

[jtodisco]

Thank you all for your wonderful responses. I am continuing to do my best to witness to the faith without being overbearing. I think I simply need to be patient and not let my excitement about bringing someone who seems receptive into the fold sabotage me by being too pushy. Thanks again.

 

[fide]

Trying to explain and witness to the Catholic faith is something I’m getting used to doing with my mostly agnostic/atheist peers, but I’ve recently come across a situation that in many ways seems more difficult to me.

I’ve become friends with a non-denominational Christian who I am trying to explain the faith to without being overbearing. She is a devout person who certainly loves Christ, but it is also clear that she has grown up with a very individualistic concept of Christianity that at times is lacking in structure and coherency. For instance, she firmly believes she has been saved and yet she has never bothered to receive baptism. It’s these types of things that get me stuck and I don’t want to come off as judgmental or insensitive because I know that will just make her defensive and ruin any chances of real communication about faith in the future. I also recall how much learning I’ve had to do over the years and that if people were not patient and gentle with me I would not have gotten very far (to say nothing of how much farther we all still have to go in the spiritual life).

Anyway, I was hoping there may be converts to Catholicism from non-denominational Christianity out there who might be able to give me some advice on how to evangelize in this situation? Or if any Catholics on this site have successfully evangelized non-denominational Christians in the past, and how?

I appreciate any advice people here may be able to give me. Thanks.

I was brought back to the Church from a very individualistic sola-scriptura non-denominational attitude by several things, but maybe this one part of it for me may help you: listening to the prayer of Jesus in Jn 17, “that they may be one”:
Jn 17:20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
22
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
23
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

I began to realize that the one heart and mind of Christian brotherhood is essential to the Gospel - that it is unity (the unity of both heart/love and head/Truth) that convinces the unbelieving world that something supernatural has happened in the world, and here it is.

And against the beauty of that Truth was the ugly fact of my (at that time) separateness, individuality, false sense of independence. I was part of the problem, instead of being part of Christ’s holy solution. When that happened, I knew I had no choice. I had to return to the one Church that Jesus formed and sent out with the one Gospel.

I had difficulties! But (as J.H. Newman said) no doubts. And in time, all the difficulties became resolved, clarified, and integrated into the fullness of the Gospel Truth.

 

[PJM]

=fide;8427094]I was brought back to the Church from a very individualistic sola-scriptura non-denominational attitude by several things, but maybe this one part of it for me may help you: listening to the prayer of Jesus in Jn 17, “that they may be one”:
Jn 17:20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
22
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
23
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

I began to realize that the one heart and mind of Christian brotherhood is essential to the Gospel - that it is unity (the unity of both heart/love and head/Truth) that convinces the unbelieving world that something supernatural has happened in the world, and here it is.

And against the beauty of that Truth was the ugly fact of my (at that time) separateness, individuality, false sense of independence. I was part of the problem, instead of being part of Christ’s holy solution. When that happened, I knew I had no choice. I had to return to the one Church that Jesus formed and sent out with the one Gospel.

I had difficulties! But (as J.H. Newman said) no doubts. And in time, all the difficulties became resolved, clarified, and integrated into the fullness of the Gospel Truth.

God Bless you friend,
welcome home!

Pat