Associating with non catholics

[Kateri92]

How can we properly love those who do not know Christ? I’m specifically thinking about people who are very liberal and think Christians are stuck in the ancient times. I usually try to make known what the church teaches but I seem to turn a lot of people off in doing this. Can we be friends without being explicitly catholic or do we need to be vocal catholics? I am worried that if I don’t "preech’ I’m not being true to Christ.

 

[pianistclare]

Preach when they are interested.
Get them interested by being the best person you can be.
When they want to emulate you and your style of living, then you can open up about how you do it.
Even Catholics don’t like when some priests preach, LOL.
Peace.

 

[AKDee]

I think it’s most important to live a life that is a testimony to your Faith. Non-believers will jump on hypocrisy when they see it as proof that Christians are nothing but hypocrites. And while we are all sinners, I think it’s important that we do the very best we can to follow the commandments, to apply Christian charity to our actions and words, and to be the best follower of Christ we can be. There’s that saying about evangelizing always, use words when necessary and I think that’s important. Actions are how people know that we truly walk the path we say we believe in.

 

[mikeghiorso]

Perhaps simply follow Francis of Assisi — “Preach the Gospel daily; use words if necessary.” But preach through your actions and way of living.

 

[pensmama87]

Preach when they are interested.
Get them interested by being the best person you can be.
When they want to emulate you and your style of living, then you can open up about how you do it.
Even Catholics don’t like when some priests preach, LOL.
Peace.

I think this is very good advice.

It is also what I try to do. You’d be surprised how many people come up and me and say, “So, what exactly is this thing about…?” And I try to briefly explain (and admit that there’s a lot more), and even if someone’s not immediately thunderstruck “Well, I want to become Catholic right this minute!” (never happened ), I can usually get a “Huh. I didn’t know that, that’s interesting.” You never know what will grow from that conversation.

Some people are not open to listening yet. I wasn’t for a very long time. I don’t push on those folks anymore. And sadly, on the occasions that those folks have lashed out at me, they only serve to make themselves look ridiculous.

 

[Regina7]

I think it’s hard to “properly” love them because our lives have completely different centers. My in laws, for example, are staunch atheists. We have very little in common- I try to live for Christ, and they think I’m an idiot. So while I love them for being humans deserving of love and respect, I also kinda dread family parties.

There’s an atheist that I see at school every week. Like with my in laws, I don’t preach. I don’t say, “Let me tell you about Jesus.” It just won’t work. Here’s what I do: when I’m asked how my weekend was, I say, “Great!” And then I say something specific that I enjoyed about mass. This way, the focus is on me, not them. This method has invited quite a few conversations. I think people are more open to discussing religion if they don’t feel like they are being targeted.

 

[AKDee]

Here’s what I do: when I’m asked how my weekend was, I say, “Great!” And then I say something specific that I enjoyed about mass. This way, the focus is on me, not them. This method has invited quite a few conversations. I think people are more open to discussing religion if they don’t feel like they are being targeted.

I think that’s a well thought out approach. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Kateri92]

What about being friends with someone in open opposition of church teaching (for example a person in a same sex relationship)?

 

[Regina7]

What about being friends with someone in open opposition of church teaching (for example a person in a same sex relationship)?

I find it hard to be friends (not the same as friendly) with someone openly and blatantly opposed to Church teaching. I try (not always successfully) to align my entire life, everything I do, with God and his will. I can’t become close to a person who doesn’t even care. It’s like if I were a veterinarian, it’d be hard to be close with someone who hated all animals.

 

[JC9]

Could be a little sneeky and tell them of helping the needy,marching for peace,looking after the environment,having social concerns,helping the war torn displaced.Talk about that stuff but don’t say your Christian and catholic.Some day they might ask where you get involved in all this beautiful,noble stuff.Oh,my church.Smile,a smile of a friend,leave it at, then maybe they can ask you more.You can end up leading a person to Christ.

 

[DebChris]

Perhaps simply follow Francis of Assisi — “Preach the Gospel daily; use words if necessary.” But preach through your actions and way of living.

Could be a little sneeky and tell them of helping the needy,marching for peace,looking after the environment,having social concerns,helping the war torn displaced.Talk about that stuff but don’t say your Christian and catholic.Some day they might ask where you get involved in all this beautiful,noble stuff.Oh,my church.Smile,a smile of a friend,leave it at, then maybe they can ask you more.You can end up leading a person to Christ.

When Cursillo talks about evangelization they use the concept of the little e and the big E. Usually evangelization is thought of in terms of the E, in the televangelists who preach using words. Most of us, however are called to simply live our lives following Christ. Our evangelization is done in the marketplace, the small e, or the soft sell. Start by making a friend, being a friend, and then bring that friend to Christ, or as the topic of this thread suggesting introducing him/her to the Catholic Church.
As we live our lives, we associate with people from various backgrounds, many are hostile to the Church because they really do not know what she teaches. You may be the only Catholic that the person even knows. As your friendship develops to the point that your friend begins to ask what you are doing for the weekend, then you let them in on the volunteer projects you are participating in, the prayer vigils, etc. I worked with a man who had left the Catholic Church, who knew that I went to prayer meeting on Thursday nights. Fridays when I returned to work, he would greet me with, “I know where you were last night.” It showed on my face.

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

What about being friends with someone in open opposition of church teaching (for example a person in a same sex relationship)?

I don’t see any reason why someone can’t be friends with someone else who believes differently. If we were all friends with people who thought and believed the same as we do, there would be a lot less opportunities for learning and growth. I mean, Jesus was friends with everyone.

 

[Trident_H]

I don’t see any reason why someone can’t be friends with someone else who believes differently. If we were all friends with people who thought and believed the same as we do, there would be a lot less opportunities for learning and growth. I mean, Jesus was friends with everyone.

Exactly. Exactly this. I mean if I’d never had any Catholic friends who were willing to talk with me and explain stuff I’d never have become Catholic. I’d never have gotten to first base on it.

Peace GL.

-Trident

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

Exactly. Exactly this. I mean if I’d never had any Catholic friends who were willing to talk with me and explain stuff I’d never have become Catholic. I’d never have gotten to first base on it.

Peace GL.

-Trident

Peace to you, Trident H.