'Backbiting' communities don’t help evangelization – unity does

[GodHeals]

Hi,
What exactly is being said below, to not be “over-evangelical” all at once and be patient?
Thank you,
Brian

“Moral or spiritual progress which manipulates a person’s immaturity is only an apparent success, and one destined to fail,” he said, noting that our faith demands the opposite response, which is a patience accompaniment that waits for the right moment for each person.

Patience, he said, “is the only way to love truly and to lead others into a sincere relationship with the Lord.” - catholicnewsagency.com/news/backbiting-communities-dont-help-evangelization-unity-does-71085/

 

[SeekerOfIron]

I think that’s a decent summary. The way I read it is that in trying to evangelize, you should be evangelizing the truth. Help the person to come to know God, to seek after Him, and show them how He’s found in the Church. It is a slow process, and requires patience, as does any true learning process. Eventually, they will hopefully come to a point where they can accept the truth of the Catholic faith.

Trying to have a moment where you sway them to your side, to realize that everything they believed is false and you’re right after all, is foolhardy. One, it’s unlikely to happen. Two, if it does, it just means that they’re likely to be swayed by someone else away from the Church. We want to mature people in their faith, make it strong and stable, not prey on their questions and doubts to try to get a quick victory.

At least, that’s how I read it.

 

[Lou2U]

From my point of view as an Agnostic, if you met me and immediately started telling me that I needed to believe in Jesus for my salvation and I need to accept all the teachings of the Church, it would be very off-putting and awkward for me. I wouldn’t want to hear about your faith because you started to push it on me. However, if you slowed down, didn’t tell me that I “needed” to do things, I would be much more willing to hear what you have to say - that would be a much better way to start evangelising, no?

Lou

 

[kkollwitz]

I’d want to know where someone is in his or her faith journey before launching into evangelization.

 

[CalCatholic]

From my point of view as an Agnostic, if you met me and immediately started telling me that I needed to believe in Jesus for my salvation and I need to accept all the teachings of the Church, it would be very off-putting and awkward for me. I wouldn’t want to hear about your faith because you started to push it on me. However, if you slowed down, didn’t tell me that I “needed” to do things, I would be much more willing to hear what you have to say - that would be a much better way to start evangelising, no?

Lou

I was agnostic for 47 years and I agree!