Can I Talk, Teach, Preach about Jesus, God, and the Sacred Scriptures?

[switalabe]

Hi,

Recently I’ve noticed in my conversations that I’m talking a lot more about God and the Bible and so forth. I generally try to adopt an authoritative tone. I’m pretty sure that I’m conveying the Catholic Faith accurately; that’s my intention.

My question is, can I do this kind of thing? Some of the things I’m talking – dare I say teaching? – about, I feel would be more appropriate for an actual teacher to do.

For example, I got into a conversation with my aunt, who is a fallen away Catholic, and I wound up explaining parts of the creation story to her.

Another example is in this thread (non- CA website: fencing.net/forums/thread79068-2.html) where in post #31 I explain a bit about the creation story. Actually it’s pretty much what I told my aunt.

So, am I on the right track? I feel like an official preacher or something but I’m just a lay person w/o formal training. I remember hearing that St. Francis was admonished not to teach theology or interpret Scripture & I’m wondering if that applies to me & if that’s what I’m doing here. On the other hand, I remember in Catholic grade school they taught us that we each have a calling as priest, prophet, and king, offices which I figured I’ve been exercising in my own particular called way.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Ad_Orientem]

I think the prohibition is against representing yourself as an officially recognized theologian of the Church or teacher of the faith (a distinction which the Church gives and can take away). There’s no law against having strong opinions or conviction in your beliefs.

In many cases, it’s safe to assume that others (especially family) know our limitations as laymen, e.g. that we are voicing our own opinion, that we are not clergy, that we are not formally trained in biblical studies or theology, etc.

That said, some people may take us at our word when we say in all sincerity, “The Catholic view is X,” when in reality it is only one of several Catholic views, or not even a Catholic view at all. Maybe we heard or read it somewhere, but we never got around to fact checking with a priest or with sources that have doctrinal or theological weight. (This has happened to me more than once.)

For this reason it is a good idea not to overstate our certainty about some things. It’s great if you have conviction, but be forthright about the limitations of your knowledge, e.g. “I read in [insert book title] that…” or “I think the Church teaches…” or “It seems to me that…” etc. – when appropriate, of course.

I’m trying to be better about this myself…including on discussion fora.

 

[Lucy107]

So, am I on the right track? I feel like an official preacher or something but I’m just a lay person w/o formal training.

I am a non-Catholic who has been on the receving end of such preaching for a long time.
When I was little and then into my teens, there was a folk belief popular among the Catholics where I lived that people who were not baptized as infants are destined for eternal damnation. Since I was not baptized, the Catholics around me were sure I was destined for eternal damnation, and they treated me dismissively. I actually believed them, I didn’t see any other option. I’ve lived with that belief for some thirty years, in torment, hopelessness and resignation, and I am still not entirely over it.

Examples like this should make a preacher wary of what they teach, to make sure that they really know what they are teaching and that they know it to be truth.

You probably won’t commit the blunder that the Catholics in my youth did, but keep in mind that the people that you teach may be in a very vulnerable state spiritually, so even smaller mistakes and deviations on your part could cause them a lot of confusion and suffering.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation we are official ministers of Jesus Christ to the world.

 

[HelenRose]

I am a non-Catholic who has been on the receving end of such preaching for a long time.
When I was little and then into my teens, there was a folk belief popular among the Catholics where I lived that people who were not baptized as infants are destined for eternal damnation. Since I was not baptized, the Catholics around me were sure I was destined for eternal damnation, and they treated me dismissively. I actually believed them, I didn’t see any other option. I’ve lived with that belief for some thirty years, in torment, hopelessness and resignation, and I am still not entirely over it.

Examples like this should make a preacher wary of what they teach, to make sure that they really know what they are teaching and that they know it to be truth.

You probably won’t commit the blunder that the Catholics in my youth did, but keep in mind that the people that you teach may be in a very vulnerable state spiritually, so even smaller mistakes and deviations on your part could cause them a lot of confusion and suffering.

My son-in-law calls himself a recovering Catholic. When he and my daughter were first married, I did not know that he was a Catholic - he thinks of himself as a Buddhist. We got into a conversation about religion and in the course of the conversation he said, “I was an alter boy. We had a real good priest then and I even thought about becoming a priest. Then a real loser became the priest. My Dad always made sure we were in Church each Sunday but that was the only time he showed interest in his kids except to yell at them.”

This was one time I listened to my Guardian Angel telling me to back off. Telling me that God is working on him and I need only to love him.

I have learned since that he had made a mess of his youth and was only saved by a kind Buddhist. My daughter, who although has also left the Church, was worried about James being a Buddhist. I told her, and I meant it, that he did not run away from home he only went next door. This Buddhist saved his life while an arrogant priest and rather abusive father nearly destroyed it.

He is a photographer and he (strangely enough) has a fascination with old missions, cathedrals and Mary. He loves my husband and me. We dearly love him. He is so good to our daughter and their children.

I know that God is working on him because this last Christmas he was reminiscing about Christmas Midnight Mass and how much as a kid he enjoyed it.

(As an aside: this Catholic Mama is real happy that he is a Catholic because both he and my daughter have had previous, disastrous marriages, outside the Church. When they do decide to come home neither will have problems with annulments. )

You are so right to protect your own journey. There is so much about Catholicism that is hard to accept and hard to understand. Evangelism can only be taught through love. If love and understanding are not present we as want-to-be evangelists can only do harm.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Hi,

Recently I’ve noticed in my conversations that I’m talking a lot more about God and the Bible and so forth. I generally try to adopt an authoritative tone. I’m pretty sure that I’m conveying the Catholic Faith accurately; that’s my intention.

My question is, can I do this kind of thing? Some of the things I’m talking – dare I say teaching? – about, I feel would be more appropriate for an actual teacher to do.

For example, I got into a conversation with my aunt, who is a fallen away Catholic, and I wound up explaining parts of the creation story to her.

Another example is in this thread (non- CA website: fencing.net/forums/thread79068-2.html) where in post #31 I explain a bit about the creation story. Actually it’s pretty much what I told my aunt.

So, am I on the right track? I feel like an official preacher or something but I’m just a lay person w/o formal training. I remember hearing that St. Francis was admonished not to teach theology or interpret Scripture & I’m wondering if that applies to me & if that’s what I’m doing here. On the other hand, I remember in Catholic grade school they taught us that we each have a calling as priest, prophet, and king, offices which I figured I’ve been exercising in my own particular called way.

Thanks,
Ben

I preach all the time! We are called to Preach the Gospel!
We have this great gift! Shall we not share the words of Our Saviour? You don’t have to be a Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon to preach. They do indeed proclaim the word at Mass. This is what they are called to do. The Presbyters and Bishops give us the Eucharist. The Deacons are called to serve in a unique capacity. You and I, in Christ are to share in the Gospel too! Jesus did not tell his disciples “shut up, talking about religion in public is rude and it makes people nervous”, Matthew 28:20 tells us that we are to teach everything the Lord commanded us! I do not share in the Grace of Holy Orders, but by virtue of my Baptism, (1 Peter 2:5,1 Peter 2:9) I share in that Grace, as do you! Yes, Preach the Gospel! By your life, by your actions, by your words, by your Deeds! Never be ashamed of the Gospel, as Romans 1:16 says " For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.". Paul’s words, should be ours!. God bless!
-Adam