Catholic evangelists, assemble!

[hrwilliams]

While I’m no stranger to evangelization, I’m not 100% certain how a Catholic would go about this. You see, I’m writing a book. I have a couple of Catholic characters, but not being Catholic myself, I want to make sure I’m portraying you guys honestly.

So pretend you’re my Catholic characters, and this agnostic girl is thinking about atoning for a past sin by committing suicide. What would you tell this agnostic about the work of Christ meeting the demands of the law, etc?

 

[Barbkw]

What’s a free Lutheran?

Why would an “agnostic girl …atone for a past sin by committing suicide?”

Is suicide prevalent amoung agnostics?

Since when does someone “atone” for sin? That’s a Temple Period understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation with God.

Do you mean she’s overcome with guilt and believes that God won’t forgive her?"

Catholics admit their guilt to themselves and then confess to Christ’ priest. Hearing the words of absolution, a person internalizes the mercy and forgiveness of God, and then receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, an empowerment to avoid this sin in the future.

 

[Edward_H]

While I’m no stranger to evangelization, I’m not 100% certain how a Catholic would go about this. You see, I’m writing a book. I have a couple of Catholic characters, but not being Catholic myself, I want to make sure I’m portraying you guys honestly.

So pretend you’re my Catholic characters, and this agnostic girl is thinking about atoning for a past sin by committing suicide. What would you tell this agnostic about the work of Christ meeting the demands of the law, etc?

• I would tell the girl that God is her eternal and loving Father…a real Father (Abba, “daddy”).
• He doesn’t want her to kill herself for a past sin. He wants her to return to Him and simply and sincerely say “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned”.
• I would remind her that killing herself is another wrong. And one can never do a wrong hoping that some good will come out of it.
  -I’d get her busy working and turning outside, getting her head outside of herself, get her focused on loving others and giving herself to others, in a very generous manner.
• Getting her doing - getting her head off of herself - is a very Catholic thing to do.

Good luck with your project.

An idea…use some Catholic names…Saints names…like St Monica or St Augustine (“Gus”). Learn about them or others and that might help you build some more interesting characters.

 

[hrwilliams]

Thanks, Edward! You were immensely helpful. nod nod nod

What’s a Free Lutheran?

The AFLC is a traditional, conservative denomination emphasizing law and gospel, Scripture, etc. We actually have a lot in common.

Why would an “agnostic girl …atone for a past sin by committing suicide?”

Is suicide prevalent among agnostics?

Since when does someone “atone” for sin?

I don’t think this is common among agnostics at all, but in context, this particular character has the right psychological profile for that sort of thing. I just didn’t want to give you a lot of reading.

That’s a Temple Period understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation with God.

That’s very interesting! Can you tell me more?