Converting "feel-good" Christians

[mhans5]

A lot of Bible-believing Christians out there do not hold to any denomination or faith tradition but just go wherever they “feel good.” How does one try to teach them about the one TRUE Faith and how important it is? When one’s faith tradition is known it is easy to refute their claims with Catholic Truth and historical fact but when they have no such tradition it becomes harder to evangelize.

The person I have in mind believes that one church is as good as another (as long as it isn’t Catholic). Has anyone been in this type of situation before or have any of you been this type of Christian?

 

[ANNE_2]

A lot of Bible-believing Christians out there do not hold to any denomination or faith tradition but just go wherever they “feel good.” How does one try to teach them about the one TRUE Faith and how important it is? When one’s faith tradition is known it is easy to refute their claims with Catholic Truth and historical fact but when they have no such tradition it becomes harder to evangelize.

The person I have in mind believes that one church is as good as another (as long as it isn’t Catholic). Has anyone been in this type of situation before or have any of you been this type of Christian?

Just because they read the Bible, does not mean they believe what they are reading, or try to adhere to what they are reading.
Examples are: Adultary, fornication, homosexual acts, pride, envy, gossip, murder, lust, stealing, idolatry, greed, etc., are all forbidden per the Bible. If they truly tried to adhere to Sola Scriptura, they would be very good people.

Reading the Bible yourself may help with your evangelizing, so you can point things out to them.
But read your CCC 2nd Ed to insure you understand the Bible correctly.
Another good book is “Catholicism for Dummies” by Frs. Trigilio and Brighenti.

 

[sea_krait]

Just because they read the Bible, does not mean they believe what they are reading, or try to adhere to what they are reading.
Examples are: Adultary, fornication, homosexual acts, pride, envy, gossip, murder, lust, stealing, idolatry, greed, etc., are all forbidden per the Bible. If they truly tried to adhere to Sola Scriptura, they would be very good people.

Yeah, but the problem with that is sola fide trumps sola scriptura. Sola fide is the motivation, and sola scriptura is just the means (or excuse, perhaps). Sola fide makes people immovably zealous towards – well – sola fide. It’s such a cunning, self-perpetuating deception, as far as I can see it.

I met a Bible-studying man the other day (who believes in the sola fundamentals) and he claims that everyone from all the Christian sects, Catholics included (even though he believes some of the Catholic dogmas are clearly wrong), will be saved, and that they will realize the pettiness of their denominational differences once they reach heaven. That was his main point: aside from a belief in three or four facts about Christ, nothing else matters. It’s so easy to twist an interpretable text to fit what you’re thinking. Someone in another post said how I feel about this best: “there’s a thousand things I want to say, but nothing comes out – I wouldn’t know where to start.”

 

[sea_krait]

A lot of Bible-believing Christians out there do not hold to any denomination or faith tradition but just go wherever they “feel good.”

This doesn’t exactly answer the question, but I think it’s an okay start. This website, in the “Mormon” section of the faith tracts, mentions how feelings are sometimes falsely pushed as truth.

catholic.com/library/Problems_with_the_Book_of_Mormon.asp

"They’ll assure you that if you read their text in a spirit of prayerful inquiry, you, too, will receive the testimony of the Holy Ghost. That testimony supposedly will convince you beyond doubt that the Book of Mormon is exactly what they claim it to be.

Keep in mind that the missionaries want you to have a feeling about the Book of Mormon after reading it. They’ll tell you that you’ll receive the witness of the Holy Ghost in the form of a “burning in the bosom”—a warm, fuzzy feeling—after reading and praying about it. This feeling is the clincher for them. It’s the real “proof” that the Book of Mormon is inspired Scripture, and everything else follows from that conclusion.

But think about it. How often have you felt strongly about something or someone, only to learn your feelings were misguided? Feelings, although a part of our human makeup, can’t be a yardstick in matters like this.

After all, some people might get a good feeling after reading anything from the Communist Manifesto or the Yellow Pages. They could pray about such a feeling, and they could take the lingering of the feeling as some kind of divine approbation, but no such sensation will prove the inspiration of Marx’s or Ma Bell’s writings."

 

[mhans5]

Yeah, but the problem with that is sola fide trumps sola scriptura. Sola fide is the motivation, and sola scriptura is just the means (or excuse, perhaps). Sola fide makes people immovably zealous towards – well – sola fide. It’s such a cunning, self-perpetuating deception, as far as I can see it.

Wow that is exactly it… she thinks that just because she believes in Jesus she is saved. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matt 7:21) Did she miss that part?

 

[Della]

A lot of Bible-believing Christians out there do not hold to any denomination or faith tradition but just go wherever they “feel good.” How does one try to teach them about the one TRUE Faith and how important it is? When one’s faith tradition is known it is easy to refute their claims with Catholic Truth and historical fact but when they have no such tradition it becomes harder to evangelize.

The person I have in mind believes that one church is as good as another (as long as it isn’t Catholic). Has anyone been in this type of situation before or have any of you been this type of Christian?

Yes, for them the word “truth” is almost a dirty word. If you try to tell them there is a discernible truth, they will counter “who’s truth?” The enemy has done a good job of convincing people that any form of Protestantism will do. It’s the lazy man’s belief that lets him off the hook for just about anything. Scratch the surface of such a soul and you’ll generally find someone who church shops in order to find one that won’t condemn his favorite vice or, conversely, who will make him feel the most virtuous in his complacency. The human soul is a lazy creature that, before it is well-formed in the truth, needs constant prodding, but rebels against such proddings and so does nothing or finds excuses for himself. Sliding by won’t keep anyone for long. He needs prayer and the truth–what he’ll accept of it, in doses he can take. Patience is needed in helping such a person–like sitting and waiting for a fish to take the bait (if I may use such a metaphor without sounding flippant). Be ready to answer his questions and be his friend. If he truly wants to know and serve God in “spirit and in truth” he will respond as the Holy Spirit urges him. If not, nothing you can do will move him. So, don’t be discouraged if he won’t listen/respond. He’s Jesus’ patient, not yours, so give him to God and do what you are able to do for him.

 

[surfinpure]

Man, if you ever do find a way to get through to this bunch, please hunt me up and let me know! I bump into them all the time, and I’m related to some of them. It’s like they’re half asleep, and appeals to Scripture or history or reason just fall flat. And truly, this ‘feel-good’ Christianity has an intoxicating, mind-numbing effect. It stunts people into spiritual children (or keeps them there). There are dozens of arguments to be made, but how do you argue with someone who won’t even listen? And why should they? In the Church of Good Feelings you can have your cake (guaranteed salvation) and eat it too (doing everything “my way.”)

C.S. Lewis stated that a religion that acknowledges God but holds itself to no code of morality is a religion for little boys. And that’s who we’re dealing with. Oh, the frustration… :crying:

 

[mhans5]

Man, if you ever do find a way to get through to this bunch, please hunt me up and let me know! I bump into them all the time, and I’m related to some of them. It’s like they’re half asleep, and appeals to Scripture or history or reason just fall flat. And truly, this ‘feel-good’ Christianity has an intoxicating, mind-numbing effect. It stunts people into spiritual children (or keeps them there). There are dozens of arguments to be made, but how do you argue with someone who won’t even listen? And why should they? In the Church of Good Feelings you can have your cake (guaranteed salvation) and eat it too (doing everything “my way.”)

C.S. Lewis stated that a religion that acknowledges God but holds itself to no code of morality is a religion for little boys. And that’s who we’re dealing with. Oh, the frustration… :crying:

Right-on!

 

[mhans5]

I wonder if any professional apologists have tackled this. I need a John Martignoni.

 

[Edward_H]

Luke 9:23 (take up cross daily).

These are Christians without the Cross, not really Christians.

 

[surfinpure]

Luke 9:23 (take up cross daily).

These are Christians without the Cross, not really Christians.

And if I hear one more time that “Jesus suffered and died so we wouldn’t have to,” I’m personally going to pick up a cross and whack somebody.

Kidding. Sort of.

 

[Incomplete]

Not that this will convince anyone, but read Matthew 31:46. There isn’t a word about belief or faith in this passage about judgement.

31"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32"All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

33and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

34"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35’For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

37"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

38’And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?

39’When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

40"The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

41"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

42for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;

43I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

44"Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’

45"Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

46"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 

[Edward_H]

And if I hear one more time that “Jesus suffered and died so we wouldn’t have to,” I’m personally going to pick up a cross and whack somebody.

Kidding. Sort of.

Good one.

God gave us the possibility of immense dignity by allowing us, by enabling us, to share in the salvation of the whole world…and the person next to us.

That’s truly “feeling good”.

 

[josephback]

The best way to convert “feel good” Christians is with prayer. Prayer provides the advance column needed to break through such blindness. It’s like a secret weapon Patience and understanding are also good. It takes time to develop a Catholic mindset. I’ll pray. Peace out.

-Joe

 

[St_Gabriel]

A lot of Bible-believing Christians out there do not hold to any denomination or faith tradition but just go wherever they “feel good.” How does one try to teach them about the one TRUE Faith and how important it is? When one’s faith tradition is known it is easy to refute their claims with Catholic Truth and historical fact but when they have no such tradition it becomes harder to evangelize.

The person I have in mind believes that one church is as good as another (as long as it isn’t Catholic). Has anyone been in this type of situation before or have any of you been this type of Christian?

I understand your frustration. I was just speaking to someone today who said that all we need is to believe in God to go to heaven. That’s not even biblical! This person does not attend any church and I highly doubt they read a Bible. There are numerous references that I could point to in the Bible to show them the truth, but they are so blind that I don’t know what to do. Today I said that I disagreed and changed the conversation because I didn’t want to get into an argument. The soil is not fertile, so what is the point of planting? I can only pray for these people.

 

[StevEdward]

32"All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

How true ! and just as the One who harvests the grain and burns the chaff with unquenchable fire, there are also very few who actually find the narrow path that leads to life.

This is not just another reoccurring theme, but millions of dollars have been spent to make prospects feel comfortable in “Churches” that cater to their member’s feelings and comfort. I need to know this as one who believes in Catholicism and yet lives in the real world. Most of my life I’ve studied Comparative Religions and have found this problem of people looking for short-cuts to heaven that involve less discomfort and cost. All I can say is that the truth will sometimes be snatched away by the “Evil One,” lest they should hear it and be saved.

So many of the people I have talked with who oppose the Catholic Church experience an immediate dislike for the idea of suffering for God. Now I don’t believe in torturing one’s self, but St. John of the Cross did say something to the effect that those who have been truly touched by God cannot suffer enough for Him as a result. many of our Saints have felt this and in my own experience very few people except the Catholic religious have any conception of it.

Recently I found another good example in a thread that was started on YouTube in a post of a Christian song written by Ron Block for Alison Krauss and Union Station: “There Is A Reason” youtube.com/watch?v=UWXNm9b6pKs

Sincerely,

Steve S.

“It is the duty of every cultured man or woman to read sympathetically the scriptures of the world. If we are to respect others’ religions as we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world’s religions is a sacred duty.”
Mohandas K. Gandhi

 

[ESMDHokie77]

I feel “more than good” when I receive Holy Communion.
:heaven:

 

[Monica4316]

A lot of Bible-believing Christians out there do not hold to any denomination or faith tradition but just go wherever they “feel good.” How does one try to teach them about the one TRUE Faith and how important it is? When one’s faith tradition is known it is easy to refute their claims with Catholic Truth and historical fact but when they have no such tradition it becomes harder to evangelize.

The person I have in mind believes that one church is as good as another (as long as it isn’t Catholic). Has anyone been in this type of situation before or have any of you been this type of Christian?

I think I’ve been that type of Christian… it’s the Eucharist that brought me to the Church