Depends. If some says “godblessyou”, without stressing any particular word, then no. But when people take the obvious effort to say “GOD blessyou” or “GOD BLESS you”, then I just shake my head and walk away.Are you irritated when anyone says it, or just that specific family member?
Well, they certainly could. Except the last thing you listed (whole list was great though!), none of that necessarily means you are Catholic, and unless the people know why you aren’t doing lunch meetings, it doesn’t even necessarily indicate you are religious either.If people can’t tell I’m Catholic by my actions, then rosaries dangling in my car, bumper stickers, T-shirts,etc., aren’t going to impress anybody.
Yes, signs have their place. I’m just saying that I’m not good at them.Well, they certainly could. Except the last thing you listed (whole list was great though!), none of that necessarily means you are Catholic, and unless the people know why you aren’t doing lunch meetings, it doesn’t even necessarily indicate you are religious either.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to confuse true faith with external signs of it, but I think the latter has its place.
Those things aren’t evangelism.Most people would probably agree that living by example is the best means of evangelization. But this won’t be all that helpful to gaining converts if people seeing this don’t know what your faith is! In light of this, what aspects of your daily life are clear signs of your Catholicism, or at least religiousness? What sayings do you frequently find yourself using (“keep the faith”, “God bless” as a goodbye, etc.) that also show this?
For me:
-Wearing a crucifix
-Saying “God Bless” instead of “Bless You” after someone sneezes
-It is blatantly stated in my Facebook Profile
-Rosary beads visible in car
How about you all?
Thanks!
Evangelism is spreading the good news of Christ. Being a good person gains the trust of others. When others trust you, they are more likely to listen to you and agree with your views. Making the fact visible that you are a Roman Catholic is saying you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the definition of good. This helps spread the good news of Christ.Those things aren’t evangelism.
In the Bible, evangelism always refers to preaching or presenting the Gospel to the lost.
They may be a way to demonstrate that you’re a Roman Catholic, but they don’t have anything to do with Biblical evangelism.
…by the preaching of the Gospel.Evangelism is spreading the good news of Christ.
I see. So then, are you a good person?Being a good person gains the trust of others.
It isn’t about the evangelist. It’s about the Gospel. Either the Gospel stands on it’s own, or it doesn’t.When others trust you, they are more likely to listen to you and agree with your views.
No, it just tells them that you’re a Roman Catholic.Making the fact visible that you are a Roman Catholic is saying you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the definition of good. This helps spread the good news of Christ.
Not Biblical evangelism. Again, in the Bible, evangelism is always about the preaching of the Gospel, never about what jewelry you wear or what you say when somebody sneezes or what superstitions you believe in.It most certainly does have everything to do with evangelism.
Piecing up my argument does no good refuting the point I made. I showed, in simple terms, how giving outward signs of your own belief can help bring others to believe in Christ. I am bringing (yes, I have been successful) people to the faith and therefore helping them avoid damnation; I don’t care whether or not you personally will call it “Biblical Evangelism.”…by the preaching of the Gospel.
I see. So then, are you a good person?
It isn’t about the evangelist. It’s about the Gospel. Either the Gospel stands on it’s own, or it doesn’t.
When I preach the Gospel, either the hearer is convicted by the power of the word of God or he isn’t. If he’s merely “convinced” because he trusts me, then I haven’t preached the Gospel faithfully and he isn’t saved.
No, it just tells them that you’re a Roman Catholic.
Not Biblical evangelism. Again, in the Bible, evangelism is always about the preaching of the Gospel, never about what jewelry you wear or what you say when somebody sneezes or what superstitions you believe in.
OK. Humor me. Explain to me one more time how these things express the Gospel.Piecing up my argument does no good refuting the point I made. I showed, in simple terms, how giving outward signs of your own belief can help bring others to believe in Christ. I am bringing (yes, I have been successful) people to the faith and therefore helping them avoid damnation; I don’t care whether or not you personally will call it “Biblical Evangelism.”
How about expressing the 2 greatest commandments.OK. Humor me. Explain to me one more time how these things express the Gospel.
How about explaining how they express the Gospel?How about expressing the 2 greatest commandments.
If I have to explain this to you then I can only suggest that you should speak to your pastor.How about explaining how they express the Gospel?
Well, it’s your story. If you can’t explain it what makes you think that he can?If I have to explain this to you then I can only suggest that you should speak to your pastor.
And if you can’t even articulate the Gospel, I want nothing to do with yours.So what credence do I give to you and the faith you are representing? The answer is little or none. Why? because if your behavior is any indication, I want to have nothing to do with your denomination.
It says that I’m growing in holiness, that I’m striving after God, and that I’m being faithful to the Gospel.Our Very Lives reflect our true faith.
What does your life say about yours?
I don’t know, why don’t you ask him?Well, it’s your story. If you can’t explain it what makes you think that he can?
You know nothing of what I can or cannot articulate. You asked me to explain something for you. I have done so to the best of my ability and in all Christian Charity. Your responses only re-enforce what I have said.And if you can’t even articulate the Gospel, I want nothing to do with yours.
That may be true, (though I doubt it) but while you are doing so, you are driving others further away from your position of holiness by your attitude.It says that I’m growing in holiness, that I’m striving after God, and that I’m being faithful to the Gospel.
First of all, I’ve known him for about twenty years and know that he knows what the Gospel is and is not.I don’t know, why don’t you ask him?
So far, despite having been asked several times, you haven’t been able to articulate it.You know nothing of what I can or cannot articulate.
Honestly, I’ve shared the Gospel with literally thousands of people and not one of them has ever said that they were turned off by my attitude.That may be true, (though I doubt it) but while you are doing so, you are driving others further away from your position of holiness by your attitude.
Well I’m not going to continue this tit-for-tat merry-go-round.First of all, I’ve known him for about twenty years and know that he knows what the Gospel is and is not.
Frankly, if you told him that the things you listed are the Gospel, he’d probably laught at you.
Second, you’re the one who made the claim, so it’s up to you to show some evidence for it.
So far, despite having been asked several times, you haven’t been able to articulate it.
Please feel free to prove me wrong by answering the question.
Honestly, I’ve shared the Gospel with literally thousands of people and not one of them has ever said that they were turned off by my attitude.
Frankly, I guess I’d rather preach the Gospel faithfully and have what you consider to be a bad attitude (for what, I have no idea), than to not know what the Gospel is, but be convinced that I’m preaching it.
OK. Let’s try it this way:Well I’m not going to continue this tit-for-tat merry-go-round.
Near as I can recall, you were asking about our preaching the Gospel through our actions. I responded to that with Jesus teaching regarding Loving God and each other. If one does this, then their faith and the Truth of God will shine into the lives of others. If this does not fit with you idea of evangelizing then I cannot help that.
If I am misunderstanding your position or have not answered an actual question then please restate and I will try to answer.
Nobody has avoided me and it seems that, if they were really turned off by my attitude, we wouldn’t have parted on such good terms, I wouldn’t have become friends with many of them, and they wouldn’t have gotten saved.By the way, it has been my experience that most people won’t tell someone they are “turned off by their attitude”, they just start avoiding you.
Since you are so experienced at proclaiming the Gospel, I am sure that you recognize that certain people are ready to hear the Gospel and others are not. Yet by ministering to them in other ways, one “prepares the field” as it were. By ministering to others in loving ways, on the street, in the market, wherever we meet them with a smile, a God bless, a, “how can I help you” attitude we create a bond of trust and understnading. We show these people that our faith is one of compassion, understanding and forgiveness. All before this person is even ready to “hear the Gospel”.OK. Let’s try it this way:
In what way will the things you mentioned communicate to me that I am a sinner, in danger of God’s judgement, and that I need to be born again by repenting of my sins and putting my faith in Christ and His atonement on the cross on my behalf?
What I said remains. They fulfill the definition of “evangelism” by aiding in the journey of others to Christ. Very simple. If someone praises me as a good person, that’s nice; it is far better if something I do makes him realize I believe that Christ is God, and then himself seeks the same path. I made this thread to see what things people on this forum do that clue others into their belief. There is really no need for this argument you are presenting; can you please leave this thread alone if you don’t have anything to contribute?OK. Humor me. Explain to me one more time how these things express the Gospel.