Defending the faith or banging your head against a brick wall

[Dpoc41]

Sometimes when trying to defend the faith on twitter or youtube etc. Is it better to just brush the dust off your feet and move on. I’m not talking about most Protestants, but sometimes I think the person I’m talking to is wearing a tall hat with a buckle on it and has just stepped off the mayflower. They are not open-minded in any way and don’t even class Catholics as Christians, and when you clearly prove a point from scripture, they just won’t listen. When is the right time to say - "OK I’ve given an account of my faith, now move on ". I think it was Bl Mother Teresa who said everyday you will meet someone who disagrees with your faith, just smile and move on.:banghead:

 

[Della]

Sometimes when trying to defend the faith on twitter or youtube etc. Is it better to just brush the dust off your feet and move on. I’m not talking about most Protestants, but sometimes I think the person I’m talking to is wearing a tall hat with a buckle on it and has just stepped off the mayflower. They are not open-minded in any way and don’t even class Catholics as Christians, and when you clearly prove a point from scripture, they just won’t listen. When is the right time to say - "OK I’ve given an account of my faith, now move on ". I think it was Bl Mother Teresa who said everyday you will meet someone who disagrees with your faith, just smile and move on.:banghead:

This is where one needs discernment, isn’t it? If I see even a hint that the other person is seeking answers–real answers and not just looking for debating points, I’ll press on. But, it’s pretty easy to see within a couple of exchanges if this is the case or not. The moment I see the other person wants to argue not share, I simply walk away. If the other person wants to think he won the “debate”–how he sees it, not me, that’s fine with me. God isn’t going to ask me if I won debates, but if I was charitable when I shared the faith with others, yes?

 

[Dpoc41]

This is where one needs discernment, isn’t it? If I see even a hint that the other person is seeking answers–real answers and not just looking for debating points, I’ll press on. But, it’s pretty easy to see within a couple of exchanges if this is the case or not. The moment I see the other person wants to argue not share, I simply walk away. If the other person wants to think he won the “debate”–how he sees it, not me, that’s fine with me. God isn’t going to ask me if I won debates, but if I was charitable when I shared the faith with others, yes?

Thank you, wise words indeed.

 

[mountee]

We will always have differences with people from other faiths and discussions will certainly be difficult with some of those people. Learn to recognize those people who are really not going to be persuaded in your conversations and stop trying to reason with someone unreasonable. I have learned to say as kindly as possible that the Catholic faith is where I want to be but I respect the fact that it is not for everyone. Please give me the same courtesy and let’s try to be friends with differences. Beating your head on a wall will go no where but praying for the conversion of those people is the right path to take. Turn it over to God.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Sometimes when trying to defend the faith on twitter or youtube etc. Is it better to just brush the dust off your feet and move on. I’m not talking about most Protestants, but sometimes I think the person I’m talking to is wearing a tall hat with a buckle on it and has just stepped off the mayflower. They are not open-minded in any way and don’t even class Catholics as Christians, and when you clearly prove a point from scripture, they just won’t listen. When is the right time to say - "OK I’ve given an account of my faith, now move on ". I think it was Bl Mother Teresa who said everyday you will meet someone who disagrees with your faith, just smile and move on.:banghead:

In my case, I am judicious about spending time on-line engaging in positive duties.

People get pretty wrapped up in it for no good reason other than they think some large audience is cheering them on or they feel they are taking someone to the cleaners.

Not necessarily charity and truth, which is what we need to strive for.

Time is also an asset that needs to be managed well.

It’s also a reason why we have specific Church teaching on fraternal correction:

newadvent.org/cathen/04394a.htm

 

[Bezant]

I think Christians sometimes abuse the concept of “defending the faith.”

Don’t overestimate your opposition; inflammatory comments rarely amount to a threat against Catholicism or Catholics. Better to ignore someone who insists the sky is green!

 

[Karen107]

I was reminded of this recently. Jesus was not recognized in his own home town as Messiah. Why? Because familiarity breeds contempt… . So even if a Catholic has been read and taught about the scriptures all their young lives in church and in catechism classes, a Catholic who left the church might go off and say that they never learned anything from their Catholic background and then when they’re found in another religion, and then they begin to they learn a different way, EVEN THOUGH, they were taught the basics of scripture and had belief in Jesus all their lives but never really acknowledged what they already learned and where they learned it. Familiarity breeds contempt. Keep spreading the seeds of faith everywhere and don’t be discouraged… Like the person said up there. Give it to God…

 

[WelleHerde]

Defending the faith or banging your head against a brick wall…
What’s the difference?
My family are Protestants, so… yeah.

 

[Blacksword]

Defending the faith or banging your head against a brick wall…
What’s the difference?
My family are Protestants, so… yeah.

LOL, I know the feeling, mine are as well, and prone to pretending I still am also…it’s like a coping mechanism I think for them (especially my mother) to pretend never swam the Tiber.

 

[Blacksword]

Defending the faith or banging your head against a brick wall…
What’s the difference?
My family are Protestants, so… yeah.

LOL, I know the feeling, mine are as well, and prone to pretending I still am also…it’s like a coping mechanism I think for them (especially my mother) to pretend never swam the Tiber.

 

[Dpoc41]

We will always have differences with people from other faiths and discussions will certainly be difficult with some of those people. Learn to recognize those people who are really not going to be persuaded in your conversations and stop trying to reason with someone unreasonable. I have learned to say as kindly as possible that the Catholic faith is where I want to be but I respect the fact that it is not for everyone. Please give me the same courtesy and let’s try to be friends with differences. Beating your head on a wall will go no where but praying for the conversion of those people is the right path to take. Turn it over to God.

Thank you

 

[Dpoc41]

In my case, I am judicious about spending time on-line engaging in positive duties.

People get pretty wrapped up in it for no good reason other than they think some large audience is cheering them on or they feel they are taking someone to the cleaners.

Not necessarily charity and truth, which is what we need to strive for.

Time is also an asset that needs to be managed well.

It’s also a reason why we have specific Church teaching on fraternal correction:

newadvent.org/cathen/04394a.htm

Thanks for the link, makes sense

 

[Dpoc41]

Thanks for all replies, very helpful

 

[mathematoons]

Unless you’re talking to a genuine seeker, defending the faith is banging your head against a brick wall.

 

[PJM]

=Dpoc41;11059473]Sometimes when trying to defend the faith on twitter or youtube etc. Is it better to just brush the dust off your feet and move on. I’m not talking about most Protestants, but sometimes I think the person I’m talking to is wearing a tall hat with a buckle on it and has just stepped off the mayflower. They are not open-minded in any way and don’t even class Catholics as Christians, and when you clearly prove a point from scripture, they just won’t listen. When is the right time to say - "OK I’ve given an account of my faith, now move on ". I think it was Bl Mother Teresa who said everyday you will meet someone who disagrees with your faith, just smile and move on.:banghead:

Anyone who has been teaching, sharing or defending the catholic Faith HAS BEEN THERE [READ: Mt. 5:11-13]

The reason for this lack of understanding has several causes:

Stupidity is NOT ONE OF THEM

It ALL flows from a LACK of God’s grace [yes I know they belief just the opposite]

Here’s why:

God is One [here all Christan at least agree]

BECAUSE God is ONE:
ONE GOD can [and biblically does] have only One Faith
Acts 20: 28-30 Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, [singular] which he hath purchased with his own blood. I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Douay Rheims Bible

Gospel, John 12:44-50
“44 Jesus declared publicly: Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in the one who sent me, 45 and whoever sees me, sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, to prevent anyone who believes in me from staying in the dark any more. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall judge such a person, since I have come not to judge the world, but to save the world: 48 anyone who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already: the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of my own accord; but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and what to speak, 50 and I know that his commands mean eternal life. And therefore what the Father has told me is what I speak.

John.10: 16 “And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd”

Eph. 4: 1-7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body [means only One church] and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, [Means ONLY One possible et of true beliefs] one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

And Only One Church: [today’s CC]
Mt. 16: 18-19 “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon [YOY Peter] this rock I will build my church, [SINGULAR] and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee [ALONE] the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven”

THEREFORE ANY AND ALL FAITHS OUTSIDE OF THE CATHOLIC CHUIRCH ACTUALLY COMPETE WITH:
GOD
GODS FAITH
& GODS NECESSARLY SINGULAR TRUTHS

This cannot and is NOT done without penalty. So God BLOCKS right and full understanding UNTIIL they beging to question their false beliefs.

2nd. Tim. 4:1-4 “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths

So do JUST walk away and PRAY FOR THEM