Evangelizing Protestants

[RollTide1987]

I have a question about evangelizing when it comes to Protestantism. We as Catholics believe ours to be the true faith because we are the only Church who claims/who can claim apostolic authority. Since there can be only one Truth and since the Catholic Church claims to hold that Truth, then isn’t it our sacred duty to go out and minister to our Protestant brothers and sisters?

 

[chero23]

It will be tough. They will come out with typical tactics, purgatory, pope, Virgin Mary, statues. Just have defense for that, have verses ready from the bible to challenge the.

I would also tell them who compiled the bible for you. It sure wasn’t your church. And give them some quotes of the early church fathers. You’ll get them thinking. Most wont budge doh.

 

[stephe1987]

You cannot evangelize people with closed minds. Many people are too set in their ways to listen.

 

[chero23]

You cannot evangelize people with closed minds. Many people are too set in their ways to listen.

Agree, sometimes it would be easier to evangelize the walls and chairs than ppl who are close minded

 

[skeyes]

We are always evengelizing.We are either evangelizing to the truth of the Gospel as taught by the one true church or we are evangelizing something else. Having said that, it is very difficult to just go tell someone how correctly the Catholic Church has preserved the faith taught by Jesus and the Apostles. So, I think we most effectively evangelize the ones we know. We should never ever minimize a truth and always be prepared to give the reasons for our faith, but we must live it. I believe it would be a rare occassion that someone just responded to our spoken evangelization, but it does not keep us from always showing the love of God in all of our lives and in all that we do.

Just some thoughts.

Stan

 

[MaryT777]

When I relalize the person has the same concerns about the Catholic Church I ask about their Faith. I answer their questions ( a few ) and ask them to answer mine in return.

I see you don’t agree with Catholicism, where do you profess your Faith?
Who is the Authority (The Bible alone most likely)?
No matter what denomination they’re in Protestant even Mainstream their denom is broken
into synods and factions.
Who is right.?
(Theirs is of course well why?)
Inevetiably they will point back to some authoritative binding Church founder)
Well we hold to the beliefs of Ellen White, Luther, Wesley SBC convention etc as expressend in the SDA teachings, the Concord Book, etc.

It leads to understanding more about their Faith as well as pointing out where you disagree
with their denom.

 

[diggit03]

Agree, sometimes it would be easier to evangelize the walls and chairs than ppl who are close minded

I’ve been in conversation with a formerly “Catholic” (knows nothing about it)-now-turned-“Believer” acquaintance of mine. She just…is devoid of logical thinking. I was able to refer her to enough Scripture which has kept her quiet for a good while.

This started with her trying to talk me into rejecting Catholic teachings, but I knew enough of my stuff to answer her. I think that’s what it is- just have to be ready for when anyone challenges our beliefs. I’m not sure to what extent we, Catholics, have a responsibility to evangelize others though in the way they do (i.e. door to door). I know we must “preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words” so right now I’m prioritizing living my life accordingly.

 

[josephback]

You cannot evangelize people with closed minds. Many people are too set in their ways to listen.

Many but not all. Stereotyping “Protestantism” is the same as stereotyping anything else - it gets you in trouble. Speaking as a former adherent of the Reformation, one gets told a lot of misleading information and self justifying history. Many are open though and if we don’t evangelize, who will?

We can’t go in all pompous either. We should be firmly rooted, but pompous triumphalism will turn people off. Just some thoughts.

 

[Lancer]

I always think that it is important to remember as Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J. EWTN, likes to say— "we are in “sales”…their acceptance, belief and conversion is a “management” issue/action (God, the Holy Spirit). So, as you present the Catholic apologetic answers and details…you don’t have to be anxious…or fret about “winning them over” …or take it personal when their first and maybe constant reaction…is a reaction of rejection…total non-acceptance…not even accepting your apologetics for consideration…blindness!

Therefore, always present your apologetics"sales pitch" in charity…with deep sincere prayer for your listeners’…“greatest well being…greatest good”…(the definition of charity).

Lastly… remember that some people are “carbon copies” of Flannery O’ Connor;s character…Hulga…in her short story–“Good Country People”

Hulga’s identity is not her deformed prosthetic leg (lost in a bike accident),but her will:

*** Hulga “has achieved blindness by an act of will and means to keep it”***

Pax Christi