Have you ever had to defend your faith?

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BlackKnight:
But most often against those who make ignorant allegations against the church and our beliefs. I don’t think some of them really want to discuss truth…just to bash the Church and proselytize.
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Yes, I’ve defended my faith against Protestants, non-Christians, and atheists. But some of the worst are Catholics who are ready to fall away (run away) from the Church because women “can’t play a role in the hierarchy” (be priests and bishops) – as if the Church were just another business corporation with a glass ceiling, and because of the priests accused of sex abuse (throw the baby out with the bathwater, why dontcha?)

The atheists who think we just believe a bunch of “lies and fables” because we need a “crutch” in life are “fun”, too (especially the ones who have the whole world figured out at the age of 18). :rolleyes:

Sometimes, all you can do is pray! 🙂
 
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CarolAnnSFO:
Yes, I’ve defended my faith against Protestants, non-Christians, and atheists. But some of the worst are Catholics who are ready to fall away (run away) from the Church because women “can’t play a role in the hierarchy” (be priests and bishops) – as if the Church were just another business corporation with a glass ceiling, and because of the priests accused of sex abuse (throw the baby out with the bathwater, why dontcha?)

The atheists who think we just believe a bunch of “lies and fables” because we need a “crutch” in life are “fun”, too (especially the ones who have the whole world figured out at the age of 18). :rolleyes:

Sometimes, all you can do is pray! 🙂
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Thanks CarolAnnSFO, (Is that Franciscan?)
I agree. Most of the messed up Catholics I meet are ones who either are honestly ignorant of the faith or, as you said, have some sort of personal agenda to push.

As for the rest…well some ya win, some ya lose and some ya just walk away from.
Pax vobiscum,
 
ALL THE TIME! The internet seems the worst. Sometimes I think ‘do these ppl even read my answers???’ Now Im at the point where when they start to twist my words I say ‘ok, I’m outta here. I’m just going to wipe off my sandals of this and be on my way’.
 
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maric:
ALL THE TIME! The internet seems the worst. Sometimes I think ‘do these ppl even read my answers???’ Now Im at the point where when they start to twist my words I say ‘ok, I’m outta here. I’m just going to wipe off my sandals of this and be on my way’.
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Very understandable Maric. Often I have to do the same thing. I mean, when ya get an answer to your question as good as the tracts and articles on this website and then wanna argue with us about it i just have to go…"Look, what part don’t you get. Or is it that you don’t wanna stop contracepting, or divorcing and remarrying, or have to DO something other than badger people walking by on the street to “believe” like you do and prayer a “sinner’s prayer”. I mean… it just don’t wash… 😛
Pax vobiscum,
 
Church Militant:
Thanks CarolAnnSFO, (Is that Franciscan?)
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Yes, Secular Franciscan Order!

Sometimes it is like hitting your head against a brick wall. You explain something, and they just come right back at you with the same mis-information. If it’s just someone on the internet or some stranger on the street, you can walk away and resolve to pray for that person. You have to keep slogging away, though, when it’s a person you know and see all the time. 🙂
 
Church Militant:
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I had left the Church when I was 19. I went to a Lutheran church for the next 19 years (and always wondered why Communion was given such a small part of their service) I met my future husband who just had FAITH. I came back to the church, had two beautiful girls and really started to pray every day.

Then last year during Lent, I finally had a GREAT confession where I knew what I was doing and why. I balled before during and after. And then everything became clear to me. Since then, my sister has shunned me becuase of my Catholic views on abortion, gay marriage etc. (I’m a hypocritical bigot) My Mom and I have had some very rough conversations.

What I have learned is that there are good ways and poor ways to defend our faith. I have to admit, my first zeal in my faith overshadowed my good sense and I came across as a ton of bricks.

I pray much much much more now. And God has graced me with some openings with my Mom to share my faith. But I wait until called for the most part.

I still have to watch myself, especially when visiting other forums. I need to pray and show the love our Lord had for his persecutors.

God Bless,
Donna:blessyou:
 
Thanks DonnaP, you bring out some very good points.

Prayer is Critical to sharing our faith effectively and I’ve offered up many many Rosaries and DMCs for folks I have shared with and even those folks who came down on me like a ton of bricks. I try to be charitable, but I refuse to allow our most holy faith to be maligned while I sit quiet.That’s just wrong…

I’ve seen some fascinating conversions of guys I thought would never convert, so I have an understanding with Our Lord that says that if He’ll lead, I’ll follow and say only what His Spirit gives me to say. That’s when it goes best.

Family can be the hardest to deal with because all of us are often more harsh with those we supposedly love than we would ever be with strangers…and isn’t that a cryin’ shame?
Pax vobiscum,
 
It never seems to end…and it’s one of the things that most convinces me that Catholicism is God’s own church; because there is so much assault of all kinds on it. Only something that was truly of God would be so embroiled in a spiritual battle of such heat.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
Church Militant:
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No. Nor is it required.

The Temple at Jerusalem needed to be defended.

The Church established by Christ/God can never be destroyed, nor did he request the assistance of any mortal to ensure it’s existance.

If there were no Christians in the world it would still exist, nor could anyone remaining destroy it.

One’s personal faith may need shoring, patching or strenghtening, but the institution is as sound as God’s foundation stone layed 2000 years ago, with or without our help.

Other sects may feel the need to defend their faith as they are built on man’s precarious foundation.

Andy
 
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AndyF:
The Church established by Christ/God can never be destroyed, nor did he request the assistance of any mortal to ensure it’s existance.
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If he didn’t want the existance of the Church to be ensured, why was it founded in the first place? If he didn’t care that the Church would be destoyed, why would he comission the disciples to preach?
 
I defended the faith in a letter to the editor once. We have a local paper called The Country Chronicle that deals with local history, recipes, and stuff like that. A few years ago they had an article about medeival troubadors. Trouble was, a good chunk of the article was about the “cruel Catholic church” who persecuted the Albigensians, who were “Evangelical Christians,” etc. After a couple days I stopped seeing red, and went to the library to look up some stuff, then I was ready to write my letter (since this was a small paper that usually wasn’t involved in anything “controversial” so I ‘pulled my punches’ somewhat). I wrote that I enjoyed their paper, but I took issue with the article in question which slandered the Church I was a member was. I explained that the Albigensians were not anything that Protestants would recognize as ‘evangelical’ but instead were dualist, believing in a “bad god” of the Old Testament and a “good god” of the New Testament, that they though marriage and procreation a sin, and suicide a virtue. I explained that such a doctrine was harmful not only to the church but to the very fabric of civil Society. I also wrote that certain Catholics like St Dominic used their preaching to end the heresy. I also pointed out that Protestants weren’t above using force against those who opposed their teaching. I concluded by pointing out that the Church had produced people like Mother Teresa and was an outspoken opponent of abortion, etc. I also listed my sources.

The letter (to my surprise) was posted in its entirety. My godfather knew the editor of the paper and encountered her from time to time. He asked her about the letter. She said that when it came in, she called the whole staff over to read it, and said it was obvious “I had done my homework.”
 
Hi,

Yep here daily.👍 Thanks guys for making me a stronger christian and getting stronger in defending my faith.👍 😃

(Edited by Moderator)
 
I once defended my faith when I was talking to a young man I met in a tavern. He was a member of SSPV and did not believe I was a truly a Catholic since I was born post-Vatican II and received all my Sacraments according to the new rites. I explained using the Scriptures that the gates of hell will never prevail against the Church. Since he was visiting relatives here and was from out of town, I gave him my email address and said I wanted to discuss things further with him. Unfortunately, I never heard from him again. I do pray that he will come to see the Truth of the Catholic Church.
 
I’ve had to defend it many times, very very rarely against Protestants or another religion, mostly I have to vehemently defend my Catholic faith against other Catholics.
 
I have had to defend my faith on many occasions. THose who are intent on attacking the Catholic Church always seem to ignore what I say. Only a few in my encounters have calmed down and became quite respectful. Their was this one member who just no heed anything that I said. He would ignore it and go around in circles. I just got tired of 5 months of answering the same questions and accusations over and over again and left. I feel light as a feather now since I have left. God speed.
 
Whenever I get on this site, I seem to do so. Of course, my faith returns the favor by defending me. Sleep on that one my friends. 🙂 🙂 👍
 
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