Help with born again boss

[z_0101]

(…)All it did was cause him to tell me that Catholics are ‘wrong’ and continue the preaching.(…).

And yet another reason to invite him to an RCIA class.
Do you have Light House CD’s available in your church, we do, and you can find them in most Catholic bookstores and online.
Keep a list of topics he rants on, find a CD that fits, it’s usually a small donation in the church setups, listen to it yourself (never hurts to learn about the faith!) and then give the CD to him.
My neighbor gives these CDs to the Mormons and the JW that drop by… they give her the watchtower, she gives them a Lighthouse… (chuckle)

corpus christi procession thru the workplace, :ROTFL: , I LOVE IT!
If I could have that happen at work!​

 

[Porknpie]

Tell him that you love the bible too and that you and he can agree that it is the inspired and inerrant Word of God.

But … then …ask him how does he know this? How does he know that the bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God?

Answer: because the Catholic Church said it was so, first doing so in 382 (Council of Rome), 393 (Synod of Hippo), 397 (Synod of Carthage). You can tell him every time that he quotes the bible that he is quoting a Catholic book, written by for and about the Catholic Church and protected by the Catholic Church through the ages.

Then…ask him if he’s going to be quoting from a Catholic book, shouldn’t he become Catholic?

Is that not logical and reasonable?

 

[agnes_therese]

You are confused, I have not said that we as Christians, whether supervisors or employees, have to preach the Gospel to our fellow employees only that we shouldn’t stop one from doing it nor should we deny Christ by not speaking when challenged.

Furthermore, regarding the boss in question, who knows if it isn’t really the Holy Spirit that has provoked him to be this way? If that is the case we are sinning by trying to quell the Gospel and denying Christ, not good.

I am not confused, either as a Catholic, nor as an HR professional. There’s a time and a place for everything. The workplace, and business hours, are not the time to be “preaching” to people who work for you and have no choice but to listen or else possibly risk their jobs. Forcing it on people in that manner is far more likely to alienate them from Christ, than draw them to Him. And I wonder if you’d be so approving of this guy if he were a Muslim.

I would refer you to Ecclesiastes 3:7.

 

[Melissa]

It some point soon no one will have to wonder why the Gospel is outlawed in the public venue. At least we know we are getting close to the final times.

There is a difference between spreading the Gospel message and using pious-sounding words as a bludgeon against people. The gentleman in the OP is doing the latter. I’m reminded far more of the Pharisee who prayed “Look at me, see how good I am, how much better I am than everyone” than the man who prayed “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” or the more “modern” version “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”.

I think the Lighthouse and/or RCIA invitation suggestions are the best.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I need some help in dealing with my extremely evangelical Christian boss. I am a private person and I don’t talk about my religious beliefs at work. However my boss constantly quotes the bible whenever I make a mistake and its driving me nuts. He loves to say, “Jesus said you are snared by the words of your mouth” and spits fire and brimstone quoting the bible whenever and wherever and to whomever.

I put up with it at first because he’s a semidecent person under all that. But now the constant quoting the bible and constant preaching on how everyone needs ‘saved’ is driving me crazy. He sees work as his personal ministry and the workplace is apparently ripe with people who need saved. I have complained to his boss to no avail… HELP!!!

Surely he must irritate other people at work as well.

I suppose one thing you could do is to get a few quotes of your own - eg. NIV Mathew 7:21"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 who is in heaven.", and emphasise the word “does”.

Or make it clear you have a firm Catholic faith - maybe a small picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on your desk (if allowed).

Whatever … to be honest I can’t see this sort ot thing happening in Australia, or not for long anyway. We don’t wear our faith on our sleeves so much as in the USA - there are pros and cons for both sides.

 

[Missian_Alyssa]

I would tell him this joke,

Jesus, “he who is without sin…”

rock flies over Jesus’ head.

Jesus, “Mom”



Also, post I John 1:8-10 or John 3:16-18 at your desk.

 

[RPRPsych]

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

Agreed.

Pope Pius X would weep to hear Catholics saying that the Holy Spirit has inspired Protestants to draw Catholics away from the True Faith. Saying that means that one’s entire concept of the Holy Spirit and the Church is flawed.

 

[Catolico65]

Agreed.

Pope Pius X would weep to hear Catholics saying that the Holy Spirit has inspired Protestants to draw Catholics away from the True Faith. Saying that means that one’s entire concept of the Holy Spirit and the Church is flawed.

With all due respect I will defer to the Catechism on this matter:

*“However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers… All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."

**“Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” *are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.”274 Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity.”

I lament the non visionary attitude of some of my fellow Catholics who see a person who expresses their love of Christ, albeit in a misguided way, as a negative as opposed to an opportunity to bring them in full communion of His Church. What a shame.

 

[RPRPsych]

With all due respect I will defer to the Catechism on this matter rather than questionable interpretations of commentary’s of popes:

“However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers… All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."

**“Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” **are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.”274 Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity.”

Your zeal is commendable.

However, let us remember that the OP is Catholic.

If she were an atheist, and a Protestant were to “bring the Gospel” to her, that would be a different matter. (Though I would still argue that the workplace might not be the best setting, and the hierarchy of the situation lends itself to abuses.)

However, she is a Catholic. Extra Ecclesiam, Nulla Salus. To claim that the Holy Spirit would inspire someone to invite a Catholic to apostatize from the True Faith is a grave error.

Imagine if a Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist or Mormon kept knocking on your door (you are a staunch Catholic, as I can well see), telling you that “Roman Catholicism” is wrong, and inviting you to attend their “Bible-believing Church”? Would you find this acceptable?

The Holy Spirit is God. God cannot err. God cannot tempt people to commit apostasy.

 

[Catolico65]

Your zeal is commendable.

However, let us remember that the OP is Catholic.

If she were an atheist, and a Protestant were to “bring the Gospel” to her, that would be a different matter. (Though I would still argue that the workplace might not be the best setting, and the hierarchy of the situation lends itself to abuses.)

However, she is a Catholic. Extra Ecclesiam, Nulla Salus. To claim that the Holy Spirit would inspire someone to invite a Catholic to apostatize from the True Faith is a grave error.

Imagine if a Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist or Mormon kept knocking on your door (you are a staunch Catholic, as I can well see), telling you that “Roman Catholicism” is wrong, and inviting you to attend their “Bible-believing Church”? Would you find this acceptable?

The Holy Spirit is God. God cannot err. God cannot tempt people to commit apostasy.

Please post your reference where it states is an apostasy for a Protestant to speak to a Catholic about Christ.

 

[RPRPsych]

Please post your reference where it states is an apostasy for a Protestant to speak to a Catholic about Christ.

This guy is telling her that the Catholic faith is wrong.

It’s not apostasy for a Protestant to speak to a Catholic about Christ. But to state that the Church is wrong, and to try to lead her to abandon it for an incomplete version of Christianity, is certainly sinful.

Remember, in the days before Vatican II, Catholics weren’t even allowed to read Protestant Bibles; they were told to hand them over to a priest for disposal.

After Lumen Gentium, things became a bit more liberal. But we cannot afford to let down our guard and indulge in a false ecumenism.

 

[Peebo]

There is nothing wrong with your boss proclaiming his Christian faith…that is what we are all called to do by Jesus…judging others and continually harassing them is wrong though…have your other co-workers also complained about his behavior…you say that you are a private person who doesn’t like talking about your religious beliefs at work…are you maybe over reacting because of that reason…why don’t you just explain to him about your Catholic faith and what it means to you…are you embarrassed or ashamed to admit it…do you understand your faith and are you a practicing Catholic…I don’t wish to sound critical…personally I would confront him and congratulate him on his “on fire” Evangelical faith…then tell him that I am also “on fire” for my Catholic faith…and that I don’t mind talking about what we have in common as Christians at the appropriate time as long as he doesn’t try to become judgmental of my belief.

 

[Catolico65]

This guy is telling her that the Catholic faith is wrong.

It’s not apostasy for a Protestant to speak to a Catholic about Christ. But to state that the Church is wrong, and to try to lead her to abandon it for an incomplete version of Christianity, is certainly sinful.

Remember, in the days before Vatican II, Catholics weren’t even allowed to read Protestant Bibles; they were told to hand them over to a priest for disposal.

After Lumen Gentium, things became a bit more liberal. But we cannot afford to let down our guard and indulge in a false ecumenism.

The OP clearly stated that their boss speaks about Christ most of the time but has also pointed out at times that he believes Catholics are wrong. Therefore, please point out your reference that when the protestant boss is only speaking of Christ that it is paramount to apostasy. Thanks

 

[RPRPsych]

The OP clearly stated that their boss speaks about Christ most of the time but has also pointed out at times that he believes Catholics are wrong. Therefore, please point out your reference that when the protestant boss is only speaking of Christ that it is paramount to apostasy. Thanks

Wait, I think we’re speaking at cross-purposes here.

The Protestant boss isn’t a member of the Church (Mystici Corporis is clear on that.) Even according to Lumen Gentium, he is only in a state of “imperfect communion”. Therefore, he cannot commit apostasy from the Church because he never fully belonged to it in the first place.

What I meant was that his saying “the Church is wrong” could potentially lead a doubting or poorly catechized Catholic into apostasy.

Think about it for a minute.

Would the Holy Spirit inspire a person to believe in Christ, but at the same time believe that the Church is “wrong”?

Can one truly preach a Christ divorced from the Church that He founded? If so, what else shall we jettison? Clerical celibacy? Contraception?

If someone, by word or example, can lead a Catholic to abandon a perfect communion for an imperfect one (Lumen Gentium), is this good or bad?

 

[Catolico65]

Think about it for a minute.

Would the Holy Spirit inspire a person to believe in Christ, but at the same time believe that the Church is “wrong”?

Can one truly preach a Christ divorced from the Church that He founded? If so, what else shall we jettison? Clerical celibacy? Contraception?

If someone, by word or example, can lead a Catholic to abandon a perfect communion for an imperfect one (Lumen Gentium), is this good or bad?

With all due respect I would prefer not to conjecture about doctrine, only understand what we believe.

**“All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”

“Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."**

The Catechism is clear, other Christians can be in communion with Christ in spite of their unfortunate condition of separation. Furthermore, the Catechism is clear that they are party to “many elements of sanctification and of truth” and as such there is no reason to suspect they are not being led by the Holy Spirit when they are speaking of Christ. While they are certainly wrong about about erroneous opinion regarding the CC the Catechism does not authorize us to disqualify their overall condition as fellow Christians because of this error. After all it is expected that if a Christian was fully informed about the Church of Christ he wouldn’t be separated in the first place, but nonetheless there are many that are uniformed but are still Christians nonetheless according to Catholic doctrine.

This topic is important to clarify because the fact is that many Protestants believe we aren’t in communion with Christ when in fact that they are the ones that are not in communion. This is attitude of exclusivity is not supported by Catholic doctrine and worse is uncharitable. Furthermore, we are not commanded to return bad for bad, but good for bad.

 

[RPRPsych]

With all due respect I would prefer not to conjecture about doctrine, only understand what we believe.

**“All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”

“Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."**

The Catechism is clear, other Christians can be in communion with Christ in spite of their unfortunate condition of separation. Furthermore, the Catechism is clear that they are party to “many elements of sanctification and of truth” and as such there is no reason to suspect they are not being led by the Holy Spirit when they are speaking of Christ. While they are certainly wrong about about erroneous opinion regarding the CC the Catechism does not authorize us to disqualify their overall condition as fellow Christians because of this error. After all it is expected that if a Christian was fully informed about the Church of Christ he wouldn’t be separated in the first place, but nonetheless there are many that are uniformed but are still Christians nonetheless according to Catholic doctrine.

This topic is important to clarify because the fact is that many Protestants believe we aren’t in communion with Christ when in fact that they are the ones that are not in communion. This is attitude of exclusivity is not supported by Catholic doctrine and worse is uncharitable. Furthermore, we are not commanded to return bad for bad, but good for bad.

Fair enough.

 

[Stilldreamn]

It would be nice if the boss would simply love his neighbor, instead of attempt to evangelize another Christian.

Where I work, we know each other by our works, but also by the crucifixes, icons, crosses and statues in our cubes. And of course the crosses on our foreheads last week

 

[Cricket2]

It would be nice if the boss would simply love his neighbor, instead of attempt to evangelize another Christian.

Where I work, we know each other by our works, but also by the crucifixes, icons, crosses and statues in our cubes. And of course the crosses on our foreheads last week

Love it. You have the right idea.

I had a co-worker who made a daily and rather big deal out of being a “Christian” at work. But every time you turned around she was telling lies, gossiping about others, damaging equipment to “get even” and even working customers to help her get people fired that she did not like. Some Christian!

She eventually did something that got her fired, and sad to say no one missed her when she was gone. If those around her had been seeking God and a Christian faith I am sure none would have bothered if she was the only example they had. Actions do in fact, speak louder than words.

 

[RPRPsych]

Love it. You have the right idea.

I had a co-worker who made a daily and rather big deal out of being a “Christian” at work. But every time you turned around she was telling lies, gossiping about others, damaging equipment to “get even” and even working customers to help her get people fired that she did not like. Some Christian!

She eventually did something that got her fired, and sad to say no one missed her when she was gone. If those around her had been seeking God and a Christian faith I am sure none would have bothered if she was the only example they had. Actions do in fact, speak louder than words.

I know exactly the kind of person you mean.

 

[deBoisvert]

It probably won’t work with this person, but when he starts, you could ask, “Don’t you have a job to do?” It usually cuts people off.
But this has gone beyond being irritating. It is harassment.
What you can do is go to your supervisor’s boss and tell them that he is creating a “hostile work environment” and that you will be gathering evidence for a possible suit.
If you have a “smart phone,” you can probably use that to made sound recordings. Every time he approaches you, stop what you are doing; turn on your recorder and tell him that you are recording the conversation. If this doesn’t get him to stop, turn the recordings over to an attorney and file suit.
You must advise him that the conversations are being recorded and you must have the recorder turned on when you tell him.
With all due respect it is wrong to use the workplace as a stage for preaching the gospel. The workplace is for silent witness. We have soap-box corners for preaching.

deBoisvert