How can i convince my friends that im Christian?

[james_dillaplai]

Well how can I get them to stop thinking that the Catholic Church is evil? To narrow it down most of their Anti-Catholicism is out of pure ignorance, but they wont listen to me when I try to explain it to them. Any ideas? My friends are all protestant(various denominations)

 

[ralphinal]

Well how can I get them to stop thinking that the Catholic Church is evil? To narrow it down most of their Anti-Catholicism is out of pure ignorance, but they wont listen to me when I try to explain it to them. Any ideas? My friends are all protestant(various denominations)

Pray for them. Find out where they get their information. Try to get them to learn on their own without confrontation

Find new friends Nah, that is not the best or easiest option.

 

[james_dillaplai]

They get their info from their churches and parents. How would i tell them without a direct confrontation?

 

[homewardbound]

Ask them what their definition of a Christian is. Why do they believe all Protestant churches are Christian, and not Catholics? There are differences between Protestants just as there are differences between Catholics and Protestants. So, stating all Christians believe the same thing does not work. I struggle with this as well with my family. Sorry I can’t offer much help right now. God Bless.

 

[Pax]

Live your faith and witness to your friends. Let them know how much you love the Lord. Let your love of God be a light to those around you. Let them know how your Catholic understandings of Jesus have brought you closer to the Lord. Let them know how powerful and precious receiving Jesus in the Eucharist truly is.

Never be angry with your friends…always be forgiving. They will soon see Jesus in you.

 

[ralphinal]

Ah, there is the rub. By showing them that you are Christian, you begin to call into question their parents and church. They may react in a hostile way. I agree with Homeward. Start by having them explain what is a Christian. One point at a time. Then you will see how we are the same.

You also need to be sure of your own faith. Use this site and its momma, catholic.com. Get a Catacism of the Catholic Church. Know how to find answers.

Never let it get into an arguement.

I have learned that many are so misinformed that what they know is no more Catholicism than it is Norse Mythology. If you can discuss Jesus with them, using Biblical quotes, you are speaking their language.

DO a topic swap. Let them pick ONE AND ONLY ONE topic that they do not understand about the Church. Take a week and find out what we really believe about it. Show it to them. Let them have a week to study it and ask questions. Keep on this topic until you both understand the other;s points, but do not thy to convence them (and tell them it works the other way, too). DO this over and over. They may never agree, but they might see better where you are coming from.

 

[james_dillaplai]

Alright ill try this tomorrow and get back to y’all thank you very much.

 

[DixiesFinest]

Well how can I get them to stop thinking that the Catholic Church is evil? To narrow it down most of their Anti-Catholicism is out of pure ignorance, but they wont listen to me when I try to explain it to them. Any ideas? My friends are all protestant(various denominations)

By your actions, the choices you make, how you live your life. They will reject you, laugh, insult you, but pray, and possibly they will follow you.

 

[jfallaw]

lol i was talking to a cradle catholic once and he said, “i love being Catholic. don’t get me wrong, i have nothing against Christians, but…”

 

[First_Love]

I am not Catholic but I have faced the same problem from my Catholic friends. When I started college, my friends were all Catholic. Some had serious debates with me…and some told me they didn’t know if they even believed in God though they were baptized Catholic (that kind of tipped me off as to which ones were Christians and which ones were not). I never called them evil or thought it. I even went to Mass with them even though I couldn’t lparticipate. One of my dearest friends and fiercest debaters was a guy studying to be a priest. We were able to see each other as brother and sister and realize that we had more in common than many in our own denominations. We both loved Jesus. If your friends think your evil, maybe they are not true believers or they are just unwilling to see beyond their comfort zone. Pray for them and share the love of Jesus with them…that’s what I had to do. Maybe some of them have never REALLY experienced His love firsthand.

 

[paarsurrey]

Well how can I get them to stop thinking that the Catholic Church is evil? To narrow it down most of their Anti-Catholicism is out of pure ignorance, but they wont listen to me when I try to explain it to them. Any ideas? My friends are all protestant(various denominations)

Hi

I am an Ahmadi a peaceful Muslim.

If a Catholic would say that “The Catholics are the only true Christians” then his Protestant friends having the same human rights would be justified in saying that “The Protestants are the only true Christians”.

The solution is never judge them, may be they won’t judge you.

This is only a denominational slogan, Jesus would have not liked it, leave it to GodAllahYHWH to judge everybody.

I think you understand. This would gear-up Unity among Catholics and Protestants and would remove a lot of confusions among the Christian denominations.

Thanks

 

[LDNCatholic]

Hi
If a Catholic would say that “The Catholics are the only true Christians” then his Protestant friends having the same human rights would be justified in saying that “The Protestants are the only true Christians”.

The solution is never judge them, may be they won’t judge you.

Thanks

paarsurrey with all due respect, his friends have already judged him. It doesn’t sound like they have judged their friends and recieved judgement in return (which is petty).

James the other posters are right. They will know you are a Christian by your actions:

“Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” John 8:31-32

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Pray for your friends, that they may see the truth of the matter, rather than rely on what their church leaders have fed them.

God Bless

Peter

 

[water]

Well how can I get them to stop thinking that the Catholic Church is evil? To narrow it down most of their Anti-Catholicism is out of pure ignorance, but they wont listen to me when I try to explain it to them. Any ideas? My friends are all protestant(various denominations)

The most important thing - don’t try to convince people by words but by your own life. Everything else comes after that.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Hi James, I am protestant, and Jesus already directly answered this question for you,

John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Luke 10:27
He answered: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ "

If they see the active love of Christ in your personal life towards both God and man, then they have to deal with that.

often arguing theology with such hides the love of God in your life.

 

[james_dillaplai]

To be honest im having trouble replying to your posts about the active love of Jesus Christ in my life. Because i dont really know how to show it more than i already do.

 

[Pax]

To be honest im having trouble replying to your posts about the active love of Jesus Christ in my life. Because i dont really know how to show it more than i already do.

Then just keep doing what you are doing in living a holy life. Pursue the apologetics route with love and respect. Over time your friends will see you through new eyes. Be patient. Prayer helps too.

 

[Church_Militant]

To be honest im having trouble replying to your posts about the active love of Jesus Christ in my life. Because i dont really know how to show it more than i already do.

Then don’t sweat it Brother. The fact is that Matthew 7:1-2 says, “1 Judge not, that you may not be judged, 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

This is your first witness of your faith and without it everything we say is just empty noise. The Holy Spirit will help you and guide you.

If it works out that they are really nasty about it, you may be led to just find some Catholic friends, (which I know, can be easier said than done) but that need not be your first choice.

Be nice (see 1st Peter 3:13-17), but don’t take grief. If they can’t respect your faith then they really aren’t very good friends to begin with.

Also remember this promise from Our Lord, [14] Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer;
[15] for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21)

 

[LDNCatholic]

To be honest im having trouble replying to your posts about the active love of Jesus Christ in my life. Because i dont really know how to show it more than i already do.

Then James, you have nothing to worry about. It might be hurtful that they think you are not a Christian but in the long run it doesn’t matter. As Blessed (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta said:

" People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It never was between you and them anyway.’’

Of course don’t quote that to your friends because, to them Mother Teresa was not Christian either

God Bless

Peter

 

[mark_a]

Well how can I get them to stop thinking that the Catholic Church is evil? To narrow it down most of their Anti-Catholicism is out of pure ignorance, but they wont listen to me when I try to explain it to them. Any ideas? My friends are all protestant(various denominations)

Don’t argue theology.

Ask them to show you where the Church’s moral teachings are wrong. Artificial birth control is a slam dunk. NO christian denom allowed it before 1930. The Catholic Church stands alone here.

This,of course, will further alienate you.

I guess this is no help.

I once read that to be truly Catholic, you have to give up the right to be offended.