How do we evangelize Protestants?

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Cat said:
In the Ask an Apologist section of this Board, Father quotes CCC 848 :

"Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men" (CCC 848, citation from Ad Gentes 7).

(Boldface mine).

My husband and I were evangelical Protestants for over 40 years. We wish that Catholics would have evangelized us a whole lot sooner! We are so grateful that God eventually led us home to the Catholic Church.

We’ve been really giving the question of evangelizing Protestants some thought. We don’t feel right sitting comfortably in Mass enjoying the very Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ while our Protestant brothers and sisters hold a “pageant” of the real thing (Mass). We feel like someone ought to get busy and tell them–come on in, the Church is fine!

So what does everyone else think? How exactly do we evangelize Protestants?

Yes, I agree that we should preach the Gospel and use words if necessary. Hopefully we are all living our lives following Jesus and allowing Him to transform us into holy people, lights in the world.

But surely there comes a time when the Catholic has to actually open their mouth and say something about the Church of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church. So when exactly do we use words? And what do we say?

My husband has been getting involved with supporting the Micah Project of Michael Cumbie:

mikecumbie.org/

We think this Project might provide some answers to our questions about evangelizing Protestants.

Any other suggestions, anyone?

Thanks!
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How is this different in principle from Evangelical Protestant poaching of Catholics in Italy or Latin America ? Protestants are Christians already - they don’t need to be evangelised. Certainly in no way that we don’t - we always need to be & more converted to Christ, but no more or less so than anyone else on earth.​

What I do suggest is that we should co-operate with them, in every possible respect, insofar as they will allow or the CC’s authorities permit. We might do a good deal to help Evangelicals who are persecuted, sometimes killed, for their witness to the Gospel, for a start. IMO, if we really wanted to, we could do a great deal to help them; as could they to help us.

This is not as unimaginable as it may seem - at least one Catholic charity co-operates with the Russian Orthodox to help rebuild the ROC after the Communist era. Why stop there ? The CC officially encourages a very wide range of co-operation with other Christians, & not only with the Orthodox.

Protestants are as really members of Christ’s Body as we are - they are not outside the Church, but members of it already. In principle, they are members in some different ways from us. But no less really, & no less savingly.

Which is why the CC no longer evangelises them - just as it no longer evangelises the Orthodox. It doesn’t evangelise the Jews, & they don’t even claim to have faith in Christ; unlike Protestants. If Jews don’t need evangelisation - why do Protestants ?
 
Gottle_of_Geer said:
Which is why the CC no longer evangelises them - just as it no longer evangelises the Orthodox. It doesn’t evangelise the Jews, & they don’t even claim to have faith in Christ; unlike Protestants. If Jews don’t need to be evangelised - what gives Protestants the need of it ?
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This is totally untrue. Read the document from the CDF–proslytism is what is forbidden (which the CDF says means coercion) but the Gospel is to be shared with all men including our fellow Catholics. The Second Vatican Council teaches this as well. I don’t think you’ll find this in any text except maybe something unauthoritative written by a bureaucrat at a national conference office or something like that.

When you say the CC no longer does, many members do not–it has always been this way–but many members still do and the Church says we have the right and obligation to.

I will provide copious Vatican II and post-concilliar documentation if you so desire. 🙂
 
Gottle_of_Geer said:
Protestants are Christians already - they don’t need to be evangelised.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly.

It’s like when a Catholic leaves The Church and becomes some other denomination of Christianity and gets baptized again.

They were already baptized as Christians as Catholics.

The 2nd baptism is invalide because we cannot be baptized anymore than the first time we were baptized.

And that is so with Christianity. Once you are baptized, you cannot be converted to Christianity any more or less.

But…for Catholics, we believe in eternal conversion, meaning that we work to change everyday ideally.

The rest of your post was simply beautiful.

🙂
 
Non-Catholic Christians have a right to the fullness of the truth and so we have a duty to Jesus Christ not to horde it, but to share it. It’s not charitable but cruel to see someone in error and not share the truth Jesus Christ, in His infinite love and wisdom, desires all men to believe.
 
Genesis315 said:
Non-Catholic Christians have a right to the fullness of the truth and so we have a duty to Jesus Christ not to horde it, but to share it.
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Share it, yes. Absolutely.

For me, only when “asked”.

To evangelize them is to try to convert them “not” to become Christians, but to become Catholics.

I don’t know if God called them to their respective religion.

But I agree with you we are to share our faith with them.

For me, it’s by living it in front of them so that they will be attracted to my faith.l

Like Father Corapi said, your life is the best evangelical tool you can use.

Now, if someone is “called” by God to convert Protestants to Catholicism, then by all means, follow God’s wishes.

I just keep remembering what Jesus said to John when John approached Jesus about someone casting out demons in His name…He told John to not forbid him for he that is not against them working in His name is for them.

I take that as “mind your own business”.
(not said to you, but to me)
 
Genesis315 said:
Non-Catholic Christians have a right to the fullness of the truth and so we have a duty to Jesus Christ not to horde it, but to share it. It’s not charitable but cruel to see someone in error and not share the truth Jesus Christ, in His infinite love and wisdom, desires all men to believe.
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Exactly!

I have no doubt that I was a Christian while I was evangelical Protestant. I agree that we don’t need to seek to see Protestants converted from paganism to Christianity. The Catechism says that baptized non-Catholics (in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But I can see both sides of this.

I lived as a Protestant Christian for years and years without knowing much at all about Catholicism! I feel like I lived in a hovel–a nice hovel, but a hovel nonetheless–all those years when I could have been living in a castle! Darn darn darn!

All those years that I missed out on Jesus Truly Present! When I first saw Him in Mass, I recognized Him. And I felt terrible that all those years, I had missed Him. I didn’t even know He was there!

It just doesn’t seem right to live in the castle and wave howdy to our dear brothers and sisters in the hovels, and it doesn’t seem right to have Jesus staying at our house, and not invite anyone else over to see Him.
 
2ndGen said:
Share it, yes. Absolutely.

For me, only when “asked”.

To evangelize them is to try to convert them “not” to become Christians, but to become Catholics.

I don’t know if God called them to their respective religion.

But I agree with you we are to share our faith with them.

For me, it’s by living it in front of them so that they will be attracted to my faith.l

Like Father Corapi said, your life is the best evangelical tool you can use.

Now, if someone is “called” by God to convert Protestants to Catholicism, then by all means, follow God’s wishes.

I just keep remembering what Jesus said to John when John approached Jesus about someone casting out demons in His name…He told John to not forbid him for he that is not against them working in His name is for them.

I take that as “mind your own business”.
(not said to you, but to me)
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The Apostles didn’t share the Gospel only when asked, they often invited those to hear–of course, if they refuse you should not compel–but there’s nothing wrong with initiating the conversation (wit prudence of course). 🙂

And of course we should never discourage what is good, no matter who it is done by, as Jesus taught St. John. But, in his later years, St. John, the Apostle of love, is inspired by the Holy Spirit to give some pretty grave warnings about erroneous Gospels–and it is because truth is for love and an erroneous understanding of God has the potential to lessen true love.

And as St. Francis did say, preach the Gospel always, if necessary use words. The thing is, St. Francis was a prolific preacher so words are quite often necessary (“faith comes through hearing.”)👍

And we can all grow in the truth, and be converted more and more to it each day–we share in each other’s gifts because there is always room for everyone to grow–anyone who thinks he has arrived in this life is deceiving himself. Part of that growth is embracing the fullness of God’s revelation for us–because He reveals it because He loves us and it is best for us and so we can know how to love to the depths He calls us to. Participation in the fullness of Christian life (which is Catholic) is part of that. Likewise, full visible communion, besides God’s will for His people, is the source of inestimable spiritual blessings for our sanctification and for the sanctification of the whole world.

In his encyclical Ut Unum Sint on Christian unity, John Paul II quotes St. Augustine thusly:

“May they let the one voice of the Shepherd be heard; may the sheep hear this voice and follow their Shepherd, not this shepherd or that, but the only one; in him may they all let one voice be heard and not a babble of voices … the voice free of all division, purified of all heresy, that the sheep hear”.

When Christians are unified thusly and speak with one voice, we’ll have much more success bringing Christ to those who do not know Him yet. And we all have the duty to work in charity towards that end.
🙂
 
Genesis315 said:
This is totally untrue. Read the document from the CDF–proslytism is what is forbidden (which the CDF says means coercion) but the Gospel is to be shared with all men including our fellow Catholics. The Second Vatican Council teaches this as well. I don’t think you’ll find this in any text except maybe something unauthoritative written by a bureaucrat at a national conference office or something like that.

When you say the CC no longer does, many members do not–it has always been this way–but many members still do and the Church says we have the right and obligation to.

I will provide copious Vatican II and post-concilliar documentation if you so desire. 🙂
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I would be extremely grateful for as copious documentation as you can provide 🙂 It would be a real favour, so thanks in advance.​

What I heard & read was, that both proselytism - on both sides - had been condemned; and, any attempt of any kind, however upright & not underhand, had also been condemned. I know of nothing from either party that counters this latter belief. So any correction would be gratefully received.

FWIW, the practical difference between disavowing even upright means to convert the Orthodox, & treating them as Catholics, is all but invisible. At least, I know I can’t see it. The CC’s ecumenism is a total mess AFAICS.

Proselytism is what people say it is anyway - look at the constant complaining by the Russian Patriarch 😦 If Abp. Kondrusziewicz had been St. Paul the Apostle, Alexei would still have complained.

For them, we are invaders - because we have the audacity to tread upon the sacred soil of Russia & of Moscow the Third & Last Rome. And M the TT is the successor to the universe-wide claims of the Second Rome: so there is no room for us Western schismatics, because when a Church fills a universe, there is no room for another one. To acknowledge us as Christians, would be to puke on their own notion of the universe. Which is an Orthodox universe. They are Orthodox, we are not - ergo, we are evil heathen invaders, who must be repelled.

So the whole thing is a total waste of time & paper. 🙂

Over to you 🙂
 
Pax said:
Catholics have more opportunities to evangelize then they are aware of. Most people that do not evangelize are probably suffering from a lack of confidence and have not developed the necessary skills to deal with people of other faiths. This can change. I was one of those people.
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Very often we evangelize without being aware that we are doing so. Once on a visit to my mother’s, a televangelist’s asked “How many people have your brought to Christ?” My mother answered simply, “at least six.” We are not salesmen with a quota to meet. It is our actions and the living out of our faith that draws people to Christ. It is as St. Francis said, "Preach always and if necessary use words. The six people that my mother knows about came into the Church, not because of any words she used. They saw love lived in our family. Their conversion was not from Protestantism but from Shintoism. My parents became their sponsors.
Respectful dialogue helps build bridges. I have had people come back to me and thank me for giving them a ride, a full year after the fact. It simply blew me away. They were unfamiliar with receiving kindness as expressed in daily courtesies.
I never had to say “I’m a Catholic” for people to see that something was different about me. Doors opened naturally for conversations about faith even where I worked. The Holy Spirit gives us the words we need when we need them.
 
First of all begin to read the Bible and learn your faith. This way if you come face to face with someone of a different religion you can speak from an educated stand point.

Second if you don’t know the answer to a question don’t let the other person use this as a reason to say Catholocism is wrong. Tell them you will get an answer to the question. Go seek a priest and get back with the person to provide the answer.

Most importantly remember this is not a debate. The goal is to show the other person the true teachings of Jesus and the beliefs of the Church so that they may be able to experience the fullness of Christ. I find it hard to beleive one can know the fullness of Christ and refuse the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity found in the Eucharist.
 
mjg7500 said:
First of all begin to read the Bible and learn your faith. This way if you come face to face with someone of a different religion you can speak from an educated stand point.

Second if you don’t know the answer to a question don’t let the other person use this as a reason to say Catholocism is wrong. Tell them you will get an answer to the question. Go seek a priest and get back with the person to provide the answer.

Most importantly remember this is not a debate. The goal is to show the other person the true teachings of Jesus and the beliefs of the Church so that they may be able to experience the fullness of Christ. I find it hard to beleive one can know the fullness of Christ and refuse the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity found in the Eucharist.
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A book that you may find helpful is Where is That in the Bible? The intro recommends having a working Bible that you can mark up. The quotations are RSV which is most commonly used by other denominations. There are common misconceptions about Catholic Church and it is a practical source for responding to the criticisms.
 
One of the points that Dietrich Boenhoeffer made in his book The Cost of Discipleship was the idea of call and of timing.
Jesus began his public ministry after His baptism. The Apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. No action of evangelization took place until they received that empowerment. All our efforts are futile until we are called by the power of the Holy Spirit and respond in faith using the words that the Holy Spirit places in our hearts.
 
Cat said:
In the Ask an Apologist section of this Board, Father quotes CCC 848 :

So what does everyone else think? How exactly do we evangelize Protestants?

Sacrafice, Sacrafice…be prayed up and ready to get accused of many false notions of your faith, even ones you never heard of. Yes our seperated brethern who have a valid baptism is under the Catholic Church umbrella of the body of Christ. And there are those non Catholic Christians who do not have a valid baptism into the mystical body of Jesus Christ, who may not be considered protestant but non denominational who have no doctrine. Kow which denomination your addressing. God will send them to you…Just be a witness with your Christian living and be ready to give testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ and his presence in the Sacraments. Be ready to get rejected as Christ himself was.,count it all a blessing from God. And many will come to Know Jesus and believe because of your testimony, rejoice! always in our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. I commend you on your brave journey to be a disciple of Christ and answer your calling. Read Karl Keatings book Catholicism and Fundamentalism this can help correct many years of anti-Catholic protestant preaching heard by Protestant and non-Protestant candidates.

On a personal note, my non-Catholic (Protestant) brothers and sisters were told by their Pastors not to discuss or have bible studies with me anymore, so I have lost some dear friends, and others have publicly mocked me because of my Catholic faith in a public meeting. So I share with anyone and anywhere, including Catholics at our Parish.

I will pray for you and your husband.
yours in Jesus Christ, and may the Holy Spirit protect you and guide you always in truth, and may he speak on your behalf during your witnessing. Amen
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Cat said:
So what does everyone else think? How exactly do we evangelize Protestants?

Yes, I agree that we should preach the Gospel and use words if necessary. Hopefully we are all living our lives following Jesus and allowing Him to transform us into holy people, lights in the world.

But surely there comes a time when the Catholic has to actually open their mouth and say something about the Church of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church. So when exactly do we use words? And what do we say?
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Cat, there are only two types of people re biblical evangelism, “saved” & “lost”. The “lost” need to be evangelized, i.e. people who aren’t born again of the Spirit of God.

Are you suggesting that you need to evangelize “saved” protestant people?

Or are you referring to evangelizing “unsaved” religious protestants?

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10
 
emeraldisle said:
Cat, there are only two types of people re biblical evangelism, “saved” & “lost”. The “lost” need to be evangelized, i.e. people who aren’t born again of the Spirit of God.

Are you suggesting that you need to evangelize “saved” protestant people?

Or are you referring to evangelizing “unsaved” religious protestants?

I’m sorry but I have to ask? What ever happened to once saved always saved protestant theology? I just never heard that term before, "unsaved religious protestants.
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What do we when we see a person lost? We ask them if they need help. If they say no, we leave them alone and go on our way. If they say yes, we offer directions and/or a map. None of us can say how God is calling another person, how that person is being led to Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We can however be a map that people read, by the way we lead our own lives.
 
Gabriel_of_12 said:
emeraldisle;3296447:
Cat, there are only two types of people re biblical evangelism, “saved” & “lost”. The “lost” need to be evangelized, i.e. people who aren’t born again of the Spirit of God.

Are you suggesting that you need to evangelize “saved” protestant people?

Or are you referring to evangelizing “unsaved” religious protestants?

I’m sorry but I have to ask? What ever happened to once saved always saved protestant theology? I just never heard that term before, "unsaved religious protestants.
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Nicodemus(see John 3) was religious but he wasn’t born again of the Spirit of God. This is what i mean by religious protestants, they are not born again of the Spirit of God so they aren’t saved. These dear people need to be evangelized.
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Gabriel_of_12 said:
emeraldisle;3296447:
Cat, there are only two types of people re biblical evangelism, “saved” & “lost”. The “lost” need to be evangelized, i.e. people who aren’t born again of the Spirit of God.

Are you suggesting that you need to evangelize “saved” protestant people?

Or are you referring to evangelizing “unsaved” religious protestants?

I’m sorry but I have to ask? What ever happened to once saved always saved protestant theology? I just never heard that term before, "unsaved religious protestants.
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Must mean Lutherans like me. 😃

Just kidding, but I’ve heard some evangelicals speak of Lutherans as religious protestants this way because we practice infant Baptism and believe it is necessary for salvation.

Blessings,
Jon
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Cat said:
In the Ask an Apologist section of this Board, Father quotes CCC 848 :

"Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men" (CCC 848, citation from Ad Gentes 7).

(Boldface mine).

My husband and I were evangelical Protestants for over 40 years. We wish that Catholics would have evangelized us a whole lot sooner! We are so grateful that God eventually led us home to the Catholic Church.

We’ve been really giving the question of evangelizing Protestants some thought. We don’t feel right sitting comfortably in Mass enjoying the very Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ while our Protestant brothers and sisters hold a “pageant” of the real thing (Mass). We feel like someone ought to get busy and tell them–come on in, the Church is fine!

So what does everyone else think? How exactly do we evangelize Protestants?

Yes, I agree that we should preach the Gospel and use words if necessary. Hopefully we are all living our lives following Jesus and allowing Him to transform us into holy people, lights in the world.

But surely there comes a time when the Catholic has to actually open their mouth and say something about the Church of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church. So when exactly do we use words? And what do we say?

My husband has been getting involved with supporting the Micah Project of Michael Cumbie:

mikecumbie.org/

We think this Project might provide some answers to our questions about evangelizing Protestants.

Any other suggestions, anyone?

Thanks!
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What’s alarming with the title of this thread is that you are suggesting all Protestants need to be placed in a container marked with a label that says “In need of saving”. I suspect Protestants would probably feel that such a container is also needed for Roman Catholics. While you may believe it’s true, for either group to make this proclamation suggests that they are fully aware of that which is contained in the hearts of those individuals. The last time I checked I believe the only person in possession of this knowledge is GOD HIMSELF. I think that’s why Jesus told us that no one can come to HIM unless HIS Father sends them. GOD knows what’s truly in our hearts and if it is in fact Jesus, then he will lead us to HIM.

Instead of focusing on evangelizing one another in an effort to declare victory in a battle, might I remind everyone that we are losing the proverbial war vs. the unbelievers in Christ. As a wise man once said “The battle is OUT THERE”.

There are approximately 6 billion people in the world give or take. Of that 6 billion only 2 billion give or take are Christians. That means 66.6% of the world is NOT getting it when it comes to Christ :doh2: Now let’s see 666, does that number seem at all familiar to anyone?? Isn’t it amazing how the Bible always rings true. I’d like to suggest that we focus the energy of this board on that population with the intent of literally smashing down that number.:newidea:

The most important thing we can do when we evangelize Jesus is to make the connection first. This means establishing that relationship. The unbeliever may always hear your words at first when you try to get his/her attention, but they will only listen if the behavior that follows is indicative of said words. Whether we know it or not unbelievers watch believers all the time trying to decide if there’s anything worth while to actually believing. When we profess be a disciple of Christ and then procede with behavior that is un-Christ-like, I doubt seriously that the unbeliever will say “Yeah, sign me up”.

The best thing we can do is live our Faith to the fullest to demonstrate what it truly means to be a follower of Christ. Outward actions will speak volumes over a bunch of evangelistic words.

PEACE
 
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