How to answer "are you saved" and the like at work?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DarkLight
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DarkLight said:
The problem again is that I can’t say things like that at work. What I need to do in this circumstance is get out of the conversation as quickly and gracefully as I can. Arguing with or trying to convert the customer is off the table.
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Just say: “I really can’t talk about religion on the job.” Repeat as necessary.
 
ltwin said:
All these people are asking you is this: are you a professing, practicing Christian in a state of grace. It’s just a different vocabulary.
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If that were true, then they wouldn’t be asking.
 
You can tell them that as St. Paul tells us, you are “working out your salvation in fear and trembling” or you can say, “He who endures until the end will be saved, next in line please!”. 😉
 
According to my priest’s homily, the simple answer would be say: I was saved at baptism and I hope to be redeemed.

(confession and communion is still necessary for salvation)
 
I would just tell them that you’re not allowed to discuss this while at work, and that if they’d like to hang around for 5 hours or so until you get off, you’d be glad to discuss it with them. 😃
 
Autumn_Smoke said:
I would just tell them that you’re not allowed to discuss this while at work, and that if they’d like to hang around for 5 hours or so until you get off, you’d be glad to discuss it with them. 😃
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Best answer. In all other scenarios OP has to say things that aren’t in line with his beliefs or say things that will invite a long debate. On a side-note, it’s strange that someone could come up with such a ludicrous idea as eternal security, though. It’s like diplomatic immunity transferred to the spiritual world. It’s like having a friend who thinks raping my wife, then killing her along with all my kids and dogs and burning down my house would not affect our friendship negatively! Once a friend, always a friend. Once saved, always saved.
 
Rosebud77 said:
Ah I would never ever slam the door on someone like that!
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Really? It’s a very personal question for someone you don’t know to be asking. Would you be comfortable answering anything else of a personal nature? How much do you weigh? How old are you? Or any other of a number of questions about your marriage. It is truly nothing that anyone needs to make conversation with a stranger about.
 
“What would you like to order, Mr. Nosy?” Say this in a joking or flirtatious way, so that they’ll get the message without feeling offended.
 
Like Saint Paul, I’m working out my own salvation in fear and trembling.
 
Irishmom2 said:
“I really don’t think that is any of your business.”
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Well it certainly is the Catholic Church’s business as it was given the mission of the salvation of souls by Christ. And since we are members of that Church by extension our mission also. We should never pass up an opportunity to spread the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church.
 
johnnyc176 said:
Well it certainly is the Catholic Church’s business as it was given the mission of the salvation of souls by Christ. And since we are members of that Church by extension our mission also. We should never pass up an opportunity to spread the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church.
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Thank you; I was beginning to wonder after reading a recent post or two. Would not go as far as you but would always leave the door open… My reply is always kind. Always leave the door open…we never know what is in the heart of the person asking…
 
Rosebud77 said:
Thank you; I was beginning to wonder after reading a recent post or two. Would not go as far as you but would always leave the door open… My reply is always kind. Always leave the door open…we never know what is in the heart of the person asking…
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The big trouble is at work it has to be balanced with, well, being at work. You’re not really free to share your own beliefs with a customer while on the clock, and you don’t want to be passively lectured to particularly.
 
Fauken said:
The best response I’ve heard is: “I have been saved, am being saved, and hope to be saved.” This explains it better than I can:

catholic.com/blog/jimmy-akin/“have-you-been-saved”
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Love this response
ltwin said:
It does not imply belief in “eternal security.” Plenty of “saved” people reject eternal security and “once saved, always saved.”

All these people are asking you is this: are you a professing, practicing Christian in a state of grace. It’s just a different vocabulary.
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I understand what you’re saying too, but the language they choose presents extremely incorrect theology. They may mean something in the more Catholic sense of justification, but the language, when taken at its literal meaning, implies “once saved always saved.” I feel like I have a good understanding of justification but that question makes me seize up too.
 
“All these people are asking you is this: are you a professing, practicing Christian in a state of grace.”

And I still contend that a random stranger or co- worker has no place asking that. It is none of their business.
 
Irishmom2 said:
“All these people are asking you is this: are you a professing, practicing Christian in a state of grace.”

And I still contend that a random stranger or co- worker has no place asking that. It is none of their business.
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True

Asking someone else on their spiritual state is no way to spread the gospel. That’s just being obnoxiously nosy not to mention hints of being prideful.

Demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit is one way.
 
johnnyc176 said:
Well it certainly is the Catholic Church’s business as it was given the mission of the salvation of souls by Christ. And since we are members of that Church by extension our mission also. We should never pass up an opportunity to spread the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church.
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How does the Catholic Church do it? By feeding the hungry, giving aid to the needy, performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

Giving someone, especially some stranger, the third degree on their spiritual state is not spreading the Gospel. It’s just being obnoxiously nosy.
 
Sarcelle said:
How does the Catholic Church do it? By feeding the hungry, giving aid to the needy, performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

Giving someone, especially some stranger, the third degree on their spiritual state is not spreading the Gospel. It’s just being obnoxiously nosy.
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Sure they mean well… (being very Irish!)

But not nosy really as this their way of evangelising…
 
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