How to reason with lukewarm youth?

[TheOne33]

Many of my Catholic friends are very lukewarm. They do not see the point in Mass, or Confession, or Religious Education. It’s very difficult to explain to them the importance of it when they only think like the secular world thinks. Has anyone ever dealt with a situation like this? Any help?

 

[FaithInTheSon]

Many of my Catholic friends are very lukewarm. They do not see the point in Mass, or Confession, or Religious Education. It’s very difficult to explain to them the importance of it when they only think like the secular world thinks. Has anyone ever dealt with a situation like this? Any help?

Yes. If they haven’t read the scripture on their own yet here is how you get them to start -

Explain to them that they are not the first ones to feel this way about organized religion. In fact it is very good to always question it.

Just ask our Lord, the first major opponent of organized religion.

This is the best building block, because it shows them where they are right instead of where they are wrong.

When they finish reading the scripture they will understand the importance of the Church, and also be some of the people that will be more equipped to spot corruption. Many Church members are indeed whitewashed walls.

Tell them to remember that the Church does indeed know that they do not look like Jesus. I feel this to be something that turns many youth away and at a young age (because they know better, and the teachers tend to be very unclear).

Tell them the Church does not teach us to just “conform to the will of the clergy”, especially any that are less than a Bishop in the hierarchy.". This is a misconception that draws more people away from the Church. They recognize the flaws in the application of teachings, and just think the whole Church is a sham. We need to teach people to question, not obey blindly. If not people will indeed question anyways, and the lack of good answers will cause dissent.

I was a youth that was led away from the Church for many of the very reasons I posted here. Only when I got older did I understand that even the Church recognizes it is flawed - you just don’t hear any priests talking about it. You have to look it up.

The reasons for the Church are the sacraments and the preservation of truth, not blind obedience to humans. Make sure they understand that.

make sure they understand the reality of Satans attacks on the Church as well…

 

[pwlj_christ87]

i have the same problem with alot of my friends, lukewarmness and perhaps ignorance whether willful blindness or not i dont know, i dont like to judge but it does sometimes both me that when i rebut certain things like answering i want to stay chaste until marriage it bothers them…

sometimes if eel like im being a radical christian, that i dont need to be this “good” but in my view im only doing what is commanded, even though i fail many times

 

[TheOne33]

Yes. If they haven’t read the scripture on their own yet here is how you get them to start -

Explain to them that they are not the first ones to feel this way about organized religion. In fact it is very good to always question it.

Just ask our Lord, the first major opponent of organized religion.

This is the best building block, because it shows them where they are right instead of where they are wrong.

When they finish reading the scripture they will understand the importance of the Church, and also be some of the people that will be more equipped to spot corruption. Many Church members are indeed whitewashed walls.

Tell them to remember that the Church does indeed know that they do not look like Jesus. I feel this to be something that turns many youth away and at a young age (because they know better, and the teachers tend to be very unclear).

Tell them the Church does not teach us to just “conform to the will of the clergy”, especially any that are less than a Bishop in the hierarchy.". This is a misconception that draws more people away from the Church. They recognize the flaws in the application of teachings, and just think the whole Church is a sham. We need to teach people to question, not obey blindly. If not people will indeed question anyways, and the lack of good answers will cause dissent.

I was a youth that was led away from the Church for many of the very reasons I posted here. Only when I got older did I understand that even the Church recognizes it is flawed - you just don’t hear any priests talking about it. You have to look it up.

The reasons for the Church are the sacraments and the preservation of truth, not blind obedience to humans. Make sure they understand that.

make sure they understand the reality of Satans attacks on the Church as well…

Thanks for the advice, but these kids just don’t understand the point of it. And of course to get them to read Sacred Scripture, they would first want to understand. My point is, that your suggestions are to show someone from a Catholic point of view. These kids only think in a secular point of view. (" The world doesn’t care about God, so why should I?" Type of thinking)

 

[1ke]

Use fewer words.

Simply go about your business leading by example.

 

[FaithInTheSon]

Thanks for the advice, but these kids just don’t understand the point of it. And of course to get them to read Sacred Scripture, they would first want to understand. My point is, that your suggestions are to show someone from a Catholic point of view. These kids only think in a secular point of view. (" The world doesn’t care about God, so why should I?" Type of thinking)

If they acknowledge God’s existence and do not care about Him… measure you deal you receive. If they do not want God to lead them to Him they will have to be extra reliant on His mercy. There is not much you can do but 1ke probably has the best advice for that situation.

Secular people especially tend to think in terms of testing God, which is a terrible way to think (directly contradicts His will) but can still be used to the advantage of the one fishing.

 

[Highwayhound]

Many of my Catholic friends are very lukewarm. They do not see the point in Mass, or Confession, or Religious Education. It’s very difficult to explain to them the importance of it when they only think like the secular world thinks. Has anyone ever dealt with a situation like this? Any help?

In general how old are your friends?

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Many of my Catholic friends are very lukewarm. They do not see the point in Mass, or Confession, or Religious Education. It’s very difficult to explain to them the importance of it when they only think like the secular world thinks. Has anyone ever dealt with a situation like this? Any help?

That’s not being “lukewarm”. That’s just plain cold. Lukewarm refers to Catholics who go to Mass on Sundays, but don’t see the need to root out their sins, particularly venial sins, and prefer to live in the world.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

I left the church at 17 and did not return until I was around 50. The reason is clear to me now, there are too many temptations in this world and going to church warns you against all the things you want to do.

Blessings

Eric