I am not good at thinking on my feet!

[pandacordova]

I know what I believe and why but I am not good at explaining myself when confronted. For instance, yesterday a co-worker and I were talking and he asked me why I was so attracted to the Catholic Church. He knows that I was raise Baptist and taught that Christianity is about a relationship with Christ. All I could say was that I knew the Catholic Church was not his cup of tea but that it fit my God given personality quite well. I enjoy the structure, the ritual, the custom and authority. Not every one can just wing it when it comes to a relationship with Jesus, I need the tools that the Catholic Church provides me with. My co-worker just looked at me and said that was the saddest thing he had ever heard. I then told him that if I had not found what I needed at the Catholic Church I had been set to leave Christianity all together and try some of the Paganistic religions, that really made him cringe, so he did soften his stance a bit then and the conversation changed to another subject.

What else could I or should I have said on this subject? He is already strong in his love and service to God so it is not like he needs to be presented with Christianity 101, we just have different needs.

 

[RSD]

I know that sometimes when someone asks me a totally unexpected question about myself I can’t believe what I hear myself answering. So I can sympathize.

If you show any interest in the Catholic church, expect people to ask you about it, often with some degree of hostility. Have your answer prepared. Of course, different people will need to hear different things, and as you get better at listening to the Holy Spirit you will get better at giving people a more individual response, but to begin with have a few sentences prepared. This advice is from St. Paul, by the way, although I do not remember the exact citation (maybe Timothy?).

Can you tell him that you are attracted by the truth of the Catholic church? That all of the outward signs that attract you are there because they represent the very great truths of the
Church? The ritual, the authority, the structure, these are given us by God to help us draw nearer to Him. The customs of the Church have developed over the centuries to help more and more people better and better to draw nearer to Christ Himself. In extreme situations these are not needed, as for instance the priest who said Mass in a prison camp, using only his hands as the altar, with one drop of wine, and one small crumb of bread. But when people have money, time and freedom to spend to the glory of God, it is natural that those who love God will want to spend it making their Church more beautiful, making Mass more dignified and appealing, in many ways expressing the fullness of their love of God.

 

[Catholic1954]

I know what I believe and why but I am not good at explaining myself when confronted. For instance, yesterday a co-worker and I were talking and he asked me why I was so attracted to the Catholic Church. He knows that I was raise Baptist and taught that Christianity is about a relationship with Christ. All I could say was that I knew the Catholic Church was not his cup of tea but that it fit my God given personality quite well. I enjoy the structure, the ritual, the custom and authority. Not every one can just wing it when it comes to a relationship with Jesus, I need the tools that the Catholic Church provides me with. My co-worker just looked at me and said that was the saddest thing he had ever heard. I then told him that if I had not found what I needed at the Catholic Church I had been set to leave Christianity all together and try some of the Paganistic religions, that really made him cringe, so he did soften his stance a bit then and the conversation changed to another subject.

What else could I or should I have said on this subject? He is already strong in his love and service to God so it is not like he needs to be presented with Christianity 101, we just have different needs.

You gave an excellent answer!

 

[pandacordova]

Thank You

 

[John21652]

My co-worker just looked at me and said that was the saddest thing he had ever heard.

What else could I or should I have said on this subject? He is already strong in his love and service to God so it is not like he needs to be presented with Christianity 101, we just have different needs.

I’d have asked him why he said that was the saddest thing he had ever heard. No doubt he thinks he can give meaning to his relationship with Christ* his way*. Maybe he can, but in my experience most people who ‘wing it’ are very prone to rationalising their behaviour and their relationship with Christ. Mostly they offer lip service whilst attempting to tell the observer about their special relationship with Christ. You like the ritual, the history, the authority and surely that is a set of signs of celebration which attract you. I think I’d have told him that the Church has a ceromonial approach to celebrating and signifying our relationship with Christ which is a unified and community based relationship and a step above a more subjective relationship.

As for “thinking on your feet”, well that comes from the experience of dealing with many and varied confrontations with other opinions. ‘Practice’ is another word which comes to mind. Nevertheless, things will always come out of left field!

 

[Highwayhound]

I know what I believe and why but I am not good at explaining myself when confronted. For instance, yesterday a co-worker and I were talking and he asked me why I was so attracted to the Catholic Church. He knows that I was raise Baptist and taught that Christianity is about a relationship with Christ. All I could say was that I knew the Catholic Church was not his cup of tea but that it fit my God given personality quite well. I enjoy the structure, the ritual, the custom and authority. Not every one can just wing it when it comes to a relationship with Jesus, I need the tools that the Catholic Church provides me with. My co-worker just looked at me and said that was the saddest thing he had ever heard. I then told him that if I had not found what I needed at the Catholic Church I had been set to leave Christianity all together and try some of the Paganistic religions, that really made him cringe, so he did soften his stance a bit then and the conversation changed to another subject.

What else could I or should I have said on this subject? He is already strong in his love and service to God so it is not like he needs to be presented with Christianity 101, we just have different needs.

Here are some thoughts.

First, when you look at other people how do you “see” them? Do you see them as ‘better’ than you or can you ‘see’ them for what they are - one of God’s creatures. If you can look upon other people with humility as another of God’s creatures then you can look beyond the unkind words that they might speak.

Second, does it matter more to you what one of God’s creatures thinks or what God thinks? With a little perspective such statements from other people can be easier to take in. Then it is easier to respond.

Third, why do all the heavy lifting/thinking alone? When someone gives you something which puzzles you or if you are not sure how to respond then you can always seek divine inspiration and help. Afterall God does like it when we pray to him. So, perhaps a quick prayer such as, “God help me to answer this” or “God help me speak calmly and truthfully.” It will take but a second. Your answers will definately be better. It is hard to let go and trust in God.

You are listed as a “Catholic in progress”. Where does your progress stand now?

God bless

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

I’m a pro life sidewalk counselor. I have to know some background knowledge of what to expect prior to talking to a woman or boyfriend/husband/parents/etc., but I always ask the Holy Spirit to tell me what to say. I always ask Him to say only what He would like me to say to get through to the person to whom I’m speaking.

Ask the Holy Spirit, but make sure you do your own research also, so you know what you believe. Also, ask your angel guardian. He is super intelligent and would know what to say, also.

 

[pandacordova]

Thank You all for these suggestions. You are right I need to just breath a prayer an let the Lord help me say the right things when I am asked things.

One of you asked about my status “Catholic in Progress”…well I am currently starting my second year in RCIA I want to enter the church but I need to wait on the Lord’s timing to work on my husband like he worked on me. There are issues that only my husband can take care of.

 

[SunnaB16]

Its worse when you have to think WITH your feet, especially when the appropriate foot is in your mouth. Ive been in that state for years, but it hasn`t got any easier.

 

[Salonika]

pandacordova:

I know what I believe and why but I am not good at explaining myself when confronted.

I think you gave a good answer, especially as you were answering “on the hoof” so to speak.

When this happens I often think we compare ourselves either to the fluency of the asker or to our ideal answer. This isn’t fair - often the questioner has spent time working out what to say (this can be intentional or because they have thought about what to ask).

Also sometimes what the questioner says is more about them than about the person they are asking. This means that the start of the conversation follows the other person’s style and that can sometimes put us off answering how we would have liked to.

Also some people (introverts - people who get their energy from inside themselves rather than extraverts who get energy by contact with others) often/usually find it harder to make off the cuff answers especially as fluently as we would like. Also we may be more aware of our hesitations, pauses, any stumbling etc than the other person is.

From your account of what you said I am clear why you are attracted to the Catholic Church - I think you succeded in your conversation.