I failed

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Holly3278

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Well everyone, I was witnessing to a Mormon last night and he won the debate. I can’t believe this. I thought I had enough skill to win the debate. It definitely humbled me. But I feel so bad that I failed. Now he probably thinks that Mormonism is more right than ever and it caused me to have doubts. 😦 Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. :signofcross: :gopray2:
 
It doesn’t matter if you won or lost, you still were defending the truth, while he wasn’t. Lies said skillfully are still lies, and the truth said clumsily is still the truth. I’ll say a prayer for you, I know it’s hard emotionally to go head on with someone like that. :console: :gopray2:
 
Dont be too hard on yourself. We’re not all meant to be great apologists. I will often leave that task to others more eloquent than I. Just be strong in your own faith, and pray for those who have gone astray.

Remember…the devil himself used holy scripture to tempt Jesus.
 
pumpkinbeast said:
It doesn’t matter if you won or lost, you still were defending the truth, while he wasn’t. Lies said skillfully are still lies, and the truth said clumsily is still the truth. I’ll say a prayer for you, I know it’s hard emotionally to go head on with someone like that. :console: :gopray2:
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Thanks pumpkinbeast. I appreciate your kind and caring post. 🙂
 
It is best to walk away from debates if you are weak in your Faith.

Take time, grow.

Take care of your mental and physical health, so you are strong in all ways before you try to “cure” others.
 
Holly3278 you have **not **failed! Some people like the comparisons of the spiritual life to a battle, but I prefer St. Paul’s description of a race. Right now, you may have fallen down in this heat, but there will be a million more to come; the trick is in getting back up again and not letting it rattle you:). I know how you feel, trust me, but I also think you’re strong enough to stand up, brush off your knees, and keep on running the race! And remember, the salvation of the world isn’t your job; someone much more qualified than us already has that!: 👍
 
Holly3278 said:
Well everyone, I was witnessing to a Mormon last night and he won the debate. I can’t believe this. I thought I had enough skill to win the debate. It definitely humbled me. But I feel so bad that I failed. Now he probably thinks that Mormonism is more right than ever and it caused me to have doubts. 😦 Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. :signofcross: :gopray2:
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I don’t know … perhaps he only thinks he won the debate … who knows perhaps in the dark of the night they will remember your point and it cause them pause …

Did you have a debate judge? … Was there a group of Christians witnessing that are now on their way to purchase the Book of Morman?

We often are not the best judge of outcomes … 😉
 
You didn’t fail. To truly fail at something you would have to not bother to try to convert someone. In that respect you ran a very good race against this person, and in my posiiton did not fail. As long as the effort is made to teach others the good word of God, you’re part way through the race. Keep up the good work and pray for the conversion of sinners and those who do not beliee in God. These are the most needy in our world.

Peace be with you…mary1173:coffeeread:
 
judechild said:
Holly3278 you have **not **failed! Some people like the comparisons of the spiritual life to a battle, but I prefer St. Paul’s description of a race. Right now, you may have fallen down in this heat, but there will be a million more to come; the trick is in getting back up again and not letting it rattle you:). I know how you feel, trust me, but I also think you’re strong enough to stand up, brush off your knees, and keep on running the race! And remember, the salvation of the world isn’t your job; someone much more qualified than us already has that!: 👍
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Even Jesus during his earth life didn’t have all that many converts. Some of the greatest in the kingdom had few or no converts to speak of. Example Noah only had himself and his immediate family. Jeremiah wasn’t all that successful either from an earthly point of view. As the previous post said "You aren’t the Home Office. You’re just in “Sales.” It is up to the Home Office to close the sale.
 
Thank you everyone for your kind and caring posts. 🙂 They mean a lot. They really do. 👍
 
I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Defending one’s faith can be very tough. The Catholic faith is one of the most complex faiths to defend. It just takes time to grow in your spiritual faith, then you can take it to the next level. In fact, that’s why I came to these forums. A couple of years ago I was defending (or at least trying to) against a druid (well he called himself a druid). Now after a couple of years growing in my personal faith I’m able to call people out better and defend my beliefs more readily. This year I took A Beka subjects and it is filled with anti-Catholic stuff. Also I’m going to college in 2 years, so I need to be ready to stand up and explain my faith. Been trying to talk to a priest at our church about some questions I have, but none of them are ever around. Our old priest was always at the church and ready answer any questions I had. Maybe I’ll go see him sometime. Anyways, don’t worry, just continue your journey of faith focus on finding the answers to some of the difficult questions out there.
 
Holly3278 said:
Well everyone, I was witnessing to a Mormon last night and he won the debate. I can’t believe this. I thought I had enough skill to win the debate. It definitely humbled me. But I feel so bad that I failed. Now he probably thinks that Mormonism is more right than ever and it caused me to have doubts. 😦 Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. :signofcross: :gopray2:
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OK, so how and why did you fail?

Ask and share the specifics, amd maybe with God’s help we can help you do better the next time. After all we DO have THE truth on our side:thumbsup:

Love and prayers,
 
Don’t worry. He will be back. Then you can make a better argument. And don’t worry if you lose again: Conversion is through prayer and sacrifice, not words and debates. 🙂
 
Holly3278 said:
Thank you everyone for your kind and caring posts. 🙂 They mean a lot. They really do. 👍
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Catholic Answers has published a book you might be interested in. It is called the Essential Catholic Survival Guide. You can view it at the top of the page under the heading “Shop” And they have other publications as well on defending the faith. You might look elsewhere on the CA website for more info on these publications.
 
It’s OK to fail.
I know I have but learn from it and learn more of your faith and be ready next time.
Just remember our job is to state the Truth nothing more nothing less just stating the Truth it is up to them to accept or reject it (See John 6:66 for further details). It could have been worst you could have WON but lost that soul.
 
First of all Congratulations on a job well done! Shocked by that statement are you? You shouldn’t be and here’s why.
  1. You took the step to defend/explain your faith, the best you could. (Truely there are many Catholics, I use to be one of them, who wouldn’t even give it a whirl.)
  2. True most likely they might have known this Scripture or that Scripture and could look it up quickly and then told you what it was all about. (But keep in mind they pick this and that Scripture and take Scripture out of Contex all the time.)
  3. Without you knowing…no matter how you felt…You planted many seeds for Our Lord, Jesus and His True Church. You job is to plant the seed, not Convert them, that’s Jesus job.
  4. I was watching EWTN last night and Father was saying We don’t Convert anyone, that’s Gods job. We give the information and then it’s in the persons hands to decide.
You Didn’t fail. You tried the best you could. I too have been where you were…but I have no idea even in my stumbling with them, what they took away from that conversation. But without a doubt God will let it touch their heart in some way.

You might want to go to www.catholic-soe.org and join the Catholic Society of Evangelists. It’s for lay-persons, like us. They have a ton of information that’s very cheap (like only $1 each) and so worth the while to read. It will help you a great deal to explain your faith. I joined just a couple of months ago and it’s been helping me to explain things in simple terms, (they also have Scriptural Ref.) to others.

May God Bless You,
Adelore
 
You didn’t fail. You defended the faith. Even when Jesus walked the earth, not all people were convinced of his divinity and turned to him to be saved. We are created in his image and likeness but we are not God.

The only way a person fails, the old saying says: we fail, when we stop trying. I can guarantee it, since you have one experience under your belt, you will be better prepared to answer some of the scripted questions the Mormons pose…and you can turn the tide and direct more of the conversation.

The door bell ringers have prettty much a script…you can figure that out pretty easily when they return…and believe me they will be back. Explore the Catholic forums page “mormonism” to better understand their tactics and you will have ammunition to serve up to their weak arguments. Say a prayer first to the Holy Spirit to put the right wordsi in your mouth, and stand back and watch Him in action. God bless you for defending the faith, you are storing up treasures in heaven…and there is only success in doing that.👍
 
mary1173 said:
You didn’t fail. To truly fail at something you would have to not bother to try to convert someone. In that respect you ran a very good race against this person, and in my posiiton did not fail. As long as the effort is made to teach others the good word of God, you’re part way through the race. Keep up the good work and pray for the conversion of sinners and those who do not beliee in God. These are the most needy in our world.

Peace be with you…mary1173:coffeeread:
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I agree :yup:
 
Thanks everyone! 🙂 Perhaps I didn’t fail. Perhaps I actually did do a good job of defending the faith. But even if I did, I can’t give the credit to anyone but God alone.
 
Sounds like you are in a good place to me. **See highlight below **Sing your song and dance your dance. Anxiety and guilt should not bother you. As best you can Love one another as Jesus Loves. See 1 COR 13

see Luke 18:10

"Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity - greedy, dishonest, adulterous - or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’

But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
 
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