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Tantum_ergo
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Right Zooey–but he’s a she --Monica.
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Wolseley
Guest
My standard answer to that question is, “No, but I just saved a lot of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico!”
I’ve found that another way to get rid of aggressive Evangelicals is to raise one hand to them in a benediction-like gesture, and start praying out loud in Latin.
It’s just like throwing holy water on a vampire. You never saw anybody get so uncomfortable so fast.
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tGette
Guest
LOL!
Encounters I have had similar, in context with the original post, were if I was talking to a non-believer and eventually the topic of God/faith/religion comes into the conversation…then their demeanor seems to change suddenly.
It is like, with the click of a switch, that person they enjoyed talking to (me) suddenly becomes an alien to them.
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Zooey
Guest
And me just whining about somebody calling me ‘’**Mr **Zooey"…Zooey >>>>>>
http://bestsmileys.com/silly/14.gif:blush: http://bestsmileys.com/textinbubble1/24.gif
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Tantum_ergo
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Don’t beat yourself! All of us women who don’t happen to have user names that specifically are ‘feminine gender’ run into this.
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strngrnrth
Guest
I’m trying to think of good answers to the “Way of the Master” approach we used to drill in my old church. That’s when someone asks you on the street, “Can I ask you a personal question?” and then “Do you ever think about spiritual things?” then “Do you think of yourself as a good person” and then “Have you ever told a lie?” and so on until you are supposed to accept a Sinner’s Prayer, Faith Alone way of being saved and then he gives oyu invitaitons to his church and lets you go, sure that before you were unsaved but now he has saved you and it’s time to save another passerby.
It has some logical flaws, which are there deliberately to trick people into “admitting” certain things that the people doing it believe add up to salvation if you admit to them: that you’re a sinner, that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins and that you are grateful to Him for doing so. I used to think it was wonderful until it occurred to me that being tricked into admitting something doesn’t equal believing it, never mind living it, and the targets might just not be saved at all no matter how cleverly it is done, and anyway it isn’t the way of the Master. He treated everyone individually, not in a factory style process running the same lines past a crowd walking by.
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notsmart
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Oh I am sorry about all the confusion. I am going to change my screen name as soon as I get baptised.
And, please don’t feel bad for me that this woman happened to be a methodist. I really don’t believe she represents all methodists views of evangelization, I think she just wanted me to feel welcome coming to her church the best way she felt she could at that moment. Like I said, if she was going to say anything critical I think she could have found other topics that would have been more attention getting than cannonization.
I am grateful to her now, and the scriptures people mentioned that we have to explain our faith because she was the reason I read about John Wesley’s life. I had glanced a brief mention of him but not in detail. So, good did come of it. And, I can credit her that I won’t ever approach anyone so directly as that when I am baptised! I will take another approach, but hers may work well for some, and I feel bad complaining about it now, because she only did what she thought would be helpful.
I just should have told her I am seeking to be a catholic I guess. I feel bad I did not do that either.
I guess I just really was not ready for this kind of thing.
I have 2 Cat’s on my mind now. Zooey’s in her sig, and the poster Cat!
Cat,(or anyone else) can you tell me if you have ever used any method in say the supermarket? I just don’t know if I could evangelize in that type of setting, or any other really. But, I know the bible says we should evangelize.
What if we just don’t have what it takes and fear we will turn more off of Jesus than on to him?
Monica
And, please don’t feel bad for me that this woman happened to be a methodist. I really don’t believe she represents all methodists views of evangelization, I think she just wanted me to feel welcome coming to her church the best way she felt she could at that moment. Like I said, if she was going to say anything critical I think she could have found other topics that would have been more attention getting than cannonization.
I am grateful to her now, and the scriptures people mentioned that we have to explain our faith because she was the reason I read about John Wesley’s life. I had glanced a brief mention of him but not in detail. So, good did come of it. And, I can credit her that I won’t ever approach anyone so directly as that when I am baptised! I will take another approach, but hers may work well for some, and I feel bad complaining about it now, because she only did what she thought would be helpful.
I just should have told her I am seeking to be a catholic I guess.
I feel bad I did not do that either.I guess I just really was not ready for this kind of thing.
I have 2 Cat’s on my mind now. Zooey’s in her sig, and the poster Cat!
Cat,(or anyone else) can you tell me if you have ever used any method in say the supermarket? I just don’t know if I could evangelize in that type of setting, or any other really. But, I know the bible says we should evangelize.
What if we just don’t have what it takes and fear we will turn more off of Jesus than on to him?
Monica
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notsmart
Guest
And me just whining about somebody calling me ‘’**Mr **Zooey"…
Zooey >>>>>>
Please, let’s go out and get some Ice Cream
, no beatings on my threads allowed!:nope:Or maybe, chocolate?
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tGette
Guest
I love the growth!!!Oh I am sorry about all the confusion. I am going to change my screen name as soon as I get baptised.
And, please don’t feel bad for me that this woman happened to be a methodist. I really don’t believe she represents all methodists views of evangelization, I think she just wanted me to feel welcome coming to her church the best way she felt she could at that moment. Like I said, if she was going to say anything critical I think she could have found other topics that would have been more attention getting than cannonization.
I am grateful to her now, and the scriptures people mentioned that we have to explain our faith because she was the reason I read about John Wesley’s life. I had glanced a brief mention of him but not in detail. So, good did come of it. And, I can credit her that I won’t ever approach anyone so directly as that when I am baptised! I will take another approach, but hers may work well for some, and I feel bad complaining about it now, because she only did what she thought would be helpful.
I just should have told her I am seeking to be a catholic I guess.
I guess I just really was not ready for this kind of thing.
I have 2 Cat’s on my mind now. Zooey’s in her sig, and the poster Cat!
Cat,(or anyone else) can you tell me if you have ever used any method in say the supermarket? I just don’t know if I could evangelize in that type of setting, or any other really. But, I know the bible says we should evangelize.
What if we just don’t have what it takes and fear we will turn more off of Jesus than on to him?
Monica
Isn’t it wonderful how God brings these situations into your life to open your mind to things you might not otherwise have looked into?
Do not beat yourself up, but it is good you feel some remorse for not simply saying “I am considering Catholicism”. This happens to me a lot because I always care a small New Testament and a few prayer books when I go for a walk and if I run into people and they ask what I am doing or what I am holding I sometimes shy away from say “praying” or “my Bible”. I have actually mentioned this in confession before because I felt like I was denying my faith.
Just do not become scrupulous…as my friend sometimes accuses me!
As for the last part:
Pray every day that God will give you the strength to evangelize when He needs you to. So when the time comes, you will be spiritual prepared. You yourself recognized how He gave you this situation so you could better understand how to relate to someone in regards to faith. You learned what not to do!
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SeekerJen
Guest
Oh boy, does that sound familiar. I too waited tables in college. We all dreaded the Sunday “after-church” shift. The holy rollers were notorious for leaving either tracts or loose small change for tips after proving themselves to be some of the worst customers. Seriously, they run us ragged for three hours at a stretch, behave rudely, treat us badly, leave us no tip, and expect that we will be divinely inspired to rush out and join their congregation?I was a waitress through college. I worked hard to get on the Sunday morning shift because it was the best for tips and we got some very nice people just coming from Church… but alas, one week they needed me to work the swing shift… Sunday night at Denny’s! At about 9:30 in the evening we were suddenly full of people from a Bible Church… I think the whole congregation came in. Every single table filled!!! I was thrilled that I would be making some money… and then I went to each table to take their orders… I kid you not… every table… “Child, have you been saved???” And none of them would let me go do my job until I either said yes or they saved me. At the end of my counter was a man that was a regular in the place… he pulled out a piece of paper and started writing… then he hands it to me with the instructions… see which of these works. I looked on the paper and there was a list of responses to the question “Have you been saved?” I laughed so hard!!! In the end, none of his suggestions worked. If I said yes, they wanted to hear about it (testimony) and if I said no, they gave me theirs… if I said, yes twice and neither time took (one of his suggestions)… they doubled their efforts. Still I tried to just think about the tips… yeah about those tips… a bunch of Chick tracks and a dime or quarter here or there… that sure helped pay the rent!
edit: did I mention that that was the day I got so frustrated I walked to the cigarette machine and I bought a pack and walked to the back room and lit a cigarette with tears streaming down my face… there went 5 yrs of no smoking down the drain!!!
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notsmart
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Okay, there are 2 good “tips” (no pun intended) on what to avoid while evangelizing so far here.
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RobHom
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Monica… You will find that Catholics do not “evangelize” in the same manner generally as others of other faiths do. I have always let my way of living and doing be my way. I have had people ask me why I am as I am…why I do what I do. I have even had people ask me why I have never, while engaged in a discussion, been critical of another persons beliefs. My answer is simple. I am a Catholic, and we are not inclined to criticize others beliefs. Christ admonished us not to judge others, lest we be judged.
I only do what I can do best, and leave the rest to God. And I pray for that person.
I only do what I can do best, and leave the rest to God. And I pray for that person.
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tGette
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One would be wise to heed this advice!Monica… You will find that Catholics do not “evangelize” in the same manner generally as others of other faiths do. I have always let my way of living and doing be my way. I have had people ask me why I am as I am…why I do what I do. I have even had people ask me why I have never, while engaged in a discussion, been critical of another persons beliefs. My answer is simple. I am a Catholic, and we are not inclined to criticize others beliefs. Christ admonished us not to judge others, lest we be judged.
I only do what I can do best, and leave the rest to God. And I pray for that person.
Well said!
Is it almost too obvious to quote Saint Francis?
“Preach the Gospel always, if necessary…use words!”
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notsmart
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Rob, I think you are stating a reality I never thought about too much before. Now, clearly I have worked with catholics, gone to school with them, ect and so on. But never, evangelized by one directly yet (however, that does bring to mind some people who I suspect were catholic, that helped me in life but never mentioned it)Monica… You will find that Catholics do not “evangelize” in the same manner generally as others of other faiths do. I have always let my way of living and doing be my way. I have had people ask me why I am as I am…why I do what I do. I have even had people ask me why I have never, while engaged in a discussion, been critical of another persons beliefs. My answer is simple. I am a Catholic, and we are not inclined to criticize others beliefs. Christ admonished us not to judge others, lest we be judged.
I only do what I can do best, and leave the rest to God. And I pray for that person.
I just got an idea for another thread- based on your post Rob. Is living your faith out and a deep prayer life (while you may not see instant “results” from it) could it be the ultimate way to evangelize? …
Because in sales they tell you that you can’t sell what you don’t believe in.
Not that anyone sells God, and no person brings another to God (Holy Spirit does) but some help you out along the road.
Good one Rob!
For all I know, those that I suspect were catholic- they could have helped the door open a creak for me too.
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SeekerJen
Guest
Topic: while an undergrad, I got out of a confrontation with an evangelical by calling her out, point-by-point, on her lies about the Catholic faith. No dearie, we are allowed to own Bibles, we do pray daily, we don’t worship statues, and you’d know that if you were really raised a devout Catholic like you’re claiming. Try someone else, honey, I’m not buying, not if your church teaches you to lie straight-faced and sends you out to dupe others. And DON’T do it when I’m already late for class, because now you’ve inconvenienced me on top of making me angry.
Fast-forward about 8 years to grad school. One afternoon last summer, I was accosted by a Mormon missionary while minding my own business at the bus stop (staring off into space with iPod earbuds in ears isn’t an invitation to invade my personal space, but whatever) after a long day in the lab. He annoyed me enough that when he basically asked why his (weak) arguments weren’t convincing me to drop everything and swear allegiance to Joseph Smith (this is my impression of the situation, not a literal transcript), I sent him packing by asking him if his church could offer the Lord Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist each day, because MY church did and I wasn’t interested in settling for less. He whimpered a little, told me to have a nice day, and got the heck outta there. Poor kid. He looked all of 18 and had probably been told that students on secular campuses were easy targets.
Don’t back down folks. Own your faith. Defend it with all you’ve got.
Fast-forward about 8 years to grad school. One afternoon last summer, I was accosted by a Mormon missionary while minding my own business at the bus stop (staring off into space with iPod earbuds in ears isn’t an invitation to invade my personal space, but whatever) after a long day in the lab. He annoyed me enough that when he basically asked why his (weak) arguments weren’t convincing me to drop everything and swear allegiance to Joseph Smith (this is my impression of the situation, not a literal transcript), I sent him packing by asking him if his church could offer the Lord Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist each day, because MY church did and I wasn’t interested in settling for less. He whimpered a little, told me to have a nice day, and got the heck outta there. Poor kid. He looked all of 18 and had probably been told that students on secular campuses were easy targets.
Don’t back down folks. Own your faith. Defend it with all you’ve got.
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notsmart
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Well, I will defend christianity from attack when I am baptised, and I even now defend christian catholics from attack here on the forum and with my husband… Working up to others now.
I think I have tried in vain to help muslims and mormons here being attacked. I would do so for anyone’s faith if they were being wronged.
I think I have tried in vain to help muslims and mormons here being attacked. I would do so for anyone’s faith if they were being wronged.
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strngrnrth
Guest
Exactly. A big part of what brough me here and subsequently into the Cahtolic Church is that it occurred to me that the Evangelical version of evangelism to which I was accustomed was built on a system of lies, half-truths, sneaky verbal tricks and mental games – dishonesty. I asked God, actually anguished and lost in the confsion of it all, whether it is OK to lie “a little” to get a more important truth (the Gospel itself) into someone’s mind. I immediately saw in my head the words “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor”. I felt so clear-headed. If we had really had the confidence in our faith we tried to have we would never have needed such tricks at all. The truth doesn’t need lies.
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RobHom
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I think you had a good idea, and my answer would be YES!!!How true, how true… but I think evangelizing is not about selling, but about living right, and doing it the way Christ told us to. Show the way by example. Its not do as I say…because one never knows if the say-er does as they say…
You found the “truth” in the matter!!
Thank you, but I am but a humble servant…
If you feel that way, then let their example be your guide… It is true that you can catch more bees with honey than vinegar. By that I mean…you can lead more people to God by your example than by lecturing and vitriolic condemnation and scare tactics of eternal damnation…
You truly belie your “monniker”!!
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notsmart
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I don’t assume all those who have beliefs I find to be baseless to be all insincere people knowingly telling me lies.
Maybe that is because I am not a trenchant member of anything yet. Maybe its because its just unfair to think that individual people are trying to lie to you when they believe it “hook line and sinker” and as wrong as they may be- they care enough about you to help you in the only way they believe and know how to.
Sure, there are those who are out there to fleece people for their money, but I can’t really say with assurance who those people are (well… I could throw out a few names of “leaders” of cults but it would not be charitable)
Maybe that is because I am not a trenchant member of anything yet. Maybe its because its just unfair to think that individual people are trying to lie to you when they believe it “hook line and sinker” and as wrong as they may be- they care enough about you to help you in the only way they believe and know how to.
Sure, there are those who are out there to fleece people for their money, but I can’t really say with assurance who those people are (well… I could throw out a few names of “leaders” of cults but it would not be charitable)
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M0nkey
Guest
Unfortunately, you are going to find as you grow in your faith that there will be plenty of people that oppose the Catholic Church. You will find that most people out there believe Catholics to be brain-washed simpletons. Jesus taught us that the world hated him, so it will hate you.
Fortunately, we can arm ourselves with the renewal of our minds, to learn from holy scripture and from our faith. So that we may defend it against evil, against principalities and wickedness in high places.
I personally see door-to-door ‘evangelist’ as cheap salesmen. Willing to make a ‘convert’ that is twice as fit for hell as they are themselves. Specifically, the ones who are very aggressive, willing to win an argument to win a convert.
I think this verse from Scripture suits well:
Fortunately, we can arm ourselves with the renewal of our minds, to learn from holy scripture and from our faith. So that we may defend it against evil, against principalities and wickedness in high places.
I personally see door-to-door ‘evangelist’ as cheap salesmen. Willing to make a ‘convert’ that is twice as fit for hell as they are themselves. Specifically, the ones who are very aggressive, willing to win an argument to win a convert.
I think this verse from Scripture suits well:
You will be in my prayers as you find your way home…
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