I Try evangelizing, but it seems to fall on deaf ears

[Saint_wannabe]

I know that evangelizing can be hard at times, and I also know that when I was living up to my neck in sin like a selfish schmuck, I really hated when people started talking to me about God. with that being said though, I also know that we are supposed to “Preach the Gospel at all times, whether convenient or inconvenient.” and I also know that Jesus says, “If you are ashamed of the Gospel, I will be ashamed of you.” When I first had my conversion, I literally thought that I was going to go out and convert the world overnight, obviously that didn’t happen. I try not to be pushy with people, especially as much as I used to be, because a wise man once told me, “what you have is a gift.” I know that we are supposed to treat people with compassion, and than we can catch more flies with honey, that we can with vinegar. I also know the saying of Saint Francis of Assisi. “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” I always try doing the best with the situation that I’m placed in, and I have become much better (by the grace of God) with knowing that sometimes God gives us the words, but sometimes what we need is silence, patience, humility, and we just need to pray & persevere. I offer nobody any apologies for being crazy in love with God & for being crazy in love with His Catholic church, but it just seems that I lose more friends, either way I handle things sometimes. I will sometimes bring up something I read in Scripture, or something I heard a Saint say in timely fashion, when in conversation with friends and family. I will do this in a very nice way, while I’m also trying to inject some humor in it at the same time, and most of the time, all I still get is an awkward silence, some eyes rolling, and the conversation quickly gets changed. Many times I will just not say much when I am in conversations like this, because I honestly don’t care all that much about the trivial things that are being discussed, then people think that I’m angry because I’m not blabbering on about useless things with them, or they think that I’m just silently passing judgement or something like that, when I’m not. I recently opened a Facebook account (sometimes I wonder why I ever did) & I have connected with many old friends. When I first came on there, it seemed that I was the life of the party, and everybody would comment on anything that I had to say, or on any video that I would post. I recently started posting some quotes from some favorite Saints of mine, some interesting videos about lives of some of the Saints, videos about the Shroud of Turin, A movie trailer video for the movie The Thirteenth Day (story about Fatima) and some stuff like that. I also will throw in some other secular stuff, just to keep it interesting for the non religious types, but it appears that I have now lost all of my friends on Facebook, because none of them talk to me anymore. I think that people are hiding my posts now. Do many of you go through this as well? please share your experiences. how do many of you walk this fine line? I have had strangers & coworkers get violently mad at me, because I corrected them for using God’s name in vein, and I have done this in a nonthreatening, joking kind of way, and still have lost friendships over it. Have many of you also had to deal with this kind of bunker mentality from others? How do you do it? Do you ever feel like your on an island with Jesus, and many times its you against the world? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never back down & I will always stand up for what I love, I am just looking for some (name removed by moderator)ut and stories that we can share here together. Pilate chose being popular with people over the truth, and I don’t want to be guilty of that same mistake ever again. God bless you all.

 

[Monica4316]

Hi,

St Therese once said, our prayers and little sacrifices do more good to convert sinners than our words. I know what you mean, - I really wish for my family and friends to convert too, and in the past I’ve really tried to talk to them, etc… however this didn’t work, and I realized that they won’t listen to my words unless God first prepares them. And the way to do that is to pray for them, especially pray the Rosary. This is really the best we can do choose someone close to you, and start offering your Communions for them… I’ve seen much better results through prayer than through anything I said.

God can convert people better than we can

think of Mother Teresa… she didn’t preach to anyone (not saying preaching is bad) - but she simply showed them she loved them, and God’s love for them, and many of the people converted. There’s nothing wrong with putting up articles on facebook, etc, I do this too, - and if you lost friends that’s not necessarily your fault!! some people just don’t like talking about religion in general… but just something to keep in mind. I know how you feel cause it’s happened to me too.

God bless

 

[Church_Militant]

Here’s why my friend. Be not dismayed.
[bibledrb]Matthew 13:1-23[/bibledrb]

 

[Saint_wannabe]

Hi,

St Therese once said, our prayers and little sacrifices do more good to convert sinners than our words. I know what you mean, - I really wish for my family and friends to convert too, and in the past I’ve really tried to talk to them, etc… however this didn’t work, and I realized that they won’t listen to my words unless God first prepares them. And the way to do that is to pray for them, especially pray the Rosary. This is really the best we can do choose someone close to you, and start offering your Communions for them… I’ve seen much better results through prayer than through anything I said.

God can convert people better than we can

think of Mother Teresa… she didn’t preach to anyone (not saying preaching is bad) - but she simply showed them she loved them, and God’s love for them, and many of the people converted. There’s nothing wrong with putting up articles on facebook, etc, I do this too, - and if you lost friends that’s not necessarily your fault!! some people just don’t like talking about religion in general… but just something to keep in mind. I know how you feel cause it’s happened to me too.

God bless

Thank you Monica. It seems that many people still prefer the laughing foolish drunken idiot me. They prefer the babbling idiot me, that was in love with all of the trivial, sinful things of this world, and thats just not me anymore. I’m not trying to be “holier than thou”, but many times I look around at this world and it sickens me. I don’t know what has happened to me, but I’m just not the same person I used to be at all. Iv’e had some people compare to what I go through, to what mystics go through, but I don’t see that connection either, and can’t even conceive myself of ever being worthy of something like that. My attitude has gone from being a laughing fool with a bad temper & a judging attitude, to something quite different. I have great moments of peace that I can’t even begin to explain, but then I have great moments of fear & distress that just kind of come out of nowhere. I find myself crying or at the very least, fighting back tears at Mass many times. certain hymns & readings make me cry. Many times when I’m leaving church after Mass, or when I’m leaving Eucharistic Adoration, I feel a great sadness come over me, like a little child who is having fun with family & friends, and then is told its time to go home. I look at all of the immoral garbage that is on T.V. Today, and much of this I previously approved of, but now I just see it as mostly tasteless, sinful, immoral and its murdering peoples consciences. I see the Church being attacked on all sides by the secular world & media, and it angers & frightens me much of the time. I make many connections to what is going on in the church Today, and what is written in Sacred Scripture, including the Book of Revelations. I see long lines for Communion & short lines for Confession, and it scares me when I realize how many people are “Eating and drinking a judgement against themselves.” I see the history & teaching authority of Gods Holy Catholic & Apostolic Church being second guessed and criticized by many people even inside the church, who somehow consider themselves more Catholic than the Pope and having a better idea than God. I see the suffering & the stain that this whole child molestation scandal that has been put on the church, but I also see the victims who are the priests, who have lived good & holy lives, and have given their whole lives to the service of God’s Church. I see that many of these priests didn’t have a damn thing to do with this whole thing, but they are now hated, distrusted, and looked down on by many in this world. I can’t help it that I see all of these things, but I know that I’m not smart enough to be seeing these things on my own.

 

[the_phoenix]

Welcome, Saint wannabe!

You’re not alone in your experiences.
I for one would be honored to call you friend.

And even better for you is to have Jesus to call Friend.
Plus Mary, your guardian angel, your patron saint …

Your posts and the advice and Bible verses you’re receiving are on the right track.

 

[Saint_wannabe]

Welcome, Saint wannabe!

You’re not alone in your experiences.
I for one would be honored to call you friend.

And even better for you is to have Jesus to call Friend.
Plus Mary, your guardian angel, your patron saint …

Your posts and the advice and Bible verses you’re receiving are on the right track.

Thank you for the kind words friend.

 

[the_phoenix]

Thank you for the kind words friend.

You’re welcome. You can send me a Private Message any time
if you’d like to talk or just say hello.

 

[PAboy57]

Hi,

And the way to do that is to pray for them, especially pray the Rosary. This is really the best we can do choose someone close to you, and start offering your Communions for them… I’ve seen much better results through prayer than through anything I said.

God bless

This is great advice. Pray, pray and then pray some more. My family thinks I’m crazy going to church more than once a week. they don’t want to hear it so I offer prays. I say the rosary daily and others as well as go to mass. offer it up and the Lord will make wonderful things happen. I don’t push it but I continue to try and show by doing. Just continue to set a good example. Many, many people do not want to hear the message and that is just reality. It is sad.

Is considering a deacon or priest a part of your calling with such a strong desire to evangelize??? May be something you want to think about. Hang in there and our Lord will show you something and help you always. Take care.

 

[PJM]

=Saint wannabe;6460155]I know that evangelizing can be hard at times, and I also know that when I was living up to my neck in sin like a selfish schmuck, I really hated when people started talking to me about God. with that being said though, I also know that we are supposed to “Preach the Gospel at all times, whether convenient or inconvenient.” and I also know that Jesus says, “If you are ashamed of the Gospel, I will be ashamed of you.” When I first had my conversion, I literally thought that I was going to go out and convert the world overnight, obviously that didn’t happen. I try not to be pushy with people, especially as much as I used to be, because a wise man once told me, “what you have is a gift.” I know that we are supposed to treat people with compassion, and than we can catch more flies with honey, that we can with vinegar. I also know the saying of Saint Francis of Assisi. “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” I always try doing the best with the situation that I’m placed in, and I have become much better (by the grace of God) with knowing that sometimes God gives us the words, but sometimes what we need is silence, patience, humility, and we just need to pray & persevere. I offer nobody any apologies for being crazy in love with God & for being crazy in love with His Catholic church, but it just seems that I lose more friends, either way I handle things sometimes. I will sometimes bring up something I read in Scripture, or something I heard a Saint say in timely fashion, when in conversation with friends and family. I will do this in a very nice way, while I’m also trying to inject some humor in it at the same time, and most of the time, all I still get is an awkward silence, some eyes rolling, and the conversation quickly gets changed. Many times I will just not say much when I am in conversations like this, because I honestly don’t care all that much about the trivial things that are being discussed, then people think that I’m angry because I’m not blabbering on about useless things with them, or they think that I’m just silently passing judgement or something like that, when I’m not. I recently opened a Facebook account (sometimes I wonder why I ever did) & I have connected with many old friends. When I first came on there, it seemed that I was the life of the party, and everybody would comment on anything that I had to say, or on any video that I would post. I recently started posting some quotes from some favorite Saints of mine, some interesting videos about lives of some of the Saints, videos about the Shroud of Turin, A movie trailer video for the movie The Thirteenth Day (story about Fatima) and some stuff like that. I also will throw in some other secular stuff, just to keep it interesting for the non religious types, but it appears that I have now lost all of my friends on Facebook, because none of them talk to me anymore. I think that people are hiding my posts now. Do many of you go through this as well? please share your experiences. how do many of you walk this fine line? I have had strangers & coworkers get violently mad at me, because I corrected them for using God’s name in vein, and I have done this in a nonthreatening, joking kind of way, and still have lost friendships over it. Have many of you also had to deal with this kind of bunker mentality from others? How do you do it? Do you ever feel like your on an island with Jesus, and many times its you against the world? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never back down & I will always stand up for what I love, I am just looking for some (name removed by moderator)ut and stories that we can share here together. Pilate chose being popular with people over the truth, and I don’t want to be guilty of that same mistake ever again. God bless you all.

Faith is a GIFT FROM GOD! Conversion can and will only come through accepting God’s offered graces. That friend is prety much beyond our control.

OUR “JOB” is to:

1. Know well our faith, what we believe and why
2. Live it like a lamp on the hillside, for all to see, not pretentious; simply evident
3. Share with charity WHEN AND ONLY WHEN GOD PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY, what we believe and why we can believe it.
4. We are not called [unless so trained] to preach onstreet corners [or facebook] to every person God has palced on the planet. Pray for them. Pray even that God provides you opportunities; but leave God’s part of the job, to God. Until and unless God provides the graces; breaks open the heardended heads and hearts; they are not going to be receptive to what we have to share.

This is even MORE true in these times of discraceful and sinful scandals that we just can’t seem to get rid of.

Start by really learning in depth what and why we beleive it; then live your faith humbily and
publicly.

Love and prayers,
Pat… a suggeston break your post up a bit to make them easier to read

 

[srlucado]

I know that evangelizing can be hard at times…

Patience, Young Jedi. These things don’t happen overnight.

Be careful that you don’t overwhelm people with your enthusiasm. Imagine that you found a great new restaurant. It’s all you talk about; you pester all your friends to try it; you write about it all the time; you mention it to passing strangers.

Instead of wanting to try it, they get put off by your zeal.

Please understand, I know how you feel–Catholicism is the greatest thing that ever happened to mankind! And no doubt, people are thirsty for something real. But just because they’re thirsty doesn’t mean you hit 'em with a fire hose.

So let people see what’s different about you, and when they ask, tell 'em.

 

[Saint_wannabe]

Patience, Young Jedi. These things don’t happen overnight.

Be careful that you don’t overwhelm people with your enthusiasm. Imagine that you found a great new restaurant. It’s all you talk about; you pester all your friends to try it; you write about it all the time; you mention it to passing strangers.

Instead of wanting to try it, they get put off by your zeal.

Please understand, I know how you feel–Catholicism is the greatest thing that ever happened to mankind! And no doubt, people are thirsty for something real. But just because they’re thirsty doesn’t mean you hit 'em with a fire hose.

So let people see what’s different about you, and when they ask, tell 'em.

Well said and Thank you.

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you Monica. It seems that many people still prefer the laughing foolish drunken idiot me. They prefer the babbling idiot me, that was in love with all of the trivial, sinful things of this world, and thats just not me anymore. I’m not trying to be “holier than thou”, but many times I look around at this world and it sickens me. I don’t know what has happened to me, but I’m just not the same person I used to be at all. Iv’e had some people compare to what I go through, to what mystics go through, but I don’t see that connection either, and can’t even conceive myself of ever being worthy of something like that. My attitude has gone from being a laughing fool with a bad temper & a judging attitude, to something quite different. I have great moments of peace that I can’t even begin to explain, but then I have great moments of fear & distress that just kind of come out of nowhere. I find myself crying or at the very least, fighting back tears at Mass many times. certain hymns & readings make me cry. Many times when I’m leaving church after Mass, or when I’m leaving Eucharistic Adoration, I feel a great sadness come over me, like a little child who is having fun with family & friends, and then is told its time to go home. I look at all of the immoral garbage that is on T.V. Today, and much of this I previously approved of, but now I just see it as mostly tasteless, sinful, immoral and its murdering peoples consciences. I see the Church being attacked on all sides by the secular world & media, and it angers & frightens me much of the time. I make many connections to what is going on in the church Today, and what is written in Sacred Scripture, including the Book of Revelations. I see long lines for Communion & short lines for Confession, and it scares me when I realize how many people are “Eating and drinking a judgement against themselves.” I see the history & teaching authority of Gods Holy Catholic & Apostolic Church being second guessed and criticized by many people even inside the church, who somehow consider themselves more Catholic than the Pope and having a better idea than God. I see the suffering & the stain that this whole child molestation scandal that has been put on the church, but I also see the victims who are the priests, who have lived good & holy lives, and have given their whole lives to the service of God’s Church. I see that many of these priests didn’t have a damn thing to do with this whole thing, but they are now hated, distrusted, and looked down on by many in this world. I can’t help it that I see all of these things, but I know that I’m not smart enough to be seeing these things on my own.

I think you are on the right track! I noticed similar things with me when I found faith in God. Your faith is a gift, and don’t be discouraged if people don’t understand, but humbly pray for them

God bless!

 

[Brian2589]

I know what you mean. The only difference is you had people comment on your facebook posts at one time and then they quit. It is rare that people ever comment on the things I post. I post a quote a day from a saint and post notes on apologetics. If you want I would love to have you as a friend on Facebook. My url is www.facebook.com/catholicevangelism and you want you can join the fan page I started called “It’s cool to be Catholic” I use to have 250 friends and now I am around 188 on myspace. I have had old friends and even my neighbor deny my friend request and the only reason I can think of is I am no longer Mennonite.
I would reaffirm what the others are saying as far as being strong in prayer. I know in the debates and discussions I have, it makes no sense to me why they still think the Catholic Church is wrong after all the evidence I present. The change comes from the heart and it isn’t what I say the does the changing. I will say this. I have had a few people write me and say that they have read everything I post and that they don’t always agree but they appreciate me posting them. This is coming from people that I can’t tell have been online for months. So you never know who is reading and just because they don’t comment doesn’t mean that the post isn’t slowly having an effect. My thinking is if spending several hours a day on apologetics and evagelization until I die, if I can in some small insignificant way have helped lead someone to Jesus then it will be worth it.

 

[Saint_wannabe]

I know what you mean. The only difference is you had people comment on your facebook posts at one time and then they quit. It is rare that people ever comment on the things I post. I post a quote a day from a saint and post notes on apologetics. If you want I would love to have you as a friend on Facebook. My url is www.facebook.com/catholicevangelism and you want you can join the fan page I started called “It’s cool to be Catholic” I use to have 250 friends and now I am around 188 on myspace. I have had old friends and even my neighbor deny my friend request and the only reason I can think of is I am no longer Mennonite.
I would reaffirm what the others are saying as far as being strong in prayer. I know in the debates and discussions I have, it makes no sense to me why they still think the Catholic Church is wrong after all the evidence I present. The change comes from the heart and it isn’t what I say the does the changing. I will say this. I have had a few people write me and say that they have read everything I post and that they don’t always agree but they appreciate me posting them. This is coming from people that I can’t tell have been online for months. So you never know who is reading and just because they don’t comment doesn’t mean that the post isn’t slowly having an effect. My thinking is if spending several hours a day on apologetics and evagelization until I die, if I can in some small insignificant way have helped lead someone to Jesus then it will be worth it.

Thats all good sound advise (everyone on here included) and thank you. I used to mostly post about secular trivial things on Facebook, & I think thats why more people related and chirped back at one point. I started posting quotes from Saints, a few quotes from Scripture, some catholic videos about Saints, etc, and then everything all of the sudden got very quiet. (insert crickets chirping here) I do still post some secular trivial things from time to time as well, but that is not my real, honest interest. On the plus side of this, I have made two friends on Facebook that are from another Catholic website that I frequent called 4Marks. 4Marks is kind of like a Facebook or Myspace for catholics that I also spend time at. I will visit your profile, and I will also post a link for 4Marks below.

www.4marks.com

 

[Saint_wannabe]

P.S. Brian2589, I found you, friend requested you, and sent you a private message as well. Thanks.

 

[PJM]

=Brian2589;6466734]I know what you mean. The only difference is you had people comment on your facebook posts at one time and then they quit. It is rare that people ever comment on the things I post. I post a quote a day from a saint and post notes on apologetics. If you want I would love to have you as a friend on Facebook. My url is www.facebook.com/catholicevangelism and you want you can join the fan page I started called “It’s cool to be Catholic” I use to have 250 friends and now I am around 188 on myspace. I have had old friends and even my neighbor deny my friend request and the only reason I can think of is I am no longer Mennonite.
I would reaffirm what the others are saying as far as being strong in prayer. I know in the debates and discussions I have, it makes no sense to me why they still think the Catholic Church is wrong after all the evidence I present. The change comes from the heart and it isn’t what I say the does the changing. I will say this. I have had a few people write me and say that they have read everything I post and that they don’t always agree but they appreciate me posting them. This is coming from people that I can’t tell have been online for months. So you never know who is reading and just because they don’t comment doesn’t mean that the post isn’t slowly having an effect. My thinking is if spending several hours a day on apologetics and evagelization until I die, if I can in some small insignificant way have helped lead someone to Jesus then it will be worth it.

***Good for you my friend! Keep up the good work; BUT be careful; we are never to FORCE our faith on anyone.

Why?

Because Faith and Understanding are gifts from God.

So we do our part, and let God do the “heavy work.”***

 

[JerseyNeaner]

You are certainly NOT alone! Lots of good advice and info here. Throwing in my two cents as well!

I have a dear friend who, when I talk about my faith, will roll her eyes and say something like, “Yea, I remember when I was in that Jesus phase.”

Ouch!

Some friends I have also reconnected with on Facebook are more than a little surprised, to say the least, to see that I have grown so in my faith. Back in high school, and probably college, I don’t think I’d have been voted Most Likely To Grow In Her Faith. Ha! Not by a longshot!

As long as you aren’t pushing, and it doesn’t sound like you are, just keep being you and see what happens. Some people may just be taken back at your growth in your faith…it’s a new you and that may take some getting used to.

Others may withdrawl from you because you remind them how they have fallen away from God.

Irregardless, I think you sound like a beautiful soul and hope that you keep doing what your doing. Remember the wise words of Mother Teresa…“In the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.”

 

[Saint_wannabe]

Thanks JerseyNeaner, and God bless.

 

[CD_Michels]

I went through the same thing when I first got ‘on-fire’ with the Faith when I was in college. I had many friends get fed up with me, and I would get frustrated that they didn’t understand I was trying to ‘help’ them. It was very eye-opening when the spiritual blinders were taken off and I could see all that I use to partake in for the sinfulness it really was. Listening to music and watching TV was no longer fun.

It hurt me the most that my family seemed put-off by my new excitement in my Catholic faith. I was raised Catholic, but my whole family viewed Church on Sunday the only thing that was necessary. I talked with them about all the things I was learning in the Catechism and Bible. But they had no interest… My brother’s wife (who was not Catholic) even made the comment to him “your not going to get all religious like him, are you?” I know this because he told me when he told me to stop talking about my Faith so much.

So, I decided to stop talking so much and just lead by example. I turned down friends that wanted to go to crude/sexual humor movies. Didn’t partake in dirty jokes (don’t laugh at them) and didn’t use vulgar language. I didn’t criticize those that did this, just simply stated I didn’t want to when asked about it. (I found it important to say “I have no desire to see that movie.” not “going to that movie is a sin.”)

I also started praying for my family and friends that they would come to desire a relationship with Jesus and seek His truth and to be open to the Catholic Church. As the years went by, people started to take notice and stopped telling dirty jokes around me and would actually apologize to me when they would use the Lord’s name in vain. (again I didn’t every criticize them, they just figured it out on their own.) My friends and family started growing in their faith and started also talking about it. My brother’s wife became Catholic this year.

Many of the friends that I thought I had lost forever, I never stopped praying for, and many (but not all) of them are now open to what I have to say and actually ask me what the Church teaches on many topics.

I think the title of your post sums it up. God has to open their ears before they can hear you!

 

[Saint_wannabe]

Thank you C D Michaels. I think the best thing that I can do most times is to just pray, pray & then pray some more. God can do more with people in a second, than I could ever do with them in a lifetime, and I need to remember that.