Instructing the ignorant

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Instructing the ignorant is a spiritual work of mercy.

Generally speaking, can this be done without coming across as judgmental?

If so, how? What are some ways you have been able perform this spiritual work of mercy with charity within your lives?
 
It can be done, and is done right here on CAF almost all the time. 🙂

It is done by choosing your words carefully, and not talking down to people. They may not know any better.
 
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The very statement “instructing the ignorant” comes from a place of superiority. Perhaps a position of neutrality is better suited.

In a sense every individual is both student & teacher, therefore ignorance exists in all of us. The thought that we have something to teach must be consolidated to include, we also have something to learn.
 
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I find it extremely difficult because I’m autistic and I can be very “fact, fact, fact!” Very emphatically and robotically. It’s something I’m trying to work on, it’s hard. Sometimes you dear friends here get most of my practice.

I feel we are obligated to correct misinformation to answer the topic.
 
Sharing your excitement about your faith is one way. Another is to provide insights through gifts- perhaps a fabulous piece of Catholic literature and then letting the reader discover the wealth without any words from you.
If asked to explain your reasoning for an action, you might show the linkage between what you do and why (your sharing your faith goes here) you do it.
 
jeannetherese said:
fabulous piece of Catholic literature and then letting the reader discover the wealth without any words from you.
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👍 Exactly right, Lead by example not by lecture, actions speak louder than words, is a very wise strategy.
 
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Ignorant doesn’t necessarily have to have a pejorative tone. It just means you don’t know something. I’m ignorant about French grammar. That doesn’t mean I’m stupid or anything; i just don’t speak French.

As to how not to seem judgmental or superior, consider that sometimes the ignorant person is actually seeking to learn. It doesn’t mean you’re giving unsolicited instruction. So, for example, someone teaching RCIA is instructing the ignorant. No one would call that arrogant or pretentious or whatever.
 
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Thanks for the responses, lets pray that they might have an impact and help people be more charitable.

“instructing the ignorant” in some cases seems to be becoming more and more difficult with fear of being cancelled but lets all be imitators of Christ, and lead by example being a witness to the Lord.
 
My understanding of the word ignorant is not synonymous with the word stupid.

If a person is ignorant of something, gently informing them is great. I am more than happy to be corrected about actual religious things on this forum. As I’m here because I am Catholic, I hope that I can offer the same to others. But where correcting the ignorance* is concerned, it should be relevant to the topic or to avoid confusion. If there’s no confusion created by the perceived error, there’s nothing to correct (ie different words in different countries…).
 
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The lack of certain knowledge doesn’t make someone ignorant. It is only ignorant when unwilling to learn or see differently, this is why they remain unconvinced of certain truths, they choose to ignore them. Not a concept of stupidity, but one of self conviction.

As we are all, both teacher & student, to imply ignorance is to be ignorant.
 
Well said we should also examine ourselves to make sure we are not ignorant. We should be open to dialogue and “listen” to what other peoples view points are as well.

People need to be led to the faith not dragged.
 
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truthseeker said:
“instructing the ignorant” in some cases seems to be becoming more and more difficult with fear of being cancelled but lets all be imitators of Christ
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It’s still important to choose words carefully.
 
truthseeker said:
People need to be led to the faith not dragged.
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Yes, led by example. You said it seemed to becoming more & more difficult to teach others. It is a case of less words more action, with the world full of self conviction. Our way does not translate into everyone’s way & how we proceed onto one universal truth for all, is the challenge.

If human kind, could see the one single truth of its origins & destiny, then surly we would have something much closer to heaven on earth. How can all the different belief systems achieve this???
 
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If looking at ignorance: something tangible, in Scripture: show me. If something intangible, requires charity. If someone is ignorant, they require charity to be shown how they are ignorant. If they do not understand, or their opinions keep them stuck, that’s (possibly) willful ignorance.

I still stand by ignorance being a lack of knowledge, and has no need to mean willful ignorance without the specificity. If one means willful ignorance, that’s a different topic entirely. Ignorance doesn’t always mean it is willful.

ETA further: I still would never see the word “ignorant” as negative, though willfully ignorant is much more negative as it requires some level of stubbornness in order to occur.
 
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We are called to evangelize and we must be patient, but we must also persist. Souls are saved one by one. Every soul is loved by God and He calls us to be our brothers’ keepers. Each of us must do our best.
Words are a form of action and the words we choose will make a difference, for better or worse.
I would not advocate silence; rather, prudence.
 
jeannetherese said:
Souls are saved one by one. Every soul is loved by God
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Exactly right, however many believe, not all can be saved & not a good place to start. Does a Sheppard only look after their own flock? What about other flocks? How do we look after them all?
jeannetherese said:
Words are a form of action
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True to some extent, they are a form of communication & to communicate is action, maybe our words don’t suite the type of world we live in, these days it seems more important to show instead of say.
 
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I am going by the dictionary definition, unless I’m missing something
 
ignorance

noun
  1. lack of knowledge or information.
“he acted in ignorance of basic procedures”

It is ignorant NOT to read the procedure, they ignored the procedure, therefore they lack the appropriate knowledge, all because they willfully ignored it
 
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EssentialBeing said:
Exactly right, however many believe, not all can be saved & not a good place to start.
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Those who say that may be paraphrasing Christ. As a Catholic, I doubt you would choose to argue with him.
One can agree with Christ but, since one is unlikely to know for sure who might not be saved, one would try to convert others to the best of his or her ability to the church established by Our Lord.
 
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