Is evangelism an important aspect of the Catholic faith?

[einna]

Following Christ’s teaching and giving yourself to God as you said, both includes evangelizing the world. If it does not, it is insincere and hypocritical.

What you said about the Church is wrong, too. If you are waiting for the Church to be perfect before she can evangelize, then it will never happen. The Church needs to (and does, anyways) constantly evangelize and make disciples.

On a general note, obviously that doesn’t mean every member of the Church has to do it in the exact same way. We all have different talents and different “ministries”, if you will. But don’t take cowardice as an excuse for not spreading the gospel.

In the South the word evangelizing usually means those protestant preachers who preach about damnation and are critical of anyone not at their church, so Catholics here are not too fond of that word. If you want to see those of us that do not go out of our way to bring up conversations about becoming Catholic and preach the gospel as insincere and hypocritical, it is you choice to be negative and judgement. If you want to say we are cowards because we choose not to do things your way, again that is your choice.

I live in a very large Catholic community and work at a Jesuit Catholic high school where no one tries to evangelize or convert the non-catholic kids we have that attend our school. They are required to take theology and attend Mass. They see what being Catholic means by how we live our everyday lives, not by preaching the gospel outside Mass to them. We respect all the families we have here and we respect they are willing to be a part of our community and our Catholic faith, even in little ways. We would never try to convert them; the only thing we would do is educate them on what we believe and any falsehoods they may have about our faith.

 

[einna]

Many Catholics practice evangelizing in a quieter way. There is what is called the apostolate of friendship.

The idea is that we slowly and naturally expand our network of friends…even making friends with people who irritate us. This is love, this is sacrifice…it helps us “go against the easy grain”. It’s part of picking up our cross daily. So we open up our lives, in a spirit of generous friendship. We do things for our friends…we listen to them patiently to learn what is going on in their lives, their worries, hopes, skills, problems. This knowledge helps us better pray for them as well. Our Lord can give us little ways, little inspirations that can help these people…a job posting here, a ride to the radiologist there.

We don’t evangelize on street corners. We go slow…we pray…we offer small sacrifices for our friends. Over time, in a very natural and human way…our friends begin to ask more substantial questions about life and faith…what is the source for our joy and peace. This leads to other conversations about God, prayer, faith.

Matters of the soul are as intimate as they get. It’s generally unproductive to engage on matters of the soul with strangers.

 

[Disciple_I_Hope]

I think that evangelization is an integral part of Catholicism. Those who have in this thread mentioned that they were never evangelized by a Catholic are probably right. There was a time when this wasn’t important and we, Catholics, didn’t do it at all. Depending on the culture of a particular parish evangelization may or may not be a part of that parish’s faith life.

Those who in this thread have said that evangelization consists of _________. (Fill in the blank), are all right. Those who have said that the Church has no teaching or doctrine on evangelization probably don’t realize that it does.

Please bear with me while I present three quotes from “Apostolicam Actuositatem,” (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity) from Vatican II. The first quote is from Chapter 1 “The Vocation of the Laity to the Apostolate,” paragraph 2:

They [the laity] exercise the apostolate in fact by their activity directed to the evangelization and sanctification of men and to the penetrating and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel. In this way, their temporal activity openly bears witness to Christ and promotes the salvation of men. Since the laity, in accordance with their state of life, live in the midst of the world and its concerns, they are called by God to exercise their apostolate in th

The second is from paragraph 6 of the same chapter:

There are innumerable opportunities open to the laity for the exercise of their apostolate of evangelization and sanctification. The very testimony of their Christian life and good works done in a supernatural spirit have the power to draw men to belief and to God; for the Lord says, “Even so let your light shine before men in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5: 16). However an apostolate of this kind does not consist only in the witness of one’s way of life; a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers with a view to leading them to faith, or to the faithful with a view to instructing, strengthening, and encouraging them to a more fervent life. “For the charity of Christ impels us” (2 Cor. 5 :14). The words of the Apostle should echo in all hearts, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16).[1]
Since, in our own times, new problems are arising and very serious errors are circulating which tend to undermine the foundations of religion, the moral order, and human society itself, this sacred synod earnestly exhorts laymen–each according to his own gifts of intelligence and learning–to be more diligent in doing what they can to explain, defend, and properly apply Christian principles to the problems of our era in accordance with the mind of the Church.

And the last from Chapater V, “External Relationships” paragraph 31a:

In regard to the apostolate for evangelizing and sanctifying men, the laity must be specially formed to engage in conversation with others, believers, or non-believers, in order to manifest Christ’s message to all men.[5]
Since in our times, different forms of materialism are spread far and wide even among Catholics, the laity should not only learn doctrine more diligently, especially those main
points which are the subjects of controversy, but should also exhibit the witness of an evangelical life in contrast to all forms of materialism.

I think that the different things people posting in this thread have seen, heard and done are all covered by this decree which is now 47+ years old. Just like there are many gifts of the Holy Spirit and not all gifts are given to everyone, there are different forms of evangelization–from quiet example to thunderous sermons–any one of which may or may not be comfortable for a given individual.

Of more recent memory is the call to “The New Evangelization” first given by Pope John-Paul II and carried on by Pope Emeritus Benedict XV1.

We all can, and may I say must, to the extent to which we are able be evangelists. It is important.

 

[PaulJude]

Many Catholics practice evangelizing in a quieter way. There is what is called the apostolate of friendship.

The idea is that we slowly and naturally expand our network of friends…even making friends with people who irritate us. This is love, this is sacrifice…it helps us “go against the easy grain”. It’s part of picking up our cross daily. So we open up our lives, in a spirit of generous friendship. We do things for our friends…we listen to them patiently to learn what is going on in their lives, their worries, hopes, skills, problems. This knowledge helps us better pray for them as well. Our Lord can give us little ways, little inspirations that can help these people…a job posting here, a ride to the radiologist there.

We don’t evangelize on street corners. We go slow…we pray…we offer small sacrifices for our friends. Over time, in a very natural and human way…our friends begin to ask more substantial questions about life and faith…what is the source for our joy and peace. This leads to other conversations about God, prayer, faith.

Matters of the soul are as intimate as they get. It’s generally unproductive to engage on matters of the soul with strangers.

Edward H, Thanks for your response. I am so pleased to correspond like this with fellow Catholics in this way… It is new to me. I am passionate about Evangelism as it is often neglected yet so important. friendship evangelism as you describe is one good way to see souls saved. Before Christmas at a mass in St Peters the Pope asked each one of us in the RCC to be creative in seeking new ways to do evangelism. The Catechism says the Holy Spirit is the protagonist in evangelism. We just need to have faith in his activity. We wittness and he convicts of sin etc. The problem with friendship evangelism is it is very slow and the petrson might die before they get to ask you those questions. Anyway
what about all those many sould we meet only for ten minutes. Their eternal salvation could pivot on our availability to the Holy Spirit at the time. Think of the lord with the Samariytan woman and the rich young man. It is actually easy to raise the subject of faith in a very natural way as if just co incidentaly and quickly. But remember that our enemies are not flesh and blood. Satan absolutelz hates evangelism more than anything. Yoi will experience fear. Especially the fear of man. You must fear God instead and keep your peace. Sometimes a person might react initially to your faith by being uneasy or laughing or rejecting. But that may be more to do with the spiritual warfare going on. If you keep you peace you often find you are getting through the battle to the conscience.
It is really the Holy Spirit acting on your faith wittness. But very often the person will be pleased to be at the center of conversation. It is often they that make the subject personal after you raise the general subject indirectly. But I never force anyone. Everyone is free. If they do not want to talk to me that is fine. But so many act as if they have never confronted faith before and get touched by God. A woman I met in a cablecar while snowboarding , a humanist agnosyic agreed to read the gospel of John and ask God to reveal himself, for example. A young man with tatoos I met on a city bench recently was happy to pray with me for his salvation etc right there. Of course you must have the unction for the function whatever the function even if you have the courage to preach on the street. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and died for that mission. We share his mission. The more we share our treasure in evangelism the more he builds up our faith and
increases our treasure. I hope you are in a parish where you have the support and friendships to grow in this area.

 

[Edward_H]

Edward H, Thanks for your response. I am so pleased to correspond like this with fellow Catholics in this way… It is new to me. I am passionate about Evangelism as it is often neglected yet so important. friendship evangelism as you describe is one good way to see souls saved. Before Christmas at a mass in St Peters the Pope asked each one of us in the RCC to be creative in seeking new ways to do evangelism. The Catechism says the Holy Spirit is the protagonist in evangelism. We just need to have faith in his activity. We wittness and he convicts of sin etc. The problem with friendship evangelism is it is very slow and the petrson might die before they get to ask you those questions. Anyway
what about all those many sould we meet only for ten minutes. Their eternal salvation could pivot on our availability to the Holy Spirit at the time. Think of the lord with the Samariytan woman and the rich young man. It is actually easy to raise the subject of faith in a very natural way as if just co incidentaly and quickly. But remember that our enemies are not flesh and blood. Satan absolutelz hates evangelism more than anything. Yoi will experience fear. Especially the fear of man. You must fear God instead and keep your peace. Sometimes a person might react initially to your faith by being uneasy or laughing or rejecting. But that may be more to do with the spiritual warfare going on. If you keep you peace you often find you are getting through the battle to the conscience.
It is really the Holy Spirit acting on your faith wittness. But very often the person will be pleased to be at the center of conversation. It is often they that make the subject personal after you raise the general subject indirectly. But I never force anyone. Everyone is free. If they do not want to talk to me that is fine. But so many act as if they have never confronted faith before and get touched by God. A woman I met in a cablecar while snowboarding , a humanist agnosyic agreed to read the gospel of John and ask God to reveal himself, for example. A young man with tatoos I met on a city bench recently was happy to pray with me for his salvation etc right there. Of course you must have the unction for the function whatever the function even if you have the courage to preach on the street. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and died for that mission. We share his mission. The more we share our treasure in evangelism the more he builds up our faith and
increases our treasure. I hope you are in a parish where you have the support and friendships to grow in this area.

Yes. Well said and done. We need to be ever ready to respond to opportune moments the Holy Spirit lines up for us.

I think too there can be a need for a bit of caution, to avoid slowly adopting a “it’s in my hands to put this person over the goal line today…or on my timeline”. Souls are the most precious things on the face of the earth…and we must use all our means to please God by bringing His children to Him. We must use all our human virtues…improving these virtues until we die…prudence, justice, courage, fortitude, tact, patience, humor, intellect, logic, our creative abilities (some bring souls to contemplate beauty which is just one step away from Beauty Himself).

Well done and thank you for your innovation and love for Our Lord, and His souls. God bless.

 

[PaulJude]

I grew up w/a Baptist background and I detest “soul-winning” or “evangelizing”.

I know some people have a passion for it, but I don’t. It’s okay. God created people with different gifts and talents.

I like the fact that Catholics aren’t shoving tracts in my face all the time.

I resent this idea that we are all called to share the gospel in the same way. I share the gospel with my friends when they ask questions. I share the gospel through my relationships and lifestyle. I just don’t talk about it all the time because everyone knows (or quickly figures out) that I’m a Christian and don’t feel the need to share that fact every time I talk to someone.

Evangelism is an important aspect of the Catholic faith. We just do it differently than our Baptist/evangelical counterparts. I’d be out the door if my parish held a seminar on “soul-winning,” given my previous (and horrible) experiences w/this phenomenon. I’d be looking for a new parish real quick. Pressuring people to go “door-to-door” for Christ to see how many people they can get to say the “sinner’s prayer” isn’t what I’d call a good time or very honest. I’m just not called to do some of this stuff.

I’ve never had a Catholic evangelize to me and I love that my Catholic friends never tried. They let me ask my questions. They let me watch their lives. None of them, not even my husband, realized that I was considering conversion until I announced that I was starting RCIA this fall.

Obviously, given my response to this post, it wouldn’t have gone over too well if my Catholic friends had tried to evangelize me. God works in different ways to different people.

yES he does work in different ways. We all have different gifts. We do not evangelise the people we meet daily the same way as those we meet in passing. But those outside a Church are many. Evangelism can come across as the most natural thing. Not to do with preaching or sticking those flyers in faces as you put it. So many people want to talk about their faith or lack of it. It is their opportunity to meet you and hear from you. I love to talk about Snowboarding too. If they are not interested fine. I am happy to hear of your becoming Catholic. I was an agnostic for a short period myself. I extend a heartz welcome to the RCC to you.

 

[PaulJude]

In the South the word evangelizing usually means those protestant preachers who preach about damnation and are critical of anyone not at their church, so Catholics here are not too fond of that word. If you want to see those of us that do not go out of our way to bring up conversations about becoming Catholic and preach the gospel as insincere and hypocritical, it is you choice to be negative and judgement. If you want to say we are cowards because we choose not to do things your way, again that is your choice.

I live in a very large Catholic community and work at a Jesuit Catholic high school where no one tries to evangelize or convert the non-catholic kids we have that attend our school. They are required to take theology and attend Mass. They see what being Catholic means by how we live our everyday lives, not by preaching the gospel outside Mass to them. We respect all the families we have here and we respect they are willing to be a part of our community and our Catholic faith, even in little ways. We would never try to convert them; the only thing we would do is educate them on what we believe and any falsehoods they may have about our faith.

Markus, I think what you imagine me to mean by evangelism is not what I mean. Evangelism is a Catholic word and it comes in many shapes and sizes. I never mentioned preaching by the way. Evangelism is just being yourself. People like to talk about their faith or lack of it so that is their opertunity to hear the gospel of Markus and so to be saved from life without Christ.
Of course with those we work with every day our orginaly life is a witness in itself. People talk very naturaly and enthusiaticaly about their favourite sport or interest. We should not shrink from sharing our interest in Christ. The Pope has asked us to find creative new ways to evangelise. The devil will do all he can to divert us from this. Evangelism is enjoyable and rewarding and very edifying. Just be yourself but be open to God using you. Meet people where they are at. So many out there want and badly need the treasure in Christ that you have found.

 

[Catholic_Jay]

A lot of Catholics are too ecumenical to care about the salvation of people in different religions. There’s nothing against evangelizing in Catholic doctrine.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which Pope John Paul II called “a sure norm for teaching the faith”

1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.(Cf. Jn 3:5.) He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.(Cf. Mt 28:19-20; cf. Council of Trent (1547) DS 1618; LG 14; AG 5.) Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.(Cf. Mk 16:16.) The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the Spirit.” God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
1258 The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.
1259 For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
1260 “Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery.”(GS 22 § 5; cf. LG 16; AG 7.) Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.

Because of stuff like 1258 & 1260 and some stuff taken out of context in the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium many Catholics have decided to not grow through the work, and conflict that’s part of evangelization. Also, our ecumenical partners wouldn’t like it so they value that the most. The Catholic Church is a church full of sinners that currently won’t lift a hand to evangelize.

Also, the Second Vatican Council in it’s document the CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
LUMEN GENTIUM that was SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY POPE POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964

“14. This Sacred Council wishes to turn its attention firstly to the Catholic faithful. Basing itself upon Sacred Scripture and Tradition, it teaches that the Church, now sojourning on earth as an exile, is necessary for salvation. Christ, present to us in His Body, which is the Church, is the one Mediator and the unique way of salvation. In explicit terms He Himself affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism(124) and thereby affirmed also the necessity of the Church, for through baptism as through a door men enter the Church. Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter or to remain in it, could not be saved.”

 

[manualman]

Heck, yeah catholicism is into evangelization! There ain’t over a billion catholics out there just because we have big families! The catholic church INVENTED evangelization (at the command of Christ, mind you).

Met an Aztec lately? Nope, they all converted to Christ hundreds of years ago (and willingly too, not by the conquistadors whom they despised, but through the witness of missionaries - including Jesus’ mother!)

Know any Africans? Catholicism is rapidly spareading across Africa and even has Islam in retreat in some areas (provoking said muslims into acts of violence and terror against the peaceful catholics).

Do you suppose the Phillipines were evangelized by Baptists? Nope.

Your perceptions are skewed because you live in an era of neglect and dereliction of duty by nominal catholics who aren’t living their call. But the big guns are still there and they work fine when the crew actually uses them. Maybe that’s YOUR call. Come on home, there’s a target rich environment out there!

 

[QuickCat]

Heck, yeah catholicism is into evangelization! There ain’t over a billion catholics out there just because we have big families! The catholic church INVENTED evangelization (at the command of Christ, mind you).

Met an Aztec lately? Nope, they all converted to Christ hundreds of years ago (and willingly too, not by the conquistadors whom they despised, but through the witness of missionaries - including Jesus’ mother!)

Know any Africans? Catholicism is rapidly spareading across Africa and even has Islam in retreat in some areas (provoking said muslims into acts of violence and terror against the peaceful catholics).

Do you suppose the Phillipines were evangelized by Baptists? Nope.

Your perceptions are skewed because you live in an era of neglect and dereliction of duty by nominal catholics who aren’t living their call. But the big guns are still there and they work fine when the crew actually uses them. Maybe that’s YOUR call. Come on home, there’s a target rich environment out there!

Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is His ambassador - 2 Cor. 5:14-21.
The gospel by which one is saved is found in 1 Cor. 15:1-4. Paul calls this, “The gospel by which you are saved.”
Those who evangelize must be saved and know it. They must present our Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection for salvation to the lost person.
Grace and peace,
QC

 

[manualman]

Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is His ambassador - 2 Cor. 5:14-21.
The gospel by which one is saved is found in 1 Cor. 15:1-4. Paul calls this, “The gospel by which you are saved.”
Those who evangelize must be saved and know it. They must present our Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection for salvation to the lost person.
Grace and peace,
QC

The bolded portion is partially a vocabulary difference and partially a theology difference between catholics and protestants (especially those of the stripe who denigrate “religion.” Did you know that the roots of the word “religion” simply refer to being “bound to God?” Why is that distasteful? Sounds good to me…)

I’m guessing that you come from a tradition that understands salvation to be a single discrete event in a human’s life. Would I be correct in further guessing that you believe that after that moment of “getting saved” one has an assurance of salvation that cannot be affected by anything that follows later on in life? Here is where catholics part ways with you then. While I’m sure you can spout at least 30 versus demonstrating a reassuring promise of God’s faithfulness and how salvation cannot be externally stripped away from you by adversaries or suffering, I betcha a tasty donut you can’t find me a verse that confirms that you no longer have the free will to discard that gift of salvation yourself. On the contrary, you will find a boatload of verses warning you that, as a believer, you must persevere in faith, grow in faith and CONTINUE to receive and accept Jesus as a lifelong process, not a one time event. They’re probably NOT verses on your pastor’s memorization assignment list, but they’re there, I promise.

This is why you don’t hear catholics much talk about how they are “saved.” We fully comprehend the power of Christ, the gift of Grace and the joy of being forgiven. We just aren’t dead yet, so calling ourselves ‘saved’ in the past tense is seen as rather arrogant and presumptuous. Or in Monty Python terms: “Ahm not dead yet!”

Catholics have no issue with your last sentence. After all, we have been doing precisely that for 1,500 years longer than your version of christianity even existed!

 

[Loveartandlife]

I grew up w/a Baptist background and I detest “soul-winning” or “evangelizing”.

I know some people have a passion for it, but I don’t. It’s okay. God created people with different gifts and talents.

I like the fact that Catholics aren’t shoving tracts in my face all the time.

I resent this idea that we are all called to share the gospel in the same way. I share the gospel with my friends when they ask questions. I share the gospel through my relationships and lifestyle. I just don’t talk about it all the time because everyone knows (or quickly figures out) that I’m a Christian and don’t feel the need to share that fact every time I talk to someone.

Evangelism is an important aspect of the Catholic faith. We just do it differently than our Baptist/evangelical counterparts. I’d be out the door if my parish held a seminar on “soul-winning,” given my previous (and horrible) experiences w/this phenomenon. I’d be looking for a new parish real quick. Pressuring people to go “door-to-door” for Christ to see how many people they can get to say the “sinner’s prayer” isn’t what I’d call a good time or very honest. I’m just not called to do some of this stuff.

I’ve never had a Catholic evangelize to me and I love that my Catholic friends never tried. They let me ask my questions. They let me watch their lives. None of them, not even my husband, realized that I was considering conversion until I announced that I was starting RCIA this fall.

Obviously, given my response to this post, it wouldn’t have gone over too well if my Catholic friends had tried to evangelize me. God works in different ways to different people.

Actually, it is a command we are ALL given. We are to go and tell the world about Jesus. No matter who we are, we are to humble ourselves and abandon our pride so that the Holy Spirit can gives us the words to speak as we witness. The Bible tells us that the only thing that holds us back is our own passions… for many of us, this is ourselves ( pride ). How can we be instruments of God when we will only do what is comfortable?
My insight into your dilemma is to examine the doctrines of what you are getting into if you decide to convert to being a Catholic. Check the doctrine against scripture and pray often and earnestly ( as with any conversion ). Above all, don’t exchange a passion to know God for a comfy place to hang your hat. Following Christ is not comfy. If you find yourself satisfied with just going to church, your on the wrong path, my friend.

 

[manualman]

Loveart,

What Kal may have objected to is what she probably perceived as an attitude towards evangelization in which the numbers are what mattered rather than the people.

I myself have encountered people who have witnessed to me in a manner that suggested that what they were REALLY after was a notch to carve in their bible cover, not a sincere interest in me or my relationshio with God.

Kal clearly hasn’t rejected the concept of sharing Christ (as noted in the post about friends and neighbors) and as evidenced by participating on these boards. But sometimes people who have bad experiences with “numbers” oriented evangelization come to associate any sort of outreach beyond those personally known with the same thing. I suspect it is an honest mistake, not laziness.

 

[Edward_H]

The sell, collect “notches” approach probably does more damage to Our Lord’s kingdom than win souls.

It’s typical of a superficial faith. Just get on the street corner and win souls for Christ. The holding power of such an approach is nearly nil…and it probably leads to scars, false starts, and worse…cynicism.

Quiet sacrificing, patient friendship seems a better approach, over the long years. We work on souls at God’s pace, not ours.

Take your circle of friends or near friends…and push out into the deep with each of them, one by one. An extra lunch, beer, game of tennis, a fixed railing on their porch, a changed tire, dinner. Talk not directly of the Church or of God…unless they ask. Talk instead of the “good, true, and beautiful and permanent” things…architecture, good music, real science, careers, new projects, etc.

See this article for examples:

wdmr.org/sanctifying-our-conversations-with-other-minded-people/

 

[snowflakeinlove]

“Each believer in Christ has the supreme duty to proclaim Christ to all peoples.” - Pope John Paul II

 

[caytee]

Evangelism Is the MAIN reason why the Catholic Church is still here 2000 years later, but sadly the everyday Catholic is reluctant to do this in an overt way. They do evangelize with their life style of Mass attendance, etc. As a convert to the “fullness of the faith” for 15 years after being a Protestant for 50 years it was my own questions and staying open to the truth that led me to the Catholic faith which was pretty miraculous as I’ve never had one Catholic talk to me about their faith. We are in the “New Evangelism” era now, thank God! and Catholics are encouraged to share their faith with their protestant family and friends. There are many good resources for doing this (check on-line or your local Catholic book store). Sadly I’ve found most Catholics reluctant to do this as they are intimidated by the seemingly superior knowledge of scripture that our protestant friends love to quote, but once a Catholic becomes fluent in why they believe what they believe and have scriptures to back up their faith it becomes easier for them to be an effective witness to non-catholics. This is formally called “apolegetics” but attending a good RCIA class for a refresher course of our faith or reading books on the Catholic faith written for the average Catholic will boost their confidence. If you do enter the “fullness of the Faith” you will no doubt make a great evangelizer for our faith as most converts usually do!!! especially if they’ve converted due to their own spiritual journey towards Christ and His Church. God Bless your journey! take one step at a time, with trust in the Holy Spirits leading. It isn’t always easy, but with a hunger after the Knowledge of God and his plan for man you will arrive HOME!

 

[Kal2012]

Actually, it is a command we are ALL given. We are to go and tell the world about Jesus. No matter who we are, we are to humble ourselves and abandon our pride so that the Holy Spirit can gives us the words to speak as we witness.
Following Christ is not comfy. If you find yourself satisfied with just going to church, your on the wrong path, my friend.

1. I know that following Christ isn’t comfy. It’s not a huge mystery to my atheist and Liberal friends that I’m both a Conservative and Christian. I haven’t gotten a lot of brownie points being anti-gay marriage or anti-abortion and expressing my belief in God.
2. Manualman has my perspective correct.

While everyone is called to share the faith, they aren’t called to share the faith in the same way.

Had I not grown up in a church in which"soulwinning" revolved around peer pressure and numbers, then I probably wouldn’t be so cynical about evangelism.

I’ve just had too many encounters with people who claim that their version of God is the only version of God that’s acceptable — and I just don’t buy into their version of God.

That’s one of the specific reasons why I left the fundie/evangelical community. I just don’t think God is that small or overly legalistic.

As a result, when people start talking about being evangelical, I get really nervous and start looking around for the rest of the cult. (Sorry, but again, that was my experience and I’m not a robot).

As I said before, I would have found it a turn-off had my Catholic friends made it a priority to “witness to me”. I already knew Jesus and the starting point for most evangelicals is “Do you know Jesus?” “Do you know that you are a sinner?” (Yes. Yes I do. So, what is it exactly that you want to talk about? I know the Bible too! Let’s talk!) I’m not sure that a Catholic evangelical has a different starting point when they “witness”.

I found it more enlightening to watch how my Catholic friends live out their faith and struggle to make good decisions in light of their faith. My Catholic friends loved me. Answered questions when I had them. It was nice not to be pressured to say the “sinner’s prayer” or go to “their” church. It was obvious that they were faithful, but they didn’t require me to believe in Jesus the same way they believed in Jesus. They let me come to my own conclusions about Catholicism.

Again, everyone responds differently to different tactics. What might work for one person might be a disaster for me. What might work for me might have no impact on you. We are individuals and God reveals himself differently to all of us. Why should we insist that everyone use the same tactics to evangelize if we are different?

Some people might respond better to a music ministry, but others might be interested in the ‘tech’ ministry. (Ok - that idea works better for protestants, but I hope Catholics get the point). Some people are able to give more money, but others are able to give more time. (Hopefully, that idea works a little better).

There’s sharing the faith and then there’s sharing the faith and being a jerk about it. I’ve known way too many people on the “jerk” side of sharing the faith and it’s just not helpful. How we treat people when sharing the faith is just as important as the message itself. The majority of communication is non-verbal. If we are arrogant and start doing the “my way or the highway” routine, we lose people who might have otherwise been attracted to Christ’s message.

I’ve rambled on enough…

 

[QuickCat]

The bolded portion is partially a vocabulary difference and partially a theology difference between catholics and protestants (especially those of the stripe who denigrate “religion.” Did you know that the roots of the word “religion” simply refer to being “bound to God?” Why is that distasteful? Sounds good to me…)

I’m guessing that you come from a tradition that understands salvation to be a single discrete event in a human’s life. Would I be correct in further guessing that you believe that after that moment of “getting saved” one has an assurance of salvation that cannot be affected by anything that follows later on in life? Here is where catholics part ways with you then. While I’m sure you can spout at least 30 versus demonstrating a reassuring promise of God’s faithfulness and how salvation cannot be externally stripped away from you by adversaries or suffering, I betcha a tasty donut you can’t find me a verse that confirms that you no longer have the free will to discard that gift of salvation yourself. On the contrary, you will find a boatload of verses warning you that, as a believer, you must persevere in faith, grow in faith and CONTINUE to receive and accept Jesus as a lifelong process, not a one time event. They’re probably NOT verses on your pastor’s memorization assignment list, but they’re there, I promise.

This is why you don’t hear catholics much talk about how they are “saved.” We fully comprehend the power of Christ, the gift of Grace and the joy of being forgiven. We just aren’t dead yet, so calling ourselves ‘saved’ in the past tense is seen as rather arrogant and presumptuous. Or in Monty Python terms: “Ahm not dead yet!”

Catholics have no issue with your last sentence. After all, we have been doing precisely that for 1,500 years longer than your version of christianity even existed!

Manualman: Dr. Paul Kreeft bemoans the fact that “Many Catholics don’t know the gospel.” This has been my experience in conversing with Catholic friends. I recall a discussion with a teacher of “religion” who could not tell me what the gospel is nor where to find it in the Bible.

BTW, my Christianity is Pauline. Been around for over 2,000 years. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles - Rom. 11:13.

Grace and Peace,
QC

 

[QuickCat]

The bolded portion is partially a vocabulary difference and partially a theology difference between catholics and protestants (especially those of the stripe who denigrate “religion.” Did you know that the roots of the word “religion” simply refer to being “bound to God?” Why is that distasteful? Sounds good to me…)

I’m guessing that you come from a tradition that understands salvation to be a single discrete event in a human’s life. Would I be correct in further guessing that you believe that after that moment of “getting saved” one has an assurance of salvation that cannot be affected by anything that follows later on in life? Here is where catholics part ways with you then. While I’m sure you can spout at least 30 versus demonstrating a reassuring promise of God’s faithfulness and how salvation cannot be externally stripped away from you by adversaries or suffering, I betcha a tasty donut you can’t find me a verse that confirms that you no longer have the free will to discard that gift of salvation yourself. On the contrary, you will find a boatload of verses warning you that, as a believer, you must persevere in faith, grow in faith and CONTINUE to receive and accept Jesus as a lifelong process, not a one time event. They’re probably NOT verses on your pastor’s memorization assignment list, but they’re there, I promise.

This is why you don’t hear catholics much talk about how they are “saved.” We fully comprehend the power of Christ, the gift of Grace and the joy of being forgiven. We just aren’t dead yet, so calling ourselves ‘saved’ in the past tense is seen as rather arrogant and presumptuous. Or in Monty Python terms: “Ahm not dead yet!”

Catholics have no issue with your last sentence. After all, we have been doing precisely that for 1,500 years longer than your version of christianity even existed!

The natural man, woman or child is spiritually dead and cannot understand spiritual things without the aid of God the Holy Spirit. The lost person is blind and in spiritual darkness.
• Eph 2:1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins
He absolutely cannot understand spiritual things.
• 2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The god [small ‘g’] of this world [Satan] blinds the lost person to the truth of the gospel.
Grace and Peace,
QC

 

[QuickCat]

Manualman: Dr. Paul Kreeft bemoans the fact that “Many Catholics don’t know the gospel.” This has been my experience in conversing with Catholic friends. I recall a discussion with a teacher of “religion” who could not tell me what the gospel is nor where to find it in the Bible.

BTW, my Christianity is Pauline. Been around for over 2,000 years. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles - Rom. 11:13.

Grace and Peace,
QC

Oops! Should be “Peter” Kreeft. Sorry about that.
QC