Lack of baptism as motivation for active evangelization

[SteveGC]

Obviously we are to evangelize the world as Catholics…in whatever way that mandate is related to our different states in life…and using whatever effective methods to do so. I think for most of us that try to take that seriously, our primary means is to follow the words of St. Francis (preach the gospel often - use words when necessary). Thus, for most of us, our lives are probably not filled with an abundance of direct, personal evangelization encounters. For the most part.

But when it comes to known situations of unbaptized people around us, should that knowledge instinctively and without much hesitation draw us to active efforts to evangelize - regardless of the perceived level of belief/faith/devotion of those unbaptized people?

Do any of you find it troubling when you realize that you sit idly by when you know of people (often friends or family) that are unbaptized? Should it not be somewhat of an urgent situation, demanding a significant amount of our time? Of course I fully understand that it is the Spirit that converts and brings a person to the sacraments. And I understand baptism of desire/blood in lieu of actual water baptism. But as the normative means of baptism, when we know someone is not, should we be more active in our efforts to cooperate with the Spirit and draw them to the sacrament?

Thanks for your opinions…

 

[Mark_David]

But when it comes to known situations of unbaptized people around us, should that knowledge instinctively and without much hesitation draw us to active efforts to evangelize - regardless of the perceived level of belief/faith/devotion of those unbaptized people?

Yes - though it depends on what you mean by “active” evangelism. Dragging them by the feet to get baptized? No. Gently and enduringly guiding them towards it? Most definitely.

Do any of you find it troubling when you realize that you sit idly by when you know of people (often friends or family) that are unbaptized?

Yes. Also those living in mortal sin who fail to see why Reconciliation and returning to the Church is worth their time.

Should it not be somewhat of an urgent situation, demanding a significant amount of our time?

Yes, but I think we should be very careful regarding how we go about it. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt: that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

 

[Singapore_Nick]

Though the Church exhorts the faithful to spread the gospel, it is generally not a Catholic culture to share or evangelise the Good News to our unsaved friends, family members etc.

From what I observed most Catholics aren’t equipped with the evangelisation skills and still there is a mindset that these are the jobs of the priests, religious and “ALL faiths leads to the TRUE GOD”

 

[josephback]

Though the Church exhorts the faithful to spread the gospel, it is generally not a Catholic culture to share or evangelise the Good News to our unsaved friends, family members etc.

From what I observed most Catholics aren’t equipped with the evangelisation skills and still there is a mindset that these are the jobs of the priests, religious and “ALL faiths leads to the TRUE GOD”

The last is a scary attitude. We need more emphasis on evangelization. But there are many ways to evangelize.

 

[SteveGC]

Yes - though it depends on what you mean by “active” evangelism. Dragging them by the feet to get baptized? No. Gently and enduringly guiding them towards it? Most definitely.

Yes. Also those living in mortal sin who fail to see why Reconciliation and returning to the Church is worth their time.

Yes, but I think we should be very careful regarding how we go about it. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt: that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

Yes, indeed. Forceful evangelization is really a paradox. Won’t work for obvious reasons. Yet what I am trying to find is a balance between the “gentle and enduring”, and my perceived sense of the immediacy of the situation to provide active and persistent encouragement to come to the sacrament. Sometimes I think there’s really no time to dip all the arrows in honey, you know? People’s eternity is at stake here.

 

[AlwaysCurious]

Obviously we are to evangelize the world as Catholics…in whatever way that mandate is related to our different states in life…and using whatever effective methods to do so. I think for most of us that try to take that seriously, our primary means is to follow the words of St. Francis (preach the gospel often - use words when necessary). Thus, for most of us, our lives are probably not filled with an abundance of direct, personal evangelization encounters. For the most part.

But when it comes to known situations of unbaptized people around us, should that knowledge instinctively and without much hesitation draw us to active efforts to evangelize - regardless of the perceived level of belief/faith/devotion of those unbaptized people?

Do any of you find it troubling when you realize that you sit idly by when you know of people (often friends or family) that are unbaptized? Should it not be somewhat of an urgent situation, demanding a significant amount of our time? Of course I fully understand that it is the Spirit that converts and brings a person to the sacraments. And I understand baptism of desire/blood in lieu of actual water baptism. But as the normative means of baptism, when we know someone is not, should we be more active in our efforts to cooperate with the Spirit and draw them to the sacrament?

Thanks for your opinions…

I struggle with this as well. My family comes from a faith tradition that specifically avoids the sacraments because they see them as empty rituals (in other words, if you grasp the spiritual significance, that’s all you need). I spoke in strong terms about baptism with my ex-pastor when I converted to the Church and he said I was “majoring on the minors.”

One thing I’ve already found, though, is that putting it in terms of salvation and damnation immediately puts people on the defensive. From their perspective, you’re questioning the very foundation of their faith when they’re living a much better Christian witness than many baptized people. No, this doesn’t nullify the mandate for baptism, but emotions run high very quickly, and logic gets pushed out the door just as fast.

I’ve been working on something I hope to share with them, detailing the typology of baptism throughout the OT and diving into some sacramental theology as well (“why matter matters”). The point is, here we have a gift that God has prepared for us and given to us; why would we want to refuse it? It’s like a child on Christmas morning telling his parents “no thanks, these gifts aren’t necessary for my continued breathing.” When God gives you something, accept it!

God bless you as you sort through this with your loved ones!

 

[SteveGC]

I struggle with this as well. My family comes from a faith tradition that specifically avoids the sacraments because they see them as empty rituals (in other words, if you grasp the spiritual significance, that’s all you need). I spoke in strong terms about baptism with my ex-pastor when I converted to the Church and he said I was “majoring on the minors.”

One thing I’ve already found, though, is that putting it in terms of salvation and damnation immediately puts people on the defensive. From their perspective, you’re questioning the very foundation of their faith when they’re living a much better Christian witness than many baptized people. No, this doesn’t nullify the mandate for baptism, but emotions run high very quickly, and logic gets pushed out the door just as fast.

I’ve been working on something I hope to share with them, detailing the typology of baptism throughout the OT and diving into some sacramental theology as well (“why matter matters”). The point is, here we have a gift that God has prepared for us and given to us; why would we want to refuse it? It’s like a child on Christmas morning telling his parents “no thanks, these gifts aren’t necessary for my continued breathing.” When God gives you something, accept it!

God bless you as you sort through this with your loved ones!

And God bless you for sharing this story. Some good insight here.

Matter does matter indeed. One of the “light bulbs” that illumined me to the Church 4 years ago was the physicality of Christianity that has been obvious from history…the material sacramentality of God’s relationship with his people. At the same time, I began to understand that one of the things that keeps many protestants far away from Rome is that very thing…a Calvinist outlook that puts all matter as corrupt and unfit for anything meaningful or holy. When one does that, it diminishes the fullness of truth severely - because Christianity is sacramental at it’s core foundations. It started with creation itself. Why did God create everything out of nothing…but when it came to humans, He created us out of dust and bone? Has to make you wonder. It points to a unique sacramental relationship.

 

[AlwaysCurious]

And God bless you for sharing this story. Some good insight here.

Matter does matter indeed. One of the “light bulbs” that illumined me to the Church 4 years ago was the physicality of Christianity that has been obvious from history…the material sacramentality of God’s relationship with his people. At the same time, I began to understand that one of the things that keeps many protestants far away from Rome is that very thing…a Calvinist outlook that puts all matter as corrupt and unfit for anything meaningful or holy. When one does that, it diminishes the fullness of truth severely - because Christianity is sacramental at it’s core foundations. It started with creation itself. Why did God create everything out of nothing…but when it came to humans, He created us out of dust and bone? Has to make you wonder. It points to a unique sacramental relationship.

Not to mention Jesus himself came as pure matter and pure spirit The Incarnation is the solid core of our sacramental thinking. If your friends and relatives like reading, I recommend Thomas Howard’s “Evangelical is not Enough,” which poetically describes why we should care about the physical side of things. Despite the title it’s very positive in its approach; no polemics there.