My light is under a bushel basket, and it's not my fault

[JackVk]

There is the common saying that “all that is necessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing”. Well, I am finding this more than I can take. It seems like on a weekly, or even daily, basis, I find myself in a situation in which I know I have to speak up for the truth of Christ and against evil.

Simultaneously, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will be snubbed and ignored. The people in my life who need fraternal correction the most are the ones I know will not listen to me. The conversations only end in three ways: with me looking like a complete moron, a shouting match, or a disinterested “cool story, bro”.

I haven’t spoken up against anything in a long time. It just doesn’t seem feasible. I feel like God has set me up for failure. And please do not use that sickly-sweet “faithful-not-successful” Mother Teresa quote. If no minds will be changed, then what’s the point of even trying to evangelize?

I have resorted to praying for these people as well, and they show no sign of conversion of heart whatsoever. I don’t want to accuse God of playing games with me, but why does all the evidence point to me being set up for failure? Yes, that is failure by every sense of the word. If a doctor doesn’t consistently save patients’ lives, then he is a failure and a hack. The same applies with souls.

Also, don’t tell me to “preach the gospel at all times and use words when necessary”. St. Francis never said that, and I have done that to a T, to no avail.

If I am committing sins of omission, then I am not committing them willingly. I’m out of ideas and I’m playing with loaded dice. What am I supposed to do when everything, and I mean literally EVERYTHING, in the evangelization toolbox has failed miserably?

I’m not failing to evangelize out of cowardice, but out of incompetence and futility.

 

[Andre1000]

You need more than 15 years practice in speaking up until you start to cenvert people, at least I did. Also you cannot convert someone by telling them gay marriage is wrong or something like that, because they don’t have the fundament to understand what you are saying. First you need to introduce people into the realisation that the Church is true, not Christianity but the Church. All the stuff like morals can come later when they start to believe.

 

[Dorothy]

JackVk,

Consider yourself as planting seeds. Those you speak to may not accept what you are saying now, but they may respond in the near or distant future.

Speak in love, and if their arrows come at you, think of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and offer it up.

Also, perhaps not all should be spoken to. Ask for discernment from the Lord.

The advice I just gave is also for myself!

May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you on your journey to Him!

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom…Pray for us!

 

[johnnyc176]

I have resorted to praying for these people as well, and they show no sign of conversion of heart whatsoever.

Well don’t stop praying. Prayer is as much for you as it is for them.

Also, don’t tell me to “preach the gospel at all times and use words when necessary”. St. Francis never said that, and I have done that to a T, to no avail.

lol…yeah we do see that one a lot on the forum but again don’t stop ‘living’ your Faith but realize it is both/and

A couple of suggestions. Instead of you providing the answers ask questions so that dialogue becomes a conversation. Also try not to phrase things as right and wrong but rather true and false.

 

[KCT]

Quit thinking it’s up to you.

Say what you need to say, let them sneer, and move on. God’s in charge, not you.

 

[womanatwell]

There is the common saying that “all that is necessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing”. Well, I am finding this more than I can take. It seems like on a weekly, or even daily, basis, I find myself in a situation in which I know I have to speak up for the truth of Christ and against evil.

Simultaneously, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will be snubbed and ignored. The people in my life who need fraternal correction the most are the ones I know will not listen to me. The conversations only end in three ways: with me looking like a complete moron, a shouting match, or a disinterested “cool story, bro”.

I feel the same types of frustrations (although not the “not my fault” clause ).

I think we go through dry times in evangelization just as in spiritual dry times. And some have the gift more than others.

Things that help with evangelization are:

1. Prayer and patience–God has a way of working things out in life situations which take time.
2. Literature and other writing, such as on the Internet–People sometimes read things that get them going. I’m a writer of fiction, and I believe that can get some things across that lectures wouldn’t. We know how much Christ used stories. The Internet allows for self-publishing, although I realize not all these efforts are top-notch. I’m not a very good promoter of my own material, which is similar to the frustration of trying to evangelize by straight-forward efforts as you describe.

One of the things to remember is that what we are trying to do is extremely important.

We also can remember that some of Jesus’ stories were pretty simple. Maybe I get the idea across in my book, Unto Others: A Mystery. If you like mysteries, perhaps you will give it a try. It’s meant for evangelization and edification (perhaps you could say a boosting of inspiration):

womanatwell.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_3.html

We can all pray for each other and keep up our efforts.

 

[fred_conty]

JackVk,
maybe you should consider changing focus. There are the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that Jesus spoke about. Maybe change from evangelization to one of these to start with. Just start off slow and do one of them in some way. And then just let it grow from there if it happens.

Evangelization is not the end and be all of the faith, but a part of it. There are many more activities that are just as important if not more so. So you might want to give this some thought.

For instance you may want to get more catholics to consider going to daily mass or saying the daily rosary.

Try your hand at a small article in your parish weekly bulletin every now and then, to help people better understand their faith…motivational articles…thought provoking to get them to think.

I feel sure you will think of something after giving it some thought.
May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[mathematoons]

If you’re evangelizing with your life, how is your light under a bushel? The verse must be read in context: “You are the light of the world. City seated on the mountain cannot be hid. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” The only thing God can expect of you is that you make the effort. Look how few converts the Prophets made. Just like Israel in those times, the modern world doesn’t want to be saved anymore.

 

[AKDee]

Perhaps change your point of view.

*It’s not about you. It’s about them. *Every time you share the Gospel, you are presenting that person with an opportunity to change, to accept God, to repent, to receive salvation.

If they reject that, that’s on them. It’s not your failure, it’s their failure. But you’re doing them a service by providing that opportunity. And you do not know when you’ll get through to them - they may remember something you said years from now and it’ll click. St. Monica prayed for St. Augustine for 17 years before he stopped resisting God. I imagine, as his mother, she also had a few conversations with him.

A change in perspective on this might help you.

Also- don’t forget that Our Lady advised at Fatima to pray for peace,* do penance for conversion.*

 

[Catholic1954]

Praying for these people is “doing something”. How do you know that God has not put them in your path for that reason? Many souls have been converted by the prayers of strangers who never knew. God uses us at His pleasure; we don’t get to tell Him how to conduct His business.

 

[TK421]

Don’t feel ashamed that you haven’t converted anybody. You’re in the company of St John Paul II the Great, St Teresa of Calcutta, St Ignatius, St Aquinas, St Augustine, Sts Peter & Paul, and many others. God converts people.

Many of us are raised in a results-driven culture. We do something, and we look for exterior results. That isn’t necessarily how living the life of a Christian works. The act of being a Christian should be a joy in of itself. That is, that you are not joyful exclusively when you see visible fruit in another from your action, but you are joyful simply in the act itself.

This is an elusive gift to acquire. You must pray for it, and ask for forgiveness daily, and offer thanksgiving daily. You are too concerned with the world, as all of us are.

 

[MarkInOregon]

There is the common saying that “all that is necessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing”. Well, I am finding this more than I can take. It seems like on a weekly, or even daily, basis, I find myself in a situation in which I know I have to speak up for the truth of Christ and against evil.

Simultaneously, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will be snubbed and ignored. The people in my life who need fraternal correction the most are the ones I know will not listen to me. The conversations only end in three ways: with me looking like a complete moron, a shouting match, or a disinterested “cool story, bro”.

I haven’t spoken up against anything in a long time. It just doesn’t seem feasible. I feel like God has set me up for failure. And please do not use that sickly-sweet “faithful-not-successful” Mother Teresa quote. If no minds will be changed, then what’s the point of even trying to evangelize?

I have resorted to praying for these people as well, and they show no sign of conversion of heart whatsoever. I don’t want to accuse God of playing games with me, but why does all the evidence point to me being set up for failure? Yes, that is failure by every sense of the word. If a doctor doesn’t consistently save patients’ lives, then he is a failure and a hack. The same applies with souls.

Also, don’t tell me to “preach the gospel at all times and use words when necessary”. St. Francis never said that, and I have done that to a T, to no avail.

If I am committing sins of omission, then I am not committing them willingly. I’m out of ideas and I’m playing with loaded dice. What am I supposed to do when everything, and I mean literally EVERYTHING, in the evangelization toolbox has failed miserably?

I’m not failing to evangelize out of cowardice, but out of incompetence and futility.

Can you provide some examples of how you evangelize? Of the situations where you think you should speak up for the truth–and how you would do it if you did? How you have preached the Gospel without words to a T? It might be helpful to know for those who might respond. Perhaps an outsider might see something that you can’t.

Fraternal correction can be virtually impossible with those you know best–such as family members. You can’t just “correct” them. They know you and all your faults past and present. I think it’s best to discuss issues, when they naturally arise --find out what they think, listen and consider it and explain in a calm, controlled and non accusatory manner what you think and why–and leave it at that, plant the seed–give them something to think about. You never know when the seed might take root–how long it may need to percolate.

You can scoff at the Mother Teresa quote and call it sickly-sweet, but are you not called to be faithful? I seem to remember Jesus himself losing a lot of followers–yet he stuck to being faithful to his Fathers will and didn’t throw up his hands.

You can scoff at the St. Francis quote/non quote but if your not preaching by your actions–are not your words hollow to those who hear them? Is not the way you live–really you’re most powerful form of evangelization? Was it St. Francis’ actions or his words that attracted others to him? Our faith in Christ should transform our lives and we should be happy and joyful and at peace–no matter the circumstances of our lives. Our lives should be such that those who meet us know there is something different about us–we should be living in a manner that makes them want the joy we have. If we’re not joyful in living our faith–that’s what we need to work on–ourselves and not others. We can’t evangelize if we are dour–if we have not evangelized and do not continually evangelize ourselves.

The peace of Christ,
Mark

 

[patmiron]

=JackVk;13040028]There is the common saying that “all that is necessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing”. Well, I am finding this more than I can take. It seems like on a weekly, or even daily, basis, I find myself in a situation in which I know I have to speak up for the truth of Christ and against evil.

Simultaneously, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will be snubbed and ignored. The people in my life who need fraternal correction the most are the ones I know will not listen to me. The conversations only end in three ways: with me looking like a complete moron, a shouting match, or a disinterested “cool story, bro”.

I haven’t spoken up against anything in a long time. It just doesn’t seem feasible. I feel like God has set me up for failure. And please do not use that sickly-sweet “faithful-not-successful” Mother Teresa quote. If no minds will be changed, then what’s the point of even trying to evangelize?

I have resorted to praying for these people as well, and they show no sign of conversion of heart whatsoever. I don’t want to accuse God of playing games with me, but why does all the evidence point to me being set up for failure? Yes, that is failure by every sense of the word. If a doctor doesn’t consistently save patients’ lives, then he is a failure and a hack. The same applies with souls.

Also, don’t tell me to “preach the gospel at all times and use words when necessary”. St. Francis never said that, and I have done that to a T, to no avail.

If I am committing sins of omission, then I am not committing them willingly. I’m out of ideas and I’m playing with loaded dice. What am I supposed to do when everything, and I mean literally EVERYTHING, in the evangelization toolbox has failed miserably?

I’m not failing to evangelize out of cowardice, but out of incompetence and futility.

My friend you’re relying too much on YOU and not enough on God!

OUR TASK ON EARTH IS NOT TO “CONVERT”; THAT DEAR FRIEND IS GOD’S EXCLUSIVE TERRITORY:thumbsup:

Here is what God expects from each of us:

that we know our faith WELL: Father Hardon used to say: “you can’t share what you don’t have.”

Then always in charity and clarity [with proof] share it when the Holy Spirit gives us the opportunity

AND defend it when necessary [charity and clarity] no arguments

then pray for them:thumbsup:

DON"T give up; reply more pn the Holy Spirit

God B;ess you,

Patrick