Protestant customer

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I own my own business, and I have one customer in particular who is a protestant minister. I believe he is a baptist, has a phD in theology, and is extremely religious. He goes on missions around the world, although the guy is like 80 years old.

Anywho, when I first started working for him I was still not a revert to the church. He asked when I first started what church I went to and I gave him the name of my sister in law’s baptist church. Non-plussed, he asked who the preacher was there. Honestly, I’ve never been to that church so I didn’t know, and told him we only attended occassionally with my in laws. I think because of that, he hired me with the hopes of converting me.

So he always gives me a lot of christian talk when we speak, and brings up bible verses and Jesus a lot. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m not very religious. Which is fine, he never gets real pushy.

Now that I’m back in the catholic church, and a very happy revert, I find this a bit uncomfortable. He will bring up belief in Jesus and being saved a lot, and whereas I would blow him off before, I feel now somewhat that I should start a dialogue or discussion from the catholic side. Problem is, I’m not learned enough to be in a serious apologetics discourse with a man who has a doctorate in protestant theology and probably 60+ years of preaching his side. And I imagine, pretty set in his faith, at least enough so that my efforts would be in vain. So I let it slide.

Lately, he has been sending me tracts in the mail with his payments. I am not sure how to respond to it. Partly, I want to just ignore it. But partly, I’m tempted to send him some catholic reading material. I’m not sure what that will accomplish though, or what the results will be. And I’m unsure if it would cause him to look elsewhere on the business side, as well.

So what should I do? Ignore him, or open up a can of bees?
 
I think this is a tough one. First, because you are obviously uncomfortable with your own knowledge/understanding of your Catholic faith, in that you’re not sure you could stand toe to toe with him if he decided to try to debate you on the differences between your faiths.

I think that I would just let it slide for now, but take this as a nudge from the Holy Spirit to dig deep into your faith and learn as much as you can until you feel comfortable sharing it with anyone who wants to have a spiritual/religious conversation with you. It may never happen with this gentleman, but his influence could be a catalist for your own spiritual growth as a Catholic!

And then there’s always prayer! 😉 And this should actually be first and foremost.

Pray for this gentleman, I’m sure he’s praying for you! Maybe you both will be blessed because of it!:crossrc:
 
Jeanette_L said:
I think this is a tough one. First, because you are obviously uncomfortable with your own knowledge/understanding of your Catholic faith, in that you’re not sure you could stand toe to toe with him if he decided to try to debate you on the differences between your faiths.

I think that I would just let it slide for now, but take this as a nudge from the Holy Spirit to dig deep into your faith and learn as much as you can until you feel comfortable sharing it with anyone who wants to have a spiritual/religious conversation with you. It may never happen with this gentleman, but his influence could be a catalist for your own spiritual growth as a Catholic!

And then there’s always prayer! 😉 And this should actually be first and foremost.

Pray for this gentleman, I’m sure he’s praying for you! Maybe you both will be blessed because of it!:crossrc:
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agreed on this.
 
I just heard about this today on Ava Maria Radio and it might just be the thing you need.

Common Groundhttp://www.protestantcatholic.com/
What Protestants and Catholics
Can Learn from Each Other
The fact that a prominent Evangelical admits that Protestants have long misunderstood a range of key Catholic teachings is noteworthy. The fact that a Protestant church has produced this barrier-breaking interview is astonishing.
–Tom Allen Editor & President Catholic Exchange
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**An astonishingly honest, lucid, and winsome conversation about what unites and divides Catholics and Protestants. Father Riccardo and Pastor Andrews exemplify the kind of encounter made possible and necessary by the fact that we are, in the words of “Evangelicals and Catholics Together,” ‘brothers and sisters in Christ.’ --Rev. Richard John Neuhaus **Editor in Chief, FIRST THINGS
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**This is a great tool for the Kingdom of God. It can bring peace to the body of Christ in a beautiful way. Every Evangelical pastor needs to see this DVD. I do not have the words to say how important this is. **–Rev. Martin Lombardo **Evangelical Missionary **Jesus Cares Ministrie
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THEOLOGICALLY APPROVED:Fr. Riccardo’s explanations of Catholicism are in complete accord with the Church’s magisterial teachings on faith and morals.
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– Robert Fastiggi Ph.D.
Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit.
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**On the Web page there is clip to preview and a study guide that you download about the video. Check it, from what I heard it could let your Pastor friend understand you don’t need to be saved and give him and you **more understanding of the Catholic church and our beliefs, maybe you both could watch it together? An edited version is going to braodcast on Trinity Braodcasting this coming Saturday July 14, I think - need to check for local times.
 
I think I’m just going to leave this one alone. I sent him an email and thanked him for his literature and told him I would keep him in my prayers. And I’ll leave it at that.

It’s not so much that I have a lack of understanding or ability to defend my faith, as it is I’m a bit intimidated because he’s got a doctorate in theology from a very big baptist university and probably 60+ years of evangelization under his belt. He’ll chew me up and make me look silly.

That and I’m not really good with evangelization yet. I get pretty angry when dealing with people who deny the faith, and unchairtable. And that’s a bad thing. I’d rather not engage than engage and create a huge problem.
 
thomasf said:
I think I’m just going to leave this one alone. I sent him an email and thanked him for his literature and told him I would keep him in my prayers. And I’ll leave it at that.

It’s not so much that I have a lack of understanding or ability to defend my faith, as it is I’m a bit intimidated because he’s got a doctorate in theology from a very big baptist university and probably 60+ years of evangelization under his belt. He’ll chew me up and make me look silly.

That and I’m not really good with evangelization yet. I get pretty angry when dealing with people who deny the faith, and unchairtable. And that’s a bad thing. I’d rather not engage than engage and create a huge problem.
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Maybe you’re aiming to achieve too much. Next time he comes to you with a kind of evangelical agenda, you might share with him that because of profound life experiences and through reading Scripture, you have truly found a mature relationship with Jesus Christ and have returned to your Catholic faith. You could compliment him by saying that it could be partly because of his joyful witness that your heart was moved to come back to the Lord.

IOW: you don’t need to convert him, but if you can show him sincerely that you speak his language – which is ALL about repenting for your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior – you can establish a new platform for your relationship with him. The one thing a Baptist might not be preapared for is hearing that a ritual-bound Catholic actually HAS a personal relationship with Christ.

If he asks you if you know for certain that if you died right this minute you would go to heaven, you can answer: “Pastor Jones, the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary is all the assurance I need!” If he tries to drag you into the “are you saved” conversation, keep saying: “I plead the blood of Jesus, and nothing else.”
 
thomasf said:
I think I’m just going to leave this one alone. I sent him an email and thanked him for his literature and told him I would keep him in my prayers. And I’ll leave it at that.

It’s not so much that I have a lack of understanding or ability to defend my faith, as it is I’m a bit intimidated because he’s got a doctorate in theology from a very big baptist university and probably 60+ years of evangelization under his belt. He’ll chew me up and make me look silly.

That and I’m not really good with evangelization yet. I get pretty angry when dealing with people who deny the faith, and unchairtable. And that’s a bad thing. I’d rather not engage than engage and create a huge problem.
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You don’t have to justify your faith by debating him., Just let him know that you got serious about your faith and thank him for being one of the triggers,(sounds like he was), then just be friends with him, Baptist Preachers are not so bad, my uncle is one and he hasn’t tried to save me from the clutches of the Catholic Church.🙂
Put it in prayer, let God guide you and your words.
JMJ
Bennie P
 
mercygate said:
Maybe you’re aiming to achieve too much. Next time he comes to you with a kind of evangelical agenda, you might share with him that because of profound life experiences and through reading Scripture, you have truly found a mature relationship with Jesus Christ and have returned to your Catholic faith. You could compliment him by saying that it could be partly because of his joyful witness that your heart was moved to come back to the Lord.

IOW: you don’t need to convert him, but if you can show him sincerely that you speak his language – which is ALL about repenting for your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior – you can establish a new platform for your relationship with him. The one thing a Baptist might not be preapared for is hearing that a ritual-bound Catholic actually HAS a personal relationship with Christ.

If he asks you if you know for certain that if you died right this minute you would go to heaven, you can answer: “Pastor Jones, the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary is all the assurance I need!” If he tries to drag you into the “are you saved” conversation, keep saying: “I plead the blood of Jesus, and nothing else.”
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I think this is good advice. When you speak with people of other faiths, it is amazing how much common ground we Catholics share with them. The lingo is somewhat different, but being able to assure them that indeed you have committed your life to Christ, that He is your personal savior with whom you have an intimate relationship, and lots more. Of course you will not have a common view on the sacraments and the Mass. Basically they have a goodly portion of the Bible that the Catholic Church uses. Be sincere and recognize that he too loves the Lord deeply. You get in difficulty when you emphasize the differences. I can assure you how surprised many of these folks are when they meet a Catholic who loves the Lord and has a personal relationship with Him. Indeed the graces flow through the Church, but at the same time, if you are in the state of grace, Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit dwell within you.
 
rwoehmke said:
I think this is good advice. When you speak with people of other faiths, it is amazing how much common ground we Catholics share with them. The lingo is somewhat different, but being able to assure them that indeed you have committed your life to Christ, that He is your personal savior with whom you have an intimate relationship, and lots more. Of course you will not have a common view on the sacraments and the Mass. Basically they have a goodly portion of the Bible that the Catholic Church uses. Be sincere and recognize that he too loves the Lord deeply. You get in difficulty when you emphasize the differences. I can assure you how surprised many of these folks are when they meet a Catholic who loves the Lord and has a personal relationship with Him. Indeed the graces flow through the Church, but at the same time, if you are in the state of grace, Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit dwell within you.
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Yeah. And if thomasf is really convincing, this guy might give him the highest compliment they have: “I believe there are SOME Roman Catholics who are saved.” :rolleyes:
 
Thomas, have you heard of Tim Staples? He put his conversion story on a CD and titled it “JIMMY SWAGGERT MADE ME CATHOLIC.”

I haven’t heard it yet but it’s on my wish list.The last Protestant church that I went to is the reason I became Catholic. I got so tired of the way these people try to force their belief system down people’s throats. The thought that they could be wrong never enters their minds.

Tim Staples was on his way to becoming a Protestant minister until he met a Catholic fellow who really knew his faith and made him start to question some of the things that he was taught to believe.

Another thing on my wish list is a book by Dave Armstrong called “A BIBLICAL DEFENSE OF CATHOLICISM.” It sounds like it would have a lot of useful information. Even if you decide not to debate this guy, it might help you to understand your faith a little better.
 
Perhaps you can learn from him. With all that experience, he must have a lot of insight into the Bible. If you can stay away from the difficult areas, you could probably learn a lot.

Between crediting him for part of your getting to know the Lord more, and being willing to learn from him, it could benefit the both of you. There’s a woman preacher on some cable channel that I will stop and listen to if I see her on. She’s got very long dark hair, and is very insightful.
 
What an opportunity! Assure him that you are a baptized and practicing Christian and that “one day” you will tell him all about it. That will give you some time. Then, tune into Catholic Radio. Listen to Catholic Answers’ apologists. Get the Catholic Survival Guide-an amazing resource.

If you want your faith to accelerate, look up the Charismatic Renewal and inquire about “Life in the Spirit” seminars. Christ left us the Advocate, who teaches us all things and what to say. When I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, my faith life went from lukewarm to boiling!

God is now using me to call so many people back to the Him that I sometimes can’t believe it. He found a use for even this wretch. All of this at a point in my career when I was ready to call it quits. Everything happens for a reason. See how you are now motivated to learn your faith? This man is part of the Lord’s plan for you.

May the Lord bless you on your journey.
 
thomasf said:
I think I’m just going to leave this one alone. I sent him an email and thanked him for his literature and told him I would keep him in my prayers. And I’ll leave it at that.

It’s not so much that I have a lack of understanding or ability to defend my faith, as it is I’m a bit intimidated because he’s got a doctorate in theology from a very big baptist university and probably 60+ years of evangelization under his belt. He’ll chew me up and make me look silly.

That and I’m not really good with evangelization yet. I get pretty angry when dealing with people who deny the faith, and unchairtable. And that’s a bad thing. I’d rather not engage than engage and create a huge problem.
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Sounds like a real good incentive to start studying apologetics!

Common Ground DVD is great! I just saw it last wk. It presents the Catholic beliefs, but in a v non-threatening way. Get it and view it yourself; it’s worth it just to hear Fr. Riccardo’s testimony!

The Grotto Press has some Catholic tracts; maybe you could say how much you liked his, here are some for you…?

Agree that you should pray for him. I’m sure he loves the Lord v much to give his life’s work for Him as a missionary. Always try to find those common links that connect Christians, but be prepared to give a defense. You are in a prime spot to be used by God.

God bless,
Mimi
 
I just read a Conversion Story about a Baptist Minister converting to the Catholic Faith. This Minister has a Masters in Theology and Minors in History and Greek. You can ‘Google’ it…I did.

God knows what you might do with this enlightenment…and it will be comforting for you to know that you are already in the true fullness of faith.

Just in case…a Baking Soda paste will take the sting away.🙂

ceebee1
 
thomasf said:
I own my own business, and I have one customer in particular who is a protestant minister. I believe he is a baptist, has a phD in theology, and is extremely religious. He goes on missions around the world, although the guy is like 80 years old.

Anywho, when I first started working for him I was still not a revert to the church. He asked when I first started what church I went to and I gave him the name of my sister in law’s baptist church. Non-plussed, he asked who the preacher was there. Honestly, I’ve never been to that church so I didn’t know, and told him we only attended occassionally with my in laws. I think because of that, he hired me with the hopes of converting me.

So he always gives me a lot of christian talk when we speak, and brings up bible verses and Jesus a lot. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m not very religious. Which is fine, he never gets real pushy.

Now that I’m back in the catholic church, and a very happy revert, I find this a bit uncomfortable. He will bring up belief in Jesus and being saved a lot, and whereas I would blow him off before, I feel now somewhat that I should start a dialogue or discussion from the catholic side. Problem is, I’m not learned enough to be in a serious apologetics discourse with a man who has a doctorate in protestant theology and probably 60+ years of preaching his side. And I imagine, pretty set in his faith, at least enough so that my efforts would be in vain. So I let it slide.

Lately, he has been sending me tracts in the mail with his payments. I am not sure how to respond to it. Partly, I want to just ignore it. But partly, I’m tempted to send him some catholic reading material. I’m not sure what that will accomplish though, or what the results will be. And I’m unsure if it would cause him to look elsewhere on the business side, as well.

So what should I do? Ignore him, or open up a can of bees?
Click to expand...
Peace and all-good!

The truth will always be the truth. Regardless of our human limitations.

But of course, you need to study the basic of our Catholic faith, church history (including the writings of the apostolic fathers) and read some apologetic books (*Catholicism and Fundamentalism *by Karl Keating is recommended).

Saint Peter said, “Should anyone ask you the reason for this hope of your, be ever ready to reply, but speak gently and respectfully.” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Ave Maria!

jpaul
 
ceebee1 said:
I just read a Conversion Story about a Baptist Minister converting to the Catholic Faith. This Minister has a Masters in Theology and Minors in History and Greek. You can ‘Google’ it…I did.

God knows what you might do with this enlightenment…and it will be comforting for you to know that you are already in the true fullness of faith.

Just in case…a Baking Soda paste will take the sting away.🙂

ceebee1
Click to expand...
Peace and all-good!

Please identity that Baptist Minister now a Catholic convert. A good number of conservative Baptist and Evangelical Protestants are now coming home to the Catholic church.

Thank you.

Ave Maria!

jpaul
 
jpaul said:
Peace and all-good!

Please identity that Baptist Minister now a Catholic convert. A good number of conservative Baptist and Evangelical Protestants are now coming home to the Catholic church.
Click to expand...
Now, I am a little hesitant to do this, but a forum member, Big_Dave, has an inspiring conversion story, but is too modest to think that others would be interested. Look up his posts-it was within the past 3 weeks or so.

Christ’s peace to all.
 
Ignore him.

Since he’s a customer and you depend on his business for some of your income, don’t respond to any of his hints, overtures, etc. If he gets pushy, just smile and say you don’t feel comfortable discussing such a personal issue.
 
Hi Thomas,

I think there are two issues you should consider based on your post:
  1. The intellectual understanding of your faith (history, traditions and scripture) you obviously have received the grace of faith (spiritual).
  2. The ability to articulate your faith - explaining why.
These two are interrelated. As you develop 1, 2 becomes easier. Now consider that in serious situations Jesus said do not worry what to say as the Spirit will speak for you. So you must pray, pray for your client, pray for understanding of the scriptures, and pray for your development of your faith and pray on whether you should mention anything to him or not. Finally, but this should be done first is to offer your frustration and anger to God as a sacrifice in humility by keeping quite.

One need’s to know what battles to pick and just because an individual is learned does not mean you cannot become learned or that you cannot engage in a discussion of faith.

I believe in leadership through respect and example. What catholic example are you displaying? A tree is known by its fruit, what fruit are you yielding? Are you involved with your parish or a catholic organization? This will help you develop the base of confidence.

As you develop these works, which represent your fruit, the response to your client becomes the works you have done for others. Those others as the Lord said he is He.

So to wrap it up live your faith, love your neighbor and offer your anger and frustration to God as an act of humility by biting your tongue and smiling and saying to you client “thank you, God bless you”.

Maui
 
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