Protestant Evangelization

[KateQ]

I am in a quandary. I have recently received a request for prayers and financial help for a mission trip from a co-worker’s child. They are both lovely people (parent and child) . My problem is that they are Baptists and the mission work is in an overwhelmingly Catholic country. So, I feel a little torn.

I think it is important that the child continues to grow in service to the Lord, and the mission project itself seems very useful. On the other hand, the “targets” will be Catholics.

Anyone want to give me some insight? Opinions?

 

[water]

It is good to support Christian services; however, we need to look at what the services are all about. It makes more sense if I support a person to go to some country who knows nothing about Christ.

It would be wrong for me, as a Catholic, to support someone who is non-Catholic and also trying to convert Catholics. By supporting such services, we might give the wrong impression that Catholic faith is wrong.

Do you want to tell this person “yeah, I help you convert Catholics to Baptist”? - I hope not.

We are responsible for bringing people to the Truth not the other way around.

I am glad you asked.

 

[KCT]

My husband comes from a Protestant family (his mom was Catholic, his dad’s side is not). We give to his cousins who are missionaries. When they started in ministry, they told their mission board they did not want to be sent to a Catholic country because those people are already going to church. They wanted to reach the unchurched.

I don’t like that we give to Protestants missionaries, but they’re family and dh is adamant. We give to Catholic organizations, too.

If the folks who asked you will be evangelizing Catholics, I would not give. You can explain why or not, as you please.

Is it possible to give him some spending money? That way you are not sending money to the organization. —KCT

 

[Brian_C]

Yes, it would be difficult for me, as I have many Baptist friends and family members. They even have my wife on their prayer list at our old church b/c of recent issues with the pregnancy (bedrest now!). But to support them going and evangelizing to other Christians when there are plenty of people who have never heard of Jesus Christ…

No thanks.

 

[1ke]

I am in a quandary. I have recently received a request for prayers and financial help for a mission trip from a co-worker’s child. They are both lovely people (parent and child) . My problem is that they are Baptists and the mission work is in an overwhelmingly Catholic country. So, I feel a little torn.

I think it is important that the child continues to grow in service to the Lord, and the mission project itself seems very useful. On the other hand, the “targets” will be Catholics.

Anyone want to give me some insight? Opinions?

I would not support such a mission. They are specifically trying to convert Catholics out of the Catholic Church. I think it would be gravely wrong to support such a cause in any way.

My rule is that I do not give anything to co-workers, because if you give to one you have to give to all-- or you feel bad for turning one down and not another. There are a million causes that float around work-- MS150, “race” for this or that, girl scout cookies, buying gift wrap for school fundraisers, etc, etc, etc. Most of them are morally objectionable because they support medical research using fetal tissue or embryonic stem cells. The school fundraisers are usually OK morally, but they are SO expensive!

So, no, I don’t feel bad when I explain my “no fundraiser” policy. I budget my charitable giving annual, I thoroughly research the charities I choose to support, and I stick to my budget.

As a matter of fact, I was approached twice at Sam’s Club on Saturday. Juvenile Diabetes outside at a table and then Children’s Miracle Network by the cashier. I told both of them the same thing. I budget my charitable giving and only give to organizations I’ve researched beforehand.

 

[KateQ]

Thank you, all of you, for your comments. Had the mission trip been a US inner city or rural area, I would have had no problem, but potentially drawing people away from the church …!

I shall offer my prayers for the child’s safety and spiritual growth, but skip any financial support.

 

[water]

I shall offer my prayers for the child’s safety and spiritual growth, but skip any financial support.

Yeah, I would do the same. Pray that through his mission, he’ll find the truth of the Church.

 

[christcnection1]

Interestingly, when I was doing some solo evangelization in Peru (as an Evangelical), I had many misconceptions of the Catholic faith. I didn’t even know if Catholics believed that Jesus died for their sins!!!

Through that adventure, some prayer, time, and a lot of grace, my hardened heart subsided and I became more open to the Catholic Church. Later, I came to realize the richness of theological truths and other gifts within our splendorous religion!

Oh… I hated the word religion as an Evangelical, but now I’m proud to say I love and practice the Catholic religion!

Pray for this young man. *If *you give him any money (and I have my doubts that you should), clearly explain how you want the funds to be spent.

Great question.

 

[iviking]

I agree with much that have been said here. Catholics should NOT support missions of other faiths, many of whom think the Catholic faith is un-biblical. Instead I would rather have given that money to a Catholic missionary organization.

 

[Bennie_P]

I tend to agree witht the idea of not supporting protestant missions in Latin America or Other Catholic countries, but there are things you haven’t said about this young person’s mission. which country? what is it he is going to be doing while there? is he going to be help bulding homes? Help with distributing medicine, or food? etc.

I believe that that we should support Catholic Mission fields first, but just becuase it is protestant mission project doesn’t mean it is wrong to support this young man, it might be his wake up call to the needs of the world and because a Catholic gave him support in having his eyes open, might be your evangelization of him?

Suggested reading:

Minding the Mind

by: Richard John Neuhaus
To the great gratification of all concerned, the Pope’s apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in America, which was issued last January and sums up the work of the synod, strongly endorsed the vision of Evangelicals and Catholics working together for the evangelization and reevangelization of Latin America.
November 1999

 

[war_eagle]

I am in a quandary. I have recently received a request for prayers and financial help for a mission trip from a co-worker’s child. They are both lovely people (parent and child) . My problem is that they are Baptists and the mission work is in an overwhelmingly Catholic country. So, I feel a little torn.

I think it is important that the child continues to grow in service to the Lord, and the mission project itself seems very useful. On the other hand, the “targets” will be Catholics.

Anyone want to give me some insight? Opinions?

I thought that Roman Catholics believed that we non-Roman Catholics were Christians.

Are you really saying that you’d rather they maintain their allegience to the Roman Catholic church, even if it means that they go to Hell, than to hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to be saved, even if it means leaving Roman Catholicism?

If you really believe that we’re Christians, then what’s the problem?

On the other hand, if you really believe that your version of the Gospel is so superior, then why aren’t you out evangelizing Christians?

 

[Brian_C]

We do think you’re Christians. Why don’t you think we are? We were responsible for evangelizing to most of the world for the past 2000 years. Why do protestant denoms waste time preaching to those that have heard the gospel and already believe they are serving Christ? Even Billy Graham had the decency to point wayward Catholics to the nearest priest.

 

[1ke]

I thought that Roman Catholics believed that we non-Roman Catholics were Christians.

If you are baptized in the Trinity, you are a Christian-- a member of the Body of Christ-- by virtue of that baptism.

Are you really saying that you’d rather they maintain their allegience to the Roman Catholic church, even if it means that they go to Hell, than to hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to be saved, even if it means leaving Roman Catholicism?

This is a false dichotomy.

Catholics hear the Gospel *within *the Catholic Church.

If you really believe that we’re Christians, then what’s the problem?

You are Christian by virtue of your Baptism. That does not mean you have the fullness of Truth, which is found only within the Catholic Church. In fact, non-Catholics have much error. Therefore, our prayer for you is that you will be fully joined to the Body of Christ-- which exists fully only within the Catholic Church.

On the other hand, if you really believe that your version of the Gospel is so superior, then why aren’t you out evangelizing Christians?

We are.

 

[war_eagle]

If you are baptized in the Trinity, you are a Christian-- a member of the Body of Christ-- by virtue of that baptism.

So then why are you evangelizing us? Why is it that when we share the Gospel with Roman Catholics, you get upset because, in your opinion, we’re sharing the Gospel with people who are already Christians. And yet, here you are telling us that you believe in evangelizing us, when we’re already Christians.

Why is it wrong when Christians do it, but OK when Roman Catholics do it?

Catholics hear the Gospel *within *the Catholic Church.

I know you’re going to call me a liar, but I didn’t. Many Roman Catholics tell me that they didn’t, either.

You are Christian by virtue of your Baptism.

Where is that in the Bible?

That does not mean you have the fullness of Truth, which is found only within the Catholic Church.

I see. So then, on what grounds do you believe that the Bible is wrong when it tells us that we have the fullness of truth?

In fact, non-Catholics have much error.

OK. Name your top three.

Therefore, our prayer for you is that you will be fully joined to the Body of Christ-- which exists fully only within the Catholic Church.

…or we can go with what the Bible teaches.

We are.

Why? Are Roman Catholics the ones who are always telling us that it’s wrong to share the Gospel with those who are already Christians?

 

[texasgrace]

Why not pray on it - ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Yes ideally as Catholics we would like to bring people to the Catholic faith. However, the most important thing is to bring them to Jesus. Once they have given their heart to Jesus He will guide them to Him in His way. That is my opinion. Hope it helps.

 

[dnsmith]

I hope you recognize that not all protestant missionaries are strictly attempting to evangelize. Some run hospitals, some just do good work, just as Mother Theresa did for the Hindus and Muslims in India. My senior year of High School was spent attending a (then) protestant missionary in Northern India. Not once did anyone suggest I convert. I also used a Catholic Bible in the mandatory scripture class and many times answered questions from the Catholic perspective as per my footnotes.

 

[PaperMoon]

I am in a quandary. I have recently received a request for prayers and financial help for a mission trip from a co-worker’s child. They are both lovely people (parent and child) . My problem is that they are Baptists and the mission work is in an overwhelmingly Catholic country. So, I feel a little torn.

I think it is important that the child continues to grow in service to the Lord, and the mission project itself seems very useful. On the other hand, the “targets” will be Catholics.

Anyone want to give me some insight? Opinions?

If they target Catholics then that is like working against the church because they are trying to remove people form the Catholic church and make them Baptists. It would be different if they were targeting non Christians. And why would they feel the need to target other Christians anyway? They must be under the delusion that Catholics are not Christians? So I’m not sure if supporting them is the right thing. They are harming those in the right church leading them away from the truth.

 

[PaperMoon]

I thought that Roman Catholics believed that we non-Roman Catholics were Christians.

Are you really saying that you’d rather they maintain their allegience to the Roman Catholic church, even if it means that they go to Hell, than to hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to be saved, even if it means leaving Roman Catholicism?

If you really believe that we’re Christians, then what’s the problem?

On the other hand, if you really believe that your version of the Gospel is so superior, then why aren’t you out evangelizing Christians?

The point is, if we are all Christians then it is a waste of time to evangelize people already serving God simply because they are not Baptist. They need to evangelize non Christians. Why support people who are leading Christians away from the Catholic church when there are souls who need to be evangelized that are niether Catholic or Baptist those who are not Christians at all. It is a waste of time to spend energy and resources just on leading those already saved into another denomination when there are many who are not saved that needs to hear about God.

 

[awantz]

I am Protestant. So, you may not even care about my opinion, but if you want to know, here it is. I feel that it is perfectly OK for Christians to support other Christian ministries. However, I feel that this is not a true ministry. As Christians we should be witnessing to nonChristians, not our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.That yields no positive results.

 

[dnsmith]

As a “cradle” Catholic I was always confused as to how anyone could leave one religion to go to another. If Christ founded his Church, isn’t there but one church? With many different congregations maybe, but as I recall, the scriptures and the Catholic Church teach that Christ died for all people of all nations, including those who had never heard of him or were fortunate enough to be exposed to the goodness of Christianity. Do some people actually believe that God condemns a person who has not been exposed to Christianity and follows another religion or philosophy? As I recall, Pope John Paul II extended his hand to all people of all nations when he said the Church accepts the truths of all religions.

I believe it is very presumptious of anyone to claim that simply not having known Christ means automation damnation. I don’t mean not to reach out, but I cannot believe a poor ignorant savage who has known nothing but animism is doomed. That is not what I have learned about Christianity.