Protestant Missionaries to Catholic countries

[Wisdom]

Really? That’s interesting. What significant presence does the Catholic Church have in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey?

The Catholic Church has a significant presence in Indonesia close to 6 million a decade ago so its probably hit the 6 million mark by now. I also said in many countires, I did not say all Islamic countires I said in many countires perhaps you have a reading comprehension problem, also the orthodox and catholic churchs still had a signficant numbers of Christians in Turkey up till the 1920’s due to wars those communities have diaspora.
Of course the countries that have no significant catholic infuluence you have virtauly no protestant influence at all. The point that you miss is that protestants prefer to evangelize catholic communites than hit that hard pavement of say Saudi Arabia now when you guys start racking up the converts there as you do in say in Central American and Brazil I will give you your due that Protestants just don’t go for the easy pickings and seek to evangelize the world in an equitable fashion but the majority of their resources is not dedidacted to Islamic or HIndu or Buddist countreis but catholic countries or regions your objection is one of denial.

 

[rr1213]

The Catholic Church has a significant presence in Indonesia close to 6 million a decade ago so its probably hit the 6 million mark by now. I also said in many countires, I did not say all Islamic countires I said in many countires perhaps you have a reading comprehension problem, also the orthodox and catholic churchs still had a signficant numbers of Christians in Turkey up till the 1920’s due to wars those communities have diaspora.
Of course the countries that have no significant catholic infuluence you have virtauly no protestant influence at all. The point that you miss is that protestants prefer to evangelize catholic communites than hit that hard pavement of say Saudi Arabia now when you guys start racking up the converts there as you do in say in Central American and Brazil I will give you your due that Protestants just don’t go for the easy pickings and seek to evangelize the world in an equitable fashion but the majority of their resources is not dedidacted to Islamic or HIndu or Buddist countreis but catholic countries or regions your objection is one of denial.

I have a reading comprehension problem? Its seems that someone here is being uncharitable. Also, perhaps you should read my posts a bit closer because I did not suggest that you were saying that the Catholic Church had a significant presence in all Islamic countries; I simply asked you about a few of the most prominent Islamic countries.

Indonesia is the largest Islamic nation on earth, as well as one of the most populated nation on earth. If there are six million Catholics there, that is geat news. How many Protestants are there?

Unfortunately, Turkey, one of the ancient homes of the Orthodox Church, is not particulary welcome to the Christian faith…ever since the Ottoman Turks took Constantinople in 1453. It seems that the Byzantine Empire was seriously wounded by the pillage of Constantinople in 1204 by Catholic crusaders. Although…or perhaps because… the modern Turkish state established after WWI by Ataturk is primarily secular in outlook, the Orthodox Church still hasn’t recovered in Turkey and, with Turkish restrictions on that Church, probably won’t.

The Great Commission says to go and make disciples of all nations. There are non-believers even in predominately Catholic nations such as Brazil and, if the Catholic Church is not fullfilling their spiritual needs, then blessings on the Evangelical Churches for doing so. If this offends the Catholic Church, then it should step up its game in these places. Or go ahead and evangelize predominately Protestant nations. As Jesus said in Mark 9: “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

 

[leonie]

There are non-believers even in predominately Catholic nations such as Brazil and, if the Catholic Church is not fullfilling their spiritual needs

, then blessings on the Evangelical Churches for doing so. If this offends the Catholic Church, then it should step up its game in these places. Or go ahead and evangelize predominately Protestant nations. As Jesus said in Mark 9: “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

How would you define a non believer?

Also, what would you respond to this statement: A Catholic pulled away from the Catholic Church is pulled away from Christ, not to Him.

 

[rr1213]

How would you define a non believer?

Also, what would you respond to this statement: A Catholic pulled away from the Catholic Church is pulled away from Christ, not to Him.

There are plenty of nominal Catholics everywhere, as well as nominal Protestants. If, for example, you have a Brazilian Catholic who has not attended Church for ten years, other than for weddings and funerals, it is highly unlikely that he is a believer. If he comes to know Jesus in a Protestant or evangelical Church, then so much the better. I don’t think missionaries should target people who are active in their faith if such faith is a Christian faith (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) but, yes, if people are not active then they need to be reached. Frankly, for some reason, evangelicals do this better than Catholics (maybe why they are called evangelicals).

 

[leonie]

There are plenty of nominal Catholics everywhere, as well as nominal Protestants. If, for example, you have a Brazilian Catholic who has not attended Church for ten years, other than for weddings and funerals, it is highly unlikely that he is a believer. If he comes to know Jesus in a Protestant or evangelical Church, then so much the better. I don’t think missionaries should target people who are active in their faith if such faith is a Christian faith (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) but, yes, if people are not active then they need to be reached. Frankly, for some reason, evangelicals do this better than Catholics (maybe why they are called evangelicals).

Would you ever consider sending a lukewarm Catholic back to his parish?

One of the Protestant missionary groups I know runs a sports program (yes, targeting teens) and after the camp sends them to Protestant churches in the area.

It bothers me that a teen would probably impressed by rich Americans coming in and putting on a highly polished sports. And, when I asked this lady if she would send the teen back to his parish, she said no.

When I asked her why they went to Poland, a Catholic country, she told me the same thing you did.

I really don’t think she considers Catholics Christians–or, why wouldn’t she send the kids back to their parishes?

 

[rr1213]

Would you ever consider sending a lukewarm Catholic back to his parish?

One of the Protestant missionary groups I know runs a sports program (yes, targeting teens) and after the camp sends them to Protestant churches in the area.

It bothers me that a teen would probably impressed by rich Americans coming in and putting on a highly polished sports. And, when I asked this lady if she would send the teen back to his parish, she said no.

When I asked her why they went to Poland, a Catholic country, she told me the same thing you did.

I really don’t think she considers Catholics Christians–or, why wouldn’t she send the kids back to their parishes?

Would I think about sending a lukewarm Catholic to a Catholic parish? I am not evangelizing these nations, but if I were doing it, that would be my preference. A closer question would be someone whose spiritual temperature prior to evangelism didn’t even rise to lukewarm if you know what I mean. I also don’t see why evangelicals and Catholics couldn’t work together on these matters, although I suppose that the Catholic Church would not want to do so since it would seem to lend credibility to non-Catholic Christians. Perhaps the reverse also could be said.

 

[rr1213]

I really don’t think she considers Catholics Christians–or, why wouldn’t she send the kids back to their parishes?

Yes,she might not consider Catholics to be Christians. Many evangelicals don’t, because the Catholic Church does not understand the importance of being born again in the way that evangelicals do.

 

[leonie]

Would I think about sending a lukewarm Catholic to a Catholic parish? I am not evangelizing these nations, but if I were doing it, that would be my preference. A closer question would be someone whose spiritual temperature prior to evangelism didn’t even rise to lukewarm if you know what I mean. I also don’t see why evangelicals and Catholics couldn’t work together on these matters, although I suppose that the Catholic Church would not want to do so since it would seem to lend credibility to non-Catholic Christians. Perhaps the reverse also could be said.

I really admire the ministry of Billy Graham. I know a wonderful woman who responded to his message–she was suicidal (horrible childhood abuse) and when she called the Billy Graham line, the phone minister counceled her and then sent her to her local parish for followup.

That was a great partnership! Maybe that could be a model.

Or, maybe we could reunite into one Church! Even better.

 

[rr1213]

I really admire the ministry of Billy Graham. I know a wonderful woman who responded to his message–she was suicidal (horrible childhood abuse) and when she called the Billy Graham line, the phone minister counceled her and then sent her to her local parish for followup.

That was a great partnership! Maybe that could be a model.

It is a good example.
Or, maybe we could reunite into one Church! Even better.

***Yes, someday perhaps. ***

 

[Wisdom]

The Great Commission says to go and make disciples of all nations. There are non-believers even in predominately Catholic nations such as Brazil and, if the Catholic Church is not fullfilling their spiritual needs, then blessings on the Evangelical Churches for doing so. If this offends the Catholic Church, then it should step up its game in these places. Or go ahead and evangelize predominately Protestant nations. As Jesus said in Mark 9: “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

Well that is the point bud the great commision to protestants is to evangelize cathoic nations. And yes Catholics do believe in Christ there and do things in his name already but you fail to realize that and want you to do it per the understanding of american evangelicalsim. OF course you guys go on to brainwash them that they didn’t have a personal realtionship with Jesus until they embraced american evangelicalism. Of courrse the Bible never once tell christians to have only a personal relationship with Jesus. It tells christians to have have a realtionship with the CHurch Christ founded and to be a part of its body. ANd yes Catholics have evangelized all the parts of the earth including most of the middle east whcih was Catholic at one time, yes we catholics fought and died for those lands and we lost but you haven’t even tried to evangelize those lands seriously and have not and fought for the faith against Islam in the name of Christ.

 

[Church_Militant]

I believe in counter evangelism.

 

[contramundum7]

leonie–Beware of “ecumenical homeschooling groups”! In my experience, they are not “ecumenical”. They are “non-denominational Christian” which actually means Protestant of a particular fundamentalist, evangelical flavor. Many of these groups ask members to sign a “faith statement” which appears to be “ecumenical” but is really Protestant (and includes things that are not in keeping with our Catholic faith). And oftentimes, the Catholic members are approached by other members to share their “born-again” experience. I have known several Catholic women who have been hurt to realize that other Christian women in such “ecumenical” groups don’t view Catholics as Christians, but as pagans who are not saved because we are not “born-again” (in their view). I hope that is not your experience, but be alert!

 

[contramundum7]

contramundum7:
u may already know this, but the Catholics beleive we are born again when we are baptized (John 3). This scripture says that “baptism nows saves you.”
I am Catholic & have been filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s what the Catholics call it… (not born again).
Protestants are just ignorant. They don’t know… I didn’t know my faith either until several years ago when i took it upon myself to study it. If i hadn’t done that, i wouldnt be so inot the Church as i am now… Its sad that Catholics are not taught their faith. So if Catholics are not taught, how can we expect Protestants to know the faith? Its our job to instruct them. I just tell people the Catholic beliefs whether they want 2 hear it or not. I figure, they can always get up and leave or whatever… I get persecuted but that’s part of being a follower of Christ, who was the most persecuted of all… God bless…

 

[homewardbound]

I think its awful that so much focus is given on reaching out to those who are already Christians, and simply not the same denomination. Its ridiculous and disgusting, especially when thinking of those out there who have yet to hear of God’s truth!

 

[contramundum7]

I think its awful that so much focus is given on reaching out to those who are already Christians, and simply not the same denomination. Its ridiculous and disgusting, especially when thinking of those out there who have yet to hear of God’s truth!

So true! Its amazing how “Christians” can justify not only trying to “evangelize” those who are already Christian (Catholics), but how they persecute them when they refuse to convert to their religion - or at least consider it. I am a very outspoken Catholic (apologist, etc.) & even i can’t believe the persecution i sometimes get… It mystifies me… how so-called Christians can be so downright hateful. Maybe they attack Catholics because attacking Satan instead is too scary…

 

[contramundum7]

Well that is the point bud the great commision to protestants is to evangelize cathoic nations. And yes Catholics do believe in Christ there and do things in his name already but you fail to realize that and want you to do it per the understanding of american evangelicalsim. OF course you guys go on to brainwash them that they didn’t have a personal realtionship with Jesus until they embraced american evangelicalism. Of courrse the Bible never once tell christians to have only a personal relationship with Jesus. It tells christians to have have a realtionship with the CHurch Christ founded and to be a part of its body. ANd yes Catholics have evangelized all the parts of the earth including most of the middle east whcih was Catholic at one time, yes we catholics fought and died for those lands and we lost but you haven’t even tried to evangelize those lands seriously and have not and fought for the faith against Islam in the name of Christ.

Its really weird how most Protestants believe in “the Bible only” as their guide… They accuse the Catholics of making up doctrines that are not in the Bible, etc… Yet they make up things such as this, about having 2 accept Jesus as “personal savior” something that is NOWHERE in scripture…
I guess its OK for them to add things 2 Scripture but not Catholics… hmmmm…
Besides, we Catholics have the best possible “personal relationship with Jesus” a person could ask for: We have His VERY Real (physical) Presence in the Church 24 hours a day.

 

[Sandi]

Why did Catholic missionaries feel the need to convert the Native Americans who were perfectly happy with their own spiritual beliefs? If missionaries, such as Catholics and Mormons, go worldwide to spread their religion, why shouldn’t Protestants? Or Muslims? (I leave Jews out because they actually discourage prosletyzing).

 

[Sandi]

Why do you need to know?

 

[distracted]

rr1213:
i always liked B Graham but i heard recently that he teaches something that at least borders on once saved always saved…
I don’t see how anyone can read the NT & come up with that terrible belief…
Anyway, i also heard tht B Graham used 2b anti-Catholic but that he changed. I wish i knew more about that… If anyone on the forum does, would appreciate hearing… ". thanks…

 

[Happy2bcatholic]

Can someone please make reference to or itemize at least generally how the Protestants err in evangelizing in comparison to Catholics. My son has high functioning autism and is almost 12. We also go to Protestant co-ops. He is a very black and white thinker. I have present evidence for him. We just came from the compassion experience. Thank you!