salvation question

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I have a question that I have never received a good answer to. Say a Catholic is telling a non-Christain about Christ and that person wants to become a Christian. How would a Catholic lead that person to Christ? I am asking this because as a Protestant, we have a simple formula and prayer to lead others to Christ, but I have never heard of how Catholics witness to others.
 
t68ware said:
I have a question that I have never received a good answer to. Say a Catholic is telling a non-Christain about Christ and that person wants to become a Christian. How would a Catholic lead that person to Christ? I am asking this because as a Protestant, we have a simple formula and prayer to lead others to Christ, but I have never heard of how Catholics witness to others.
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Try me.
 
I am not a christian, try out your formula, on me. Sorry, I just realized I did not mention that earlier.
 
I don’t think there is a formula. Seeking someone’s ultimate good cannot be reduced to a formula or a blueprint. It is the most profound act of love given through word and deed with true, deep compassion and desire for the good of the other person. You have to understand where the person is now and work together from there.

But generally, for some apologetics is helpful, for some the lives of the saints inspire, but for most it is seeing what their heart yearns for in Christ crucified and abiding in Him as a member of His Mystical Body and Him in them especially by way of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
notsmart said:
I am not a christian, try out your formula, on me. Sorry, I just realized I did not mention that earlier.
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You may not be a Christian , but you sure look like my “user name cousin”.

😃
 
t68ware said:
I have a question that I have never received a good answer to. Say a Catholic is telling a non-Christain about Christ and that person wants to become a Christian. How would a Catholic lead that person to Christ? I am asking this because as a Protestant, we have a simple formula and prayer to lead others to Christ, but I have never heard of how Catholics witness to others.
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Well first there is telling that person about who Christ is and their need for Him to say them from sin and hell, His will to bring them to eternal salvation. Then it is a process of his talking to a priest, being baptized in the Church (if he has not already been validly baptized) and then being catechized so he can be accepted into the Church.

Conversion is an on-going, not instantaneous, process. There is a beginning but the individual needs to know that they need to come to Christ and to continually follow Him, to grow in grace and truth. The person needs to continually grow in knowledge and adherence to the Faith. There is no “simple formula” or one prayer that gets the job done. It is bringing that person to make their initial conversion to follow Christ then to help them understand what helps they need so they can remain true to Him.

Pax Christi tecum.
 
t68ware said:
I have a question that I have never received a good answer to. Say a Catholic is telling a non-Christain about Christ and that person wants to become a Christian. How would a Catholic lead that person to Christ? I am asking this because as a Protestant, we have a simple formula and prayer to lead others to Christ, but I have never heard of how Catholics witness to others.
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I would encourage that person to seek advice from a priest and to join RCIA. There is no ‘formula’ that we say over others and, Voila!, they are saved by Christ. That is a protestant thing, not the Church.
 
I am asking this because as a Protestant, we have a simple formula and prayer to lead others to Christ, but I have never heard of how Catholics witness to others.

**Speaking as a former pop-evangelical, these “little formulas” seldom lead to anything lasting, much less “leasing people to Christ.”

One reason it doesn’t is because it’s neo-Pelagianism: the notion that a person can get saved all by himself on his own say-so, without even Christ OR the Church.**
 
Even those who “Come to Christ” via the Four Last Things and the Sinners prayer are barely over the threshold. Further Bible Study, at least some regularity attending services, support of missionaries and outreach and maybe adult baptism or re-baptism seems to be among the “works” required to prove to themselves that they are really saved. I have some Baptist friends who claim works are not required, yet I see them every bit as involved in “works” as any Catholic I know.

How do I go about bringing someone to Jesus? I try to be a faithful Catholic with concern for the well being of those around me. When they are in difficulties, I let them know I am praying for them. I help to the extent that I am able. Now if they express an interest I may share what I believe, not what they must believe. If they want more follow up, its available in our parish. Just saying a prayer, walking in the door and signing up as a member is not enough to become a Catholic.
 
t68ware said:
I have a question that I have never received a good answer to. Say a Catholic is telling a non-Christain about Christ and **that person wants to become a Christian. ** How would a Catholic lead that person to Christ? I am asking this because as a Protestant, we have a simple formula and prayer to lead others to Christ, but I have never heard of how Catholics witness to others.
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From your description it seems that Christ is already leading that person. That’s the impossible part for us to do. If it’s a genuine desire to become a Christian and they actually have the facts about, the nature of man, the fall the redemption of Christ etc. A person who believes all of that and still doesn’t want to become a Christian would be irrational.

God reveals Himself so differently to so many, the methods for enriching a person’s spirituality would be as varied as the people themselves. The saints alone provide enormous variety. Aquinas, Augustine, Francis of Assisi, Catherine of Sienna, Teresa the little flower, John of the Cross, Bonaventure, Thomas More and that’s just a small sampling of the saints. The writings of these saints are beyond beautiful. Aside from the Scriptures, nothing else approaches them in depth.
 
With today’s technology it’s also an effective tool to give them CD’s or mp3 files of good sermons and great speakers. I always pass along Bishop Sheen to people when I can. It’s like sharing a new gift.
 
Maybe the word “formula” was a bad choice of words. Some of you mentioned the “sinner prayer” and the Four Last Things, also known as the Roman Road. What about where in the Book of Acts the question to Paul “What must I do to be saved?” and Paul’s simple response…“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”. It seems to me that the New Testament provides a simple way for one to become saved. And if one truly believes in Christ, they will develop a prayer life, they will read the Bible, etc. It seems becoming saved is rather simple. Living out the Christian life and becoming more and more conformed to Christ is the hard part.
 
t68ware said:
Maybe the word “formula” was a bad choice of words. Some of you mentioned the “sinner prayer” and the Four Last Things, also known as the Roman Road. What about where in the Book of Acts the question to Paul “What must I do to be saved?” and Paul’s simple response…“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”. It seems to me that the New Testament provides a simple way for one to become saved. And if one truly believes in Christ, they will develop a prayer life, they will read the Bible, etc. It seems becoming saved is rather simple. Living out the Christian life and becoming more and more conformed to Christ is the hard part.
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Well, if that was all that was stated in the new testament, then it would be satisfactory. However, taking those few verses as your sole basis for the theology of salvation goes against much of what is contained elsewhere in the NT. If I were to sum it up in a simple statement, it would be to love God and to love your neighbor (with all that that entails). More detailed instructions on obeying the second great commandment can be found in Mt. 25:31-46, among other places. It is also stated in the NT that one who professes to love God (not just believe) and does not love his neighbor is a liar. In my opinion, it is a grave mistake to get so wrapped up in trying to understand Paul’s sometimes complicated writings that the simple and explicit words of Jesus, himself, are ignored.
 
geezerbob said:
Well, if that was all that was stated in the new testament, then it would be satisfactory. However, taking those few verses as your sole basis for the theology of salvation goes against much of what is contained elsewhere in the NT. If I were to sum it up in a simple statement, it would be to love God and to love your neighbor (with all that that entails). More detailed instructions on obeying the second great commandment can be found in Mt. 25:31-46, among other places. It is also stated in the NT that one who professes to love God (not just believe) and does not love his neighbor is a liar. In my opinion, it is a grave mistake to get so wrapped up in trying to understand Paul’s sometimes complicated writings that the simple and explicit words of Jesus, himself, are ignored.
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I agree with what you have written. There are too many references for me to write down that talk about what you are thinking of. The entire NT when read and put into context seems to me to make salvation a simple process and not a drawn out process. Becoming a Christian is easy from what I read in the NT…growing in Christ and becoming conformed to His image and developing the mind of Christ in us, that is what takes a lifetime.
 
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