Should I Persist In This (Explained Below)?

[RHIC12]

So, I was talking to someone and it came to the topic of Protestantism, and they said something along the lines of “There is nothing wrong with their religion.” I said, “Well…” and then stopped. I later said that there was something wrong with Protestantism (as it isn’t the true faith and contains many points contrary to the True Faith) (Catholicism), but they said that they’d talk to me later once we were out of the store. Should I continue? Or should I leave it at that, saying what I already did?

 

[JMMJ]

I think you should leave it alone. What good do you expect to come from you talking about what you believe is wrong about protestantism? Do you think you are going to change somebody’s mind? If so, for the better? Doubtful. go about your day and say a prayer for anyone you believe is misguided.

 

[MPat]

I later said that there was something wrong with Protestantism (as it isn’t the true faith and contains many points contrary to the True Faith) (Catholicism), but they said that they’d talk to me later once we were out of the store. Should I continue?

I suppose that it depends. If you two decided to talk about that a bit later, then, um, talk about it a bit later?

I think you should leave it alone. What good do you expect to come from you talking about what you believe is wrong about protestantism? Do you think you are going to change somebody’s mind? If so, for the better? Doubtful. go about your day and say a prayer for anyone you believe is misguided.

Um, you could have said a prayer without posting anything as well, but it is not what you did.

In general, if someone is interested in learning about Catholicism in some way, we are expected to help. Will that result in someone changing his mind right away? Probably not. Will that result in someone changing his mind eventually? Maybe. We have no way of predicting that and thus we should base our decisions on something else. For example, on “But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15).

 

[michaelhager]

Well, there is this:
1 Peter 3:15-16
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, 16 but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.

Any chance you get to talk to a non-Catholic about your faith is an opportunity do obey the commandments of the Lord and “spread the Gospel to all nations.”

But in reference to verse 16 above, it does no goods to tell a person the things that are wrong with their beliefs. Simply tell them what is right about your opposing beliefs.

“No, I don’t think there is anything wrong with Protestantism, but I feel like it’s missing so much of what Christ taught us.”

And when they say “Like what?” they’ve opened the gates for the sacraments, the true body, blood and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist, reconciliation, infant baptism, holy orders, etc. And they will have objections to all of that and they will recite scripture to prove it, but you have the power of 2000 years of unchanging Church teaching and the logical, very scriptural basis for it.

Two things. Never shy away from the opportunity to discuss our faith but also, never get drawn into an argument about it. Use every interaction as a teaching opportunity and show them the logical, scriptural basis of Catholic teaching. Remember, if it were not for the Catholic Church, they would not even have the bible to quote to you.

Here’s a good reference web site that lists hundreds of scripture verses to support specific Catholic teachings. I’ve found it extremely useful when someone asks “Oh yea? Where is THAT in the bible?”
God bless.

 

[Dan_Defender]

If you have never talked to this someone before about this topic, then by all means do so. But don’t get entangled and provoked to anger if the discussion gets heated.