Should we evangelize Protestants?

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dennisknapp

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Another poster on this forum has written this:

"There was a time when one Catholic I know could say that the one way he knew he was Catholic was that he woke up every day hating Protestants and I’m sure the same could be said from the other side.

The enemy now is no longer denominational differences but the growing secularism and the split accelerates it for what attraction is there in watching bickering and fighting over things which are flexible to more discerning Christians.

23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

"This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.”a] So this is what the soldiers did. "

biblegateway.com/passage… 9&version1=31

You will believe in miracles if you believe John and come to love the Word even at its most enigmatic,truly !."

So, should we even try to bring the truth the Protestants?

Is the Truth of the Catholic Faith even important?

Peace
 
Yes we must evangelize our misguided brothers, for they are in schism and (some) deny serious tenants of the truth. (Not just minuscule disagreements.)
 
PERSONALLY I FEEL THAT BOTH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS ALIKE NEED TO EVANGELIZE THE FALSE CONVERTS IN THEIR OWN CHURCHES. :eek: GOD BLESS
 
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SPOKENWORD:
PERSONALLY I FEEL THAT BOTH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS ALIKE NEED TO EVANGELIZE THE FALSE CONVERTS IN THEIR OWN CHURCHES. :eek: GOD BLESS
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I agree. One reason people do no want to convert to Catholicism is because they see the apathy and rejection of doctrine of those already there.
 
Depends. I’m not going to evangelize my devout Southern Baptist deacon grandfather. He’s 88, he’s followed Jesus all of his life, he’s convinced of the truth of his faith (he can go on for a bit about “believer’s baptism”/immersion, etc.) and you can very readily see the fruits of his faith in his life. My indiffrentist, “why can women be ministers and the Church repressed the Gnostic Gospels because women came off better in them” mother? You betcha! I gave her Weigel’s The Truth of Catholicism to read and when she asks questions, I’m very frank. Pray for us.
 
No, we should let the theologians debate the differences. IF they approached me to discuss religion maybe yes, but I would not actively target Protestants for evangelizing.

We have folks whose lives are dedicated to studying and defending our faith. Even though we may feel that we are well informed, the expertise of our scriptural scholars and professional theologians far exceeds any one persons knowledge and experience.,

While I feel confident that I can defend our faith against most attacks, I would not go out of my way to debate issues with Protestants on a regular basis. However distasteful I find it, that anti-Catholic propaganda is issued and spread about us, I believe many voices are already out there to refute these claims.

If I had radical Protestant friend or acquaintenance approached me for a discussion of religion, I would oblidge them. But if the debate got too heated, I would send them a copy of “Surprised by the Truth” rather than let it get out of hand.

wc
 
Absolutely! We should preach the gospel to everyone and,
if we have to, we should use words.

Jeff
 
I personally see no reason to evangelize anyone who is seeking Christ. What would be the point? Point out the truth about Catholicism, yes. Correct misunderstandings, absolutely.

I would direct my attention toward the growing number of secularists and neo-pagans. There is where the fruits of evangelism would prosper the most.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses actually have “evangelization” schools. Unfortunately they confuse evangelization with proselytization. They are taught how to bring up conversation, argue bible passages, draw discussion in a direction, question existing docrine, etc. and they do so effectively. Some of what they are taught is valuable for use in evangelizing.
 
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JeffreyGerard:
Absolutely! We should preach the gospel to everyone and,
if we have to, we should use words.

Jeff
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The best way, surely!
 
Yes, most definately, I think we should in love and concern of course attempt to evangelize our (very) mis guided Protestant brethern, and try to “bring them home”. They are in schism, though believers, schism is not good nor what Christ intended for his Church, don’t you all think?

I love the show on EWTN “Search and Rescue” with Patrick Madrid. It is so helpful on “bringing those to, or back to, the Catholic Church”. I recommend it to all.!!!

In all our cirlces of friends and family, I think we must share the Truth and Beauty and Fullness of our Faith, not just keep it to ourselves. Doesn’t Jesus “go unto all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature”???
 
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JKirkLVNV:
Depends. I’m not going to evangelize my devout Southern Baptist deacon grandfather. He’s 88, he’s followed Jesus all of his life, he’s convinced of the truth of his faith (he can go on for a bit about “believer’s baptism”/immersion, etc.) and you can very readily see the fruits of his faith in his life. My indiffrentist, “why can women be ministers and the Church repressed the Gnostic Gospels because women came off better in them” mother? You betcha! I gave her Weigel’s The Truth of Catholicism to read and when she asks questions, I’m very frank. Pray for us.
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Yes! Know what you mean? I’m not attempting to evangelize my pastor Dad and Mom who are in their 80’s also, been Christians all their lives and love Jesus. However, I did give them 2 books to read, and I know it did get them thinking, even though Dad said “he disagreed with it”-------Currie’s book “Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic”. He said: “We’re not Fundalmentalist anyway, we’re Evangelical”…same thing to me. My mom LOVES the Weigel book.!!!

anyway I think you can tell who God wants us to evangelize or not…who is interested and searching, who isn’t. Who is completely closed minded, and who isn’t. I think even lending a book or phamplet to someone is evangelizing for our faith, don’t you all think so??? And we barely need to say a word. But always pray…
 
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JeffreyGerard:
Absolutely! We should preach the gospel to everyone and,
if we have to, we should use words.

Jeff
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Amen to that! Couldn’t have said it better. 👍
 
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SPOKENWORD:
PERSONALLY I FEEL THAT BOTH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS ALIKE NEED TO EVANGELIZE THE FALSE CONVERTS IN THEIR OWN CHURCHES. :eek: GOD BLESS
Click to expand...
Great point spoken. We have Protestants and/or Catholics who believe in horrible and flase teachings like Sola Scriptura, bread and wine does not become the body and blood of Jesus in a Catholic Mass, Jesus had siblings, baptism is only symbolic, divorace is not a bad thing, schism is good, Catholics are not Christian, Sola Fida, Kings can write and edit bibles, etc., etc., etc.

The good news is that the Catholic Church is growing and more and more wondering (not allways lost though) souls are coming home to the body of Christ, His Catholic Church. The Catholic Church will allways have good men like Pope John Paul II because the Church is the body of Christ here on earth and Jesus promised to be with it. Jesus will lead His body, His Catholic Church and the Protestants will someday come home to Rome too. Not all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved but those who have Faith and are in His Church and perform good works to prove their Faith alive should do well when Jesus judges them at their death and decides whether or not to give them salvation.
 
I think one major error the Protestant churches have made collectively is this “ambush evangelism,” whereby they approach even the slightest of acquaintances and assault them with the “are you saved” pop quiz.

Seems to me this has become popular just within the past 100-200 years, and even more so within the past 75. We have people shouting from street corners again, a la John the Baptist! And they’re handing out tracts in shopping malls, at parades, at concerts, at nightclubs, in theme parks, and everywhere else they can find large masses of heathens. Why? Gotta make those instant converts.

Clearly you can see by now what I think of modern evangelism. :rolleyes: At it’s best, it captures a few desperates who will most likely revert to their old lifestyles for lack of real commitment and/or proper discipleship. What’s more, these people will be twice as hard to convert the second time around. Now they’ve been burned by religion and they’re all the wiser.

Having said this, I think there is a very real need to be a witness to the lost, but in a FAR, far different manner. We are called to be candles of light, not flame throwers. People need to notice that we live differently without our religiously pointing it out to them. This past week I have welcomed several people into my home, and all of them asked what the ribbons on the doorpost meant. Next thing you know we were talking about John Paul II.

These types of conversations are much more natural and therefore more conducive to true evangelism than overt proselytizing. The last thing any of us wants to do is to turn someone away from the Church forever by being overzealous. And let’s not forget, it is God Himself who has to change their hearts. The very BEST we can do for them is to PRAY.:bowdown2:
 
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Malachi4U:
Great point spoken. We have Protestants and/or Catholics who believe in horrible and flase teachings like Sola Scriptura, bread and wine does not become the body and blood of Jesus in a Catholic Mass, Jesus had siblings, baptism is only symbolic, divorace is not a bad thing, schism is good, Catholics are not Christian, Sola Fida, Kings can write and edit bibles, etc., etc., etc.

The good news is that the Catholic Church is growing and more and more wondering (not allways lost though) souls are coming home to the body of Christ, His Catholic Church. The Catholic Church will allways have good men like Pope John Paul II because the Church is the body of Christ here on earth and Jesus promised to be with it. Jesus will lead His body, His Catholic Church and the Protestants will someday come home to Rome too. Not all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved but those who have Faith and are in His Church and perform good works to prove their Faith alive should do well when Jesus judges them at their death and decides whether or not to give them salvation.
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amen. those are doctrines of demons. we should evangelize anyone who holds those views.
 
Any thoughts from anyone today on this great thread???

I recently sent my mom (wife of Evangelical Pastor for 50 yrs) a Miraculous Medal in the mail. Oh no-------I told her I wanted her to get acquainted with ALL of our Blessed Mother --and that she will one day see her. Now I’m thinkin’ of the backlash I might get for it any day now, and should I have done so? ----- I just HAD to share it --and I really felt the Holy Spirit lead me to send it to her.

Any thoughts???

Thanks so much y’all
 
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sparkle:
Any thoughts from anyone today on this great thread???

I recently sent my mom (wife of Evangelical Pastor for 50 yrs) a Miraculous Medal in the mail. Oh no-------I told her I wanted her to get acquainted with ALL of our Blessed Mother --and that she will one day see her. Now I’m thinkin’ of the backlash I might get for it any day now, and should I have done so? ----- I just HAD to share it --and I really felt the Holy Spirit lead me to send it to her.

Any thoughts???

Thanks so much y’all
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Is your mother open to Catholicism?

Sometime our belief about Mary are a huge stumbling block to non-Catholics. We need to be able to give a defense for what we believe, and be aware of were people are at in there understanding.

I came into the Church because of the overwhelming historical evidence that supports the Catholic Church and her unbroken line back to Christ and the Apostles. Once I accepted her authority, all the other beliefs fell into place.

Peace
 
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dennisknapp:
Is your mother open to Catholicism?

Sometime our belief about Mary are a huge stumbling block to non-Catholics. We need to be able to give a defense for what we believe, and be aware of were people are at in there understanding.

I came into the Church because of the overwhelming historical evidence that supports the Catholic Church and her unbroken line back to Christ and the Apostles. Once I accepted her authority, all the other beliefs fell into place.

Peace
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I am someone who has been discussing historical evidence with you on another thread. I was waiting for you to present historical evidence accepted by any historian in mainstream university or research settings (non-Catholic) that demonstrated that the Catholic Church was the church intended by Christ to be THE church and that all early Christians in the first two centuries were Catholics. What does mainstream evidence apart from theology say about the early Christians? When reported as history and not theology, what is said? Since you found overwhelming historical evidence to support your conversion, perhaps you can share what that overwhelming evidence was in your own words.
 
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CatherineofA:
I am someone who has been discussing historical evidence with you on another thread. I was waiting for you to present historical evidence accepted by any historian in mainstream university or research settings (non-Catholic) that demonstrated that the Catholic Church was the church intended by Christ to be THE church and that all early Christians in the first two centuries were Catholics. What does mainstream evidence apart from theology say about the early Christians? When reported as history and not theology, what is said? Since you found overwhelming historical evidence to support your conversion, perhaps you can share what that overwhelming evidence was in your own words.
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Church teachings/partristic writings are history. Many Church Fathers such as Ignatius, Polycarp, and Clement were disciples of the apostles. They learned the faith from the apostles, (who learned it from Christ), and passed those teachings on to their successors. If that is not convincing historical evidence, then I don’t know what is? Why do you want Dennis to provide secular data?

I’m sorry for barging in on your discussion and I’m sorry for hi-jacking this thread. I will now disappear.:o
 
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Mickey:
Church teachings/partristic writings are history. Many Church Fathers such as Ignatius, Polycarp, and Clement were disciples of the apostles. They learned the faith from the apostles, (who learned it from Christ), and passed those teachings on to their successors. If that is not convincing historical evidence, then I don’t know what is? Why do you want Dennis to provide secular data?

I’m sorry for barging in on your discussion and I’m sorry for hi-jacking this thread. I will now disappear.:o
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Hi! Feel free to participate and add some information. You are correct that a church’s writings can be accepted as historical evidence. However, that evidence has to provide verifiable primary resources that allow for it to be verified by anyone and not just members of a particular church. There is a difference beween church tradition and theology and what is accepted as an actual timeline of events or history by the academic community. The first may involve documentation of its events or it may depend on faith. The second has to have documentation to prove its events and that it happened.
I was asking Dennis to provide evidence that supports that the academic community of historians agree upon the events and claims made by the Catholic Church about early Christian history. I am not arguing the church is not correct. I am just interested in getting information from others since I am interested in this topic. We have history across the centuries and we know about it and what the basic facts were based on documentation and primary sources of references. I am asking what the world of historians accepted view is of early Christians and what happened with them.
 
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