F
Flopfoot
Guest
Say if you had the chance to go into a situation which might cause some harm to you, might be a bad influence on you, etc, but by going into this situation you have a chance to do good. What should you do?
An example of this is trying to evangelise people who aren’t Catholics. By going into a discussion with them, they have the chance to try and convince you of what they believe - they might make you lose your faith. Even if you are a strong Catholic, these discussions could still get you down and out because you feel like you’re losing the fight, or you’re becoming angry, or whatever. On the other hand, by going into this discussion, you have the chance to do some good (if you’re successful in evangelising).
I guess for that case, we do need some people to evangelise - but maybe we should leave it to ‘the experts’, as in people who are very strong in their faith, who are able to refute the other person very well, and also who won’t take it personally and feel down if they fail to make a convert. Maybe, other people should not try evangelisation because it will just end up having a negative effect on themselves.
That’s basically the question (not just with evangelisation, but in general). Should we insulate ourselves to protect ourselves from harm and evil influences? Or should be expose ourselves, if it gives us the chance to do good?
On the side for ‘insulation’
An example of this is trying to evangelise people who aren’t Catholics. By going into a discussion with them, they have the chance to try and convince you of what they believe - they might make you lose your faith. Even if you are a strong Catholic, these discussions could still get you down and out because you feel like you’re losing the fight, or you’re becoming angry, or whatever. On the other hand, by going into this discussion, you have the chance to do some good (if you’re successful in evangelising).
I guess for that case, we do need some people to evangelise - but maybe we should leave it to ‘the experts’, as in people who are very strong in their faith, who are able to refute the other person very well, and also who won’t take it personally and feel down if they fail to make a convert. Maybe, other people should not try evangelisation because it will just end up having a negative effect on themselves.
That’s basically the question (not just with evangelisation, but in general). Should we insulate ourselves to protect ourselves from harm and evil influences? Or should be expose ourselves, if it gives us the chance to do good?
On the side for ‘insulation’
- When we are children, our parents keep us away from negative influences. Parents will also tell their children not to let the negative influences affect them, but even better if they can keep them away from these influences in the first place. Now that we are older, it’s our job to keep ourselves from negative influences. God doesn’t like people doing risky things like driving dangerously - he loves us and would never want us to come to harm. Hence he wants us to protect ourselves from all harm and evil that could influence us or come our way.
- There may be ways of doing good without allowing for a chance that in doing this, harm could come our way. Eg, giving money to charity is generally pretty safe.
- Basically, that it’s worth the risk to be able to do good. If Christians aren’t going to do good then who is?