H
Here_For_Donuts
Guest
One of the hindrances I have about becoming Catholic is what I perceive to be an extreme and urgent daily responsibility to bear witness to the Gospel at all times. I know it’s done through action, but isn’t it also through word? To be honest, I’m not sure I have the stamina or fortitude to do it!
I don’t mean that I believe Catholics should stand on a street corner like an evangelical and approach strangers about the Gospel (although, I can’t see why a charitable form of this can’t be done), but doesn’t a Catholic have a grave moral responsibility to spread the Good News? I’m somewhat sure I read this in the Catechism. It even uses the phrase “grave moral responsibility” to describe evangelization, I believe.)
And what about minor incidents–say, a stranger on the street takes the name of God in vain? Should that person be approached, even though it might result in mockery or worse?
At the same time, though, St. Paul says that not everyone is a teacher. The task seems to definitely belong to priests and bishop by default, so does a lay Catholic need permission from the bishop to go out and explicitly evangelize? (Though, if this was the case, discussing and debating with non-Catholics online would require permission as well, right?)
I assume that a Catholic is supposed to bear witness to the Gospel by walking as Jesus walked. But unless strangers know you’re Catholic, won’t they just see you as an unusually nice guy and leave it at that? Should you walk around wearing a crucifix to profess you’re a Christian?
I’m just curious!
I imagine God would hold a Catholic responsible for every knowingly ignored opportunity to evangelize a person in some way. Am I right or wrong in thinking this? Would it be considered mortal sin to shy away from an opportunity to make the Gospel known?
I don’t mean that I believe Catholics should stand on a street corner like an evangelical and approach strangers about the Gospel (although, I can’t see why a charitable form of this can’t be done), but doesn’t a Catholic have a grave moral responsibility to spread the Good News? I’m somewhat sure I read this in the Catechism. It even uses the phrase “grave moral responsibility” to describe evangelization, I believe.)
And what about minor incidents–say, a stranger on the street takes the name of God in vain? Should that person be approached, even though it might result in mockery or worse?
At the same time, though, St. Paul says that not everyone is a teacher. The task seems to definitely belong to priests and bishop by default, so does a lay Catholic need permission from the bishop to go out and explicitly evangelize? (Though, if this was the case, discussing and debating with non-Catholics online would require permission as well, right?)
I assume that a Catholic is supposed to bear witness to the Gospel by walking as Jesus walked. But unless strangers know you’re Catholic, won’t they just see you as an unusually nice guy and leave it at that? Should you walk around wearing a crucifix to profess you’re a Christian?
I’m just curious!
I imagine God would hold a Catholic responsible for every knowingly ignored opportunity to evangelize a person in some way. Am I right or wrong in thinking this? Would it be considered mortal sin to shy away from an opportunity to make the Gospel known?
