What is your idea to spread the word about our Catholic faith?

[kkollwitz]

1. I teach 6th grade catechism. The content is substantial and taught directly from the Bible.
2. Otherwise here in the Bible Belt most evangelization is what I call counterevangelization. In daily life here, meeting people (usually through work) gets around to where I attend church. On learning I’m Catholic, many Christians will evangelize me by asking questions about worshiping Mary, the pope, statues, assurance of salvation, # of books in the Bible, etc. I try to present a Bible-based response which will give them something to think about later. My experience is I don’t have to argue, just answer their questions using an authority they accept, which is the Bible.

 

[jwinch2]

1. Otherwise here in the Bible Belt most evangelization is what I call counterevangelization. In daily life here, meeting people (usually through work) gets around to where I attend church. On learning I’m Catholic, many Christians will evangelize me by asking questions about worshiping Mary, the pope, statues, assurance of salvation, # of books in the Bible, etc. I try to present a Bible-based response which will give them something to think about later. My experience is I don’t have to argue, just answer their questions using an authority they accept, which is the Bible.

Have you had any luck using the writings of the church fathers in that regard?

 

[kkollwitz]

“Have you had any luck using the writings of the church fathers in that regard?”

Not really. Most non-Catholics will reject anything except Scripture as having absolutely no authority.

 

[RealEstateCarol]

I tell people how they can KNOW they are going to Heaven.

You can KNOW too!!

This is what the Bible says.

The Bible says we are all sinners.

Romans 3:10
As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

It says no sin can enter into Heaven.

Revelation 21:27
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Psalm 5:4-5
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

There has to be a death payment made for sin.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus made that death payment.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

All we have to do is accept the payment Jesus made.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Not by works

Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Eph 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

 

[jwinch2]

“Have you had any luck using the writings of the church fathers in that regard?”

Not really. Most non-Catholics will reject anything except Scripture as having absolutely no authority.

Agreed. However, I have had some limited luck in pointing out to non-catholics that “hey this is how the original Christians did it”. I need to learn the fathers better but I do seem potential there…

Peace,

 

[hesco]

I know this is going to sound dumb. We all know that for years priests, nuns lay people walked everywhere to teach people about God’s Church. Obviously they were very successful because we are still here I know everyone has heard of the Catholic Church. I feel that the advertising stopped and people just assume they know what the Church is about. It’s a shame what great lengths people had to go through to spread the good news and we now just sit back and listen to people that don’t know (even Catholics) Baptists, J.W. go door to door we can too

 

[SteveGC]

I tell people how they can KNOW they are going to Heaven.

You can KNOW too!!

This is what the Bible says…

Interesting. This is considerably more protestant than Catholic. Not to derail the thread, but as a Catholic, do you recognize the role of cooperative works in our salvation? Your post seems to discredit them altogether.

 

[jwinch2]

Interesting. This is considerably more protestant than Catholic. Not to derail the thread, but as a Catholic, do you recognize the role of cooperative works in our salvation? Your post seems to discredit them altogether.

That member appears to have been banned. I think it likely that they were not Catholic at all and were found out on another thread or something along those lines.

Peace of Christ.

Jason

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Faith without works is banned?

My ‘solutions’ usually go along the lines of: 'Buy ‘em a sammich.’

Someone needs help, help him. Funny enough, yesterday two young Baptists came to my door to hand out literature. I said, ‘Sure, I’ll take your tract if you take mine.’ I handed them a Catholic tract. “Hey,” one said, “you’re the first person who ever gave us one in return.” I replied that I had them ready by the door.

Smiles all around.

 

[hesco]

Interesting. This is considerably more protestant than Catholic. Not to derail the thread, but as a Catholic, do you recognize the role of cooperative works in our salvation? Your post seems to discredit them altogether.

Yes I am aware that protestants do this. I was raised protestant, mom was a Sunday school teacher, dad, an atheist. Growing up Protestant I felt deeply sad because I had a lot of doubt. I honestly thought that there had to be more than just believing and accepting Jesus as our Savior. I converted almost 4 years ago to the Roman Catholic Church and I can not express how my faith has soared. Finally my questions have been answered. OK sorry back to the forum the point I was trying to make is I get knocks on the door, different Protestant articles in the mail. I go to a Catholic hospital and there is J.W. magazines. When was the last time someone went to a hotel and there was a Catholic bible there? There nothing wrong with this stuff. Whatever it takes to reach out to people. The world can use a few Saint Jeromes right about know I really admired his no nonsense attitude!

 

[InternetWoman]

Faith without works is banned?

My ‘solutions’ usually go along the lines of: 'Buy ‘em a sammich.’

Someone needs help, help him. Funny enough, yesterday two young Baptists came to my door to hand out literature. I said, ‘Sure, I’ll take your tract if you take mine.’ I handed them a Catholic tract. “Hey,” one said, “you’re the first person who ever gave us one in return.” I replied that I had them ready by the door.

Smiles all around.

And there are 120 of them (tracts) right here on this site!!

 

[Sir_Knight]

I tell people how they can KNOW they are going to Heaven.

You can KNOW too!!

This is what the Bible says.

The Bible says we are all sinners.

Romans 3:10
As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

It says no sin can enter into Heaven.

Revelation 21:27
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Psalm 5:4-5
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

There has to be a death payment made for sin.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus made that death payment.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

All we have to do is accept the payment Jesus made.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Not by works

Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Eph 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

If the Apostle Paul, a man certainly filled with the Holy Spirit, feared for his own salvation (see Phil. 2:12), how can any of us be certain of our salvation? No one would reasonably argue that Paul wasn’t “saved” when he wrote the Scriptures. So if Saint Paul thought that he could lose his salvation, how can any of us think that we cannot lose ours?