When is it wrong to try to convert others?

[AlanFromWichita]

When is it wrong to “evangelize?”

I put “evangelize” into quotes because I think if we “seek first the kingdom” then every breath we take will become a testimony for the Lord. I’m talking about finding out somebody is non-Catholic, though maybe very dedicated to their religion, and start actively trying to convert them just on the basis that “our religion is true and theirs, not being ours, isn’t.”

I love discussing religious beliefs with others who are interested in hearing it, and if some of them wish to join the Catholic Church, that’s wonderful. If not, I wish to listen more than talk, and try to help others “where they are,” grow in faith and in common areas where we can agree. I’ve talked to Hindus and Muslims where we can agree on many of the salient points of a spiritual life, even though the doctrine might differ. And I’m OK with that.

When I’m talking to another person who is serious about their religion, I am talking about something that is more personal to many people than even their marriages, in that it has been a part of them their whole lives. So to me, if I go up to a Lutheran and say, “hey, thinking about converting yet – you know you really should?” I feel a little bit like I’m saying, “my wife is better than yours. You should dump yours and find one more like mine.”

What would Jesus say about it? How about the Good Samaritan – a person can be a better neighbor than another without regard to “proper” religious membership. What about the ones casting out demons in Jesus’ name – Jesus said not to stop them, for whoever does good in His name is doing good. Anyone who gives food, drink, or shelter to one of those God loves for and for whom Jesus died (whether they realize it or not) we have done it for Him. With quite a few supporting examples in the Gospels, Jesus clearly taught that our love for each other trumps the “properness” of or conformance to prescribed religious practices.

Evangelize, yes. They’ll know we are Christians by our love, of course. Spread the Good News and be ready to share what we believe, yes. But to take someone content with their lives, doing good for others and maybe even claiming to follow Jesus, and tell them they need to switch religions? I’m just not sure that’s always a Good Idea. If we call somebody’s faith into question and they end up falling away from it and still not join the Catholic Church, have we brought somebody closer to God, or pushed them away?

Alan

 

[Goldrock]

It is never wrong to try to convert people through actions and prayer, but many times trying to convert someone through preaching will be an obstacle to their conversion rather than a help. Leave the converting to God but always lead by example and be ready to answer questions about the Faith if someone should ask. A life of sacrifice, dedication, love, and joy will convert people more effectively than any words. Especially, be joyful, and when they ask why you are so happy all the time tell them the reason - Jesus!

 

[Goldrock]

If we call somebody’s faith into question and they end up falling away from it and still not join the Catholic Church, have we brought somebody closer to God, or pushed them away?

This is a great question. I think that they are brought closer to God because now that an obstacle (the false religion) has been removed it will be easier for them to be converted to the true religion.

 

[antonivs]

I think it would be wrong to try to convert minors without permission from a parent or legal guardian. When my children were in public school some Protestant kids told my daughter she was going to Hell and needed to convert to their Church.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I think it would be wrong to try to convert minors without permission from a parent or legal guardian. When my children were in public school some Protestant kids told my daughter she was going to Hell and needed to convert to their Church.

Amazing. My mother was taught as a young girl that non-Catholics would automatically go to hell. She cried frequently because all of her Protestant friends were going to burn in hell for all eternity. :crying:

I guess it works both ways… :ehh:

Alan

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

What would Jesus say about it? How about the Good Samaritan – a person can be a better neighbor than another without regard to “proper” religious membership. What about the ones casting out demons in Jesus’ name – Jesus said not to stop them, for whoever does good in His name is doing good. Anyone who gives food, drink, or shelter to one of those God loves for and for whom Jesus died (whether they realize it or not) we have done it for Him. With quite a few supporting examples in the Gospels, Jesus clearly taught that our love for each other trumps the “properness” of or conformance to prescribed religious practices.

If our religion is not better than others, and if it doesn’t matter what people believe as long as they do good and seek God, then the Apostles really got it all wrong and died for nothing. The same goes for all the martyrs who died for the faith. St. Paul preached to pagan people that they worshipped gods without really knowing God, and that he was there to teach them the Truth. Why would he do that if they were ok the way they were? I’m sure many were truly devout and genuine in their worship, just like Muslims or Hindus we encounter today.

There is only one God. So people who worship but do not know Him do so out of ignorance. They seek the truth but do not know it. God loves all His children but as we have learned from Jesus, He wants us to worship him in truth, the way He wants it. Thus we have an obligation to teach others. I’m not saying that going to a Lutheran and telling him that he needs to convert is the best possible strategy, but there are ways of evangelising and being respectful of people and their beliefs. We shouldn’t shove our beliefs down people’s throats, but must never support their religion either, by making them think that it doesn’t matter what people believe as long as we are ‘good people’. This is not what Christianity teaches.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

It is never wrong to try to convert people through actions and prayer, but many times trying to convert someone through preaching will be an obstacle to their conversion rather than a help. Leave the converting to God but always lead by example and be ready to answer questions about the Faith if someone should ask. A life of sacrifice, dedication, love, and joy will convert people more effectively than any words. Especially, be joyful, and when they ask why you are so happy all the time tell them the reason - Jesus!

I like that a lot. Thank you. :tiphat:

This is a great question. I think that they are brought closer to God because now that an obstacle (the false religion) has been removed it will be easier for them to be converted to the true religion.

I think questioning beliefs can always be useful, no matter how deeply held. It helps me appreciate the ones that stand up to it all the more, and those that don’t hold up I can discard. If I’m being misled, God will show me the way when He wills, possibly through other people or not. That’s what I mean by trust in the Spirit – I try to keep the ego checked at the door as much as possible.

Alan

 

[AlanFromWichita]

We shouldn’t shove our beliefs down people’s throats, but must never support their religion either, by making them think that it doesn’t matter what people believe as long as we are ‘good people’. This is not what Christianity teaches.

If I understand, then I agree that it matters what somebody believes. I’m just saying there are elements of love that transcend religious boundaries. I’ve had some experience with that now because my staunchly Catholic daughter married a Hindu a couple months ago. (Hindu wedding Friday, Catholic Saturday) No thoughts of changing him at this point, but he loves to learn about our views on Jesus and Catholic teachings and treats her like a queen, and occasionally comes to Mass with her. (no Eucharist of course.)

For example, most religions would agree on most of the acts of mercy, I’d hope. Or at least pay them respect if examined. If not, then I’d have to question it further.

Alan

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I’m just saying there are elements of love that transcend religious boundaries.

Oh, absolutely. That is because God IS love, right? Everything good we do is because of God. When we truly love we do so as a part of God’s love. I don’t think we can separate it. I often have this conversation with atheists, who always claim that they can be good people without God and religion. I respond that all the good in people, believers and unbelievers, is from God, whether they know it or not, and whether they like it or not. So in this sense I don’t doubt that your SIL is a good man who genuinely loves your daughter. However, you and your family still need to pray for him to come to the Truth. And perhaps more importantly for your daughter so she doesn’t stray from her faith.

 

[knotanes]

It’s only wrong, if your goal in the matter isn’t aimed toward God and the betterment of someone you love.

If you’re “showing off” or have an attitude of superiority, you’re not in the right frame of mind.

Any attempt at conversion that springs first from love of God and second love of your fellow human beings… very hard to go wrong with that.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

A friend told me of this quote by Mother Teresa; on Google I found quite a few hits so it seems many talk about this but none refute that she said it:

When Mother Teresa died, her longtime friend and biographer Naveen Chawla said that he once asked her bluntly, “Do you convert?” She replied, “Of course I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu or a better Muslim or a better Protestant. Once you’ve found God, it’s up to you to decide how to worship him” (“Mother Teresa Touched other Faiths,” Associated Press, Sept. 7, 1997).

“Some call Him Ishwar, some call Him Allah, some simply God, but we have to acknowledge that it is He who made us for greater things: to love and be loved. What matters is that we love. We cannot love without prayer, and so whatever religion we are, we must pray together.”

Alan

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Interesting quote. I’ve also read that for many years she suffered a crisis of faith. Her relativistic attitude apparent in this quote would make sense in that context. Apparently she found peace in Christ again towards the end of her life.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Interesting quote. I’ve also read that for many years she suffered a crisis of faith. Her relativistic attitude apparent in this quote would make sense in that context. Apparently she found peace in Christ again towards the end of her life.

I’m not an expert, but I heard she had “dryness” for a long time. She continued doing her work, though, because of her conviction that she was doing what she was supposed to be doing.

Alan

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I’m not an expert, but I heard she had “dryness” for a long time. She continued doing her work, though, because of her conviction that she was doing what she was supposed to be doing.

Alan

Yes. Good for her. Sticking it out til the end is a sign of true faith, even when the sparks aren’t flying. Whenever I’m not feeling it and it seems that living the faith is just going through the motions, I remind myself of a number of saints who suffered the same but remained faithful until the end.

 

[Bezant]

When is it wrong to “evangelize?”

I put “evangelize” into quotes because I think if we “seek first the kingdom” then every breath we take will become a testimony for the Lord. I’m talking about finding out somebody is non-Catholic, though maybe very dedicated to their religion, and start actively trying to convert them just on the basis that “our religion is true and theirs, not being ours, isn’t.”

I love discussing religious beliefs with others who are interested in hearing it, and if some of them wish to join the Catholic Church, that’s wonderful. If not, I wish to listen more than talk, and try to help others “where they are,” grow in faith and in common areas where we can agree. I’ve talked to Hindus and Muslims where we can agree on many of the salient points of a spiritual life, even though the doctrine might differ. And I’m OK with that.

When I’m talking to another person who is serious about their religion, I am talking about something that is more personal to many people than even their marriages, in that it has been a part of them their whole lives. So to me, if I go up to a Lutheran and say, “hey, thinking about converting yet – you know you really should?” I feel a little bit like I’m saying, “my wife is better than yours. You should dump yours and find one more like mine.”

What would Jesus say about it? How about the Good Samaritan – a person can be a better neighbor than another without regard to “proper” religious membership. What about the ones casting out demons in Jesus’ name – Jesus said not to stop them, for whoever does good in His name is doing good. Anyone who gives food, drink, or shelter to one of those God loves for and for whom Jesus died (whether they realize it or not) we have done it for Him. With quite a few supporting examples in the Gospels, Jesus clearly taught that our love for each other trumps the “properness” of or conformance to prescribed religious practices.

Evangelize, yes. They’ll know we are Christians by our love, of course. Spread the Good News and be ready to share what we believe, yes. But to take someone content with their lives, doing good for others and maybe even claiming to follow Jesus, and tell them they need to switch religions? I’m just not sure that’s always a Good Idea. If we call somebody’s faith into question and they end up falling away from it and still not join the Catholic Church, have we brought somebody closer to God, or pushed them away?

Alan

I think you answered your own question in the last paragraph.

These days, and throughout history, there have always been Christians who talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. The best way to evangelise, particularly to people who are unlikely to convert, is to speak through your actions. When you always have integrity, people notice. This was essentially the message of the Old Testament: ordain Israel to be an example to the world, not so that people would become Jews, but to make the world better.

 

[fred_conty]

When it goes against common sense and good judgement.

 

[RosarioD]

I have greeted a number of people who joined in these forums and were excited to join the Catholic church because they were “hungry” for the truth, their faith was incomplete (something was missing they couldn’t put their finger on), someone they met/fell in love with is Catholic and is filled with the Holy Spirit or the feeling they get when they go to a Catholic mass.
So it is the workings of the Holy Spirit that stirs in their heart the desire to convert but also through the actions - more specifically the charity - of Catholics that work most effectively. The Catholic church is the deposit of the faith, the fullness of the truth. Our Protestant brethren may not have the fullness of the faith, but it is ultimately through the workings of the Holy Spirit in their heart that will do the job.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Our Protestant brethren may not have the fullness of the faith, but it is ultimately through the workings of the Holy Spirit in their heart that will do the job.

It was a non-denominational TV preacher who actually inspired me to buy a bible for the first time at age 25-ish, and eventually resulted in my going back to Church after several years hiatus. :getholy:

So I believe that TV preacher was the Good Samaritan for me, who came out to where I was, intellectually, and helped me understand what “faith” can do, in realistic, easy to understand terms. Long story short, here I am back in Church. Next big news was my first session with spiritual director at age 42, which started a spiritual journey now that has done me a lot of good spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

Alan