Here is a wise word of advice from a former evangelical Protestant (me!):
**Many Protestants, especially evangelicals, believe that the Bible teaches that we must “have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ” in order to go to heaven.
The reason they think Catholicism is leading people to hell is that they think Catholicism does not teach a “personal relationship with Jesus.”**
As Catholics, we know this is not true at all.
As a Catholic, I enjoy a very deep personal relationship with Jesus through the Eucharist and the other sacraments, and through a deep prayer life. I know many of you have the same testimony.
Our current Pope in his inaugural address emphasized the need for a personal relationship with Jesus.
Here is a quote: “If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and He gives you everything. When we give ourselves to Him, we receive a hundred-fold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ - and you will find true life. Amen.”
Here is a link to the entire address:
boston-catholic-journal.com/inaugural_address_of_Pope_Benedict_XVI.htm
**So when you meet evangelical Protestants and you begin talking together about your faiths, emphasize your personal relationship with Jesus. Tell them that He is your Friend and your Lord. Tell them how much you love Him and love to spend time with Him in prayer and service. **
Daniel Marsh delivered a very good piece of advice when he said to “learn to word your testimoniies in language that we understand.” I agree with him.
Tell them about your personal friendship (or relationship) with Jesus.
Tell them how you “accepted Jesus into your heart” at some point in your life (your First Holy Communion? your Confirmation? when you grew up and had your own children?). To “accept Jesus into your heart” means that you internalized your Christianity and it became real to you, not just a “creed” that your parents baptized you into. Many of you can testify about a specific time/place where this happened to you. **THAT’S what evangelical Protestants are looking for–an indication that you have CHOSEN to follow Jesus. **
Tell them that Jesus is your personal Lord and Savior–this is straight out of the Mass–“We await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” This is a phrase that evangelical Protestants will understand.
DON’T tell them about your baptism. Even though we know that the Bible teaches that “baptism saves you,” and that the Biblical definition of being “born again” means to be baptized, well, they don’t believe that. So don’t burden them with it (yet). Wait until they are ready to understand.
Don’t tell them about Eucharist. They won’t believe you.
Instead, tell them the things that I am telling you to say, and then when they accept you as a true Christian, invite them to Mass with you. Once they are there, the Lord Jesus Himself will reveal Himself to them in the Eucharist. I know several Protestants, including me!-- who say the same thing–“I recognized Jesus in the Bread.”
And don’t tell them about the saints. They believe you are practicing a great abomination by “speaking with the dead.” Again, once they trust you as a Christian, then the saints themselves will reveal themselves. You don’t have to plead their case for them.
Another thing you can say that they will understand is to tell them that you read the Bible and attend Bible studies and prayer times with other Christians. A lot of evangelical Protestants honestly believe that Catholics don’t read the Bible. Let them know that many Catholics, including you, DO read the Bible and pray.
One more thing–Daniel keeps asking you to “show him your works.” One thing Catholics have tons of is WORKS. Show them (modestly).
Catholics have led the fight against abortion–tell them about your involvement in the pro-life movement.
Catholics help the poor in many ways–tell them how you personally get involved helping the poor through your Church.
Catholics are known for establishing hospitals and working in the healing fields–is there a Catholic hospital in or near your town? Point it out to your evangelical Protestant friends and tell them about several Catholic doctors or other health care workers you know who work there.
Tell them about disaster relief–Catholics were and still are among the first to arrive in New Orleans to help the victims of Katrina–tell them how you personally got involved.
Tell them about ministries to the homeless in your community, about soup kitchens run by Catholics.
Tell them about how Catholics are leading the fight to keep marriage defined as “between one man and one woman.”
And tell them about little acts of kindness that you know about in your parish. E.g., in our parish, a group of women faithfully visit one of their own who has been stricken with MS for many years now. They are there everyday helping her and showing practical love.
These little acts of everyday kindness will probably impress your Protestant friends more than all the other big works.
I hate to brag, too, but as long as they asked, tell them that Catholics are devoted to practicing the corporal works of mercy and emphasize that this is not done to earn their way to heaven, but out of love for Jesus Christ and a desire to be like Him…
I am a convert from the Presbyterian Church (in addition to other Christian and non-Christian background), but the Communion of Saints is one of the Catholic beliefs I didn’t have a problem with from a theogical point-of-view. I certainly would have never thought someone was going to hell because they prayed intercessory prayers.
I think you are right, that those of us who believe in the communion of saints probably have less trouble understanding Catholic intercession. We know the saints pray for the church militant. Thanks God they do.
