Why do we evangelise Christians?

[Inquirer]

I thank everyone for giving me their (name removed by moderator)uts. It has cleared things up for me.

From what I gather, there are roughly 3 types of reasons why catholics evagelise to protestants

1. Salvation is only a possibility and not a certainty. i.e the need to evagelise them.

In terms of evangelising, don’t we agree that as a general priciple, Christians already know the truth about Jesus and His Grace? As such, Protestants should be at the bottom of the ‘who to evagelise’ list, I would think non-Christians would have priority. I have not done any surveys, but it sure looks like we spend more time on protestants than non-christians.

DeFide:

As others have pointed out, there’s no guarantee of salvation, and the further away from the fullness of the truth you are, the less your chances of salvation (all other things being equal).

Salvation depends on the distance to truth? Well, according to the RCC since one would not be held accountable for their ‘sins’ because of invincible ignorance; and all will be judged by how they ‘made their way to God’ to the best of their ability - I don’t see how distance has anyting to do with it.

1ke:

can be saved, not will be saved

Catholics can be saved, will not be saved too. Similarly, it depends on how they make their way to God; whether they have fought the good fight…

1. The need to follow the true church

scylla:

Also since Jesus commanded us to preach the Gospel and since He founded a Church it must be of importance. If it isn’t then Jesus founded the Church for nothing as it isn’t needed for salvation, this is lunacy if this is the case. So definitely Jesus died to testify to the truth and started the Church.

Eileen T:

Imagine how stunned when they get to Heaven and find out what they have missed out on all these years, and no Catholic cared enough to make it real to them?

They will say we saw them hungrey and did not give them to eat. Not good, folks.

Yes, this makes a lot of sense. I guess if the truth is known, we should be spreading it.

1. Equating ‘evangelise’ with ‘apologetics’; which by the way was my main query. I shouldn’t have used the term ‘evagelise’ at all, actually.

Fidelis:

As for the purpose of apologetics, it is entirely defensive and exists only because the Catholic Faith is attacked with misconceptions and, sometimes, downright lies. Apologetics often removes obstacles to appreciating Catholicism that some may have because they don’t know what the Church really teaches. If there were no anti-Catholicism, there would be no need for apologetics.

How true. I guess Catholic Answers will probably close down gladly if there was no more anti-catholicism!

But I guess this heartfelt gratitude from Veritas should be all the volition we need. I should be in the same boat as Veritas … afterall, I’ll be coming home this Nov. Perhaps I’ll feel that way by then … I hope.

Veritas41:

I was a Protestant Christian evangelized by a Catholic, and all I can say is thank God! Yes, I was “saved” before, but the truth and grace I have found in the Catholic Church have enriched and blessed me beyond my ability to describe. I’m grateful to have the whole revelation of God in Christ Jesus and access to all the means of grace He has established. Just having Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament would be enough! I want my Protestant friends to have what I have.

Contarini:

Catholics generally don’t. The Catholics who do this these days are a relatively small group compared to all Catholics worldwide. Don’t be misled by this board.

Edwin

Edwin …

Actually, the query is why we do it, and I suppose it is only applicable to those who do do it.

But you’re right, though. So what do you think about those that do?

 

[magdelaine]

I would add a big #4:

**Because we need them! **

Protestant Brothers and Sisters, we need you! You are of the Body of Christ, after all, but you only have a portion, while we have the banquet. We want so deeply for you to share in that banquet.

Why is that they are “on fire” and most Catholics are not? Why is Pentacostalism spreading so rapidly and yet how many Catholics go on “missions” to other countries? (I know that Catholic Missions is one of the largest organizations of its kind, what I mean is: how many people in your parish actually evangelize others?) We need their fire, their love of Christ, their willingness to reach out to others. They need the fullness of the Truth.