C
Christphr
Guest
Unless I am badly mistaken, most Catholics (but not all) do not evangelize. Why is this so?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
M
Maximilian75
Guest
Because I would say a majority of Catholics either
a) are not passionate / dont care enough to do so / think “all religions / forms of Christianity are equal”
b) don’t hold the above views, but aren’t well catechised/informed about the faith, so they cannot do it effectively.
a) are not passionate / dont care enough to do so / think “all religions / forms of Christianity are equal”
b) don’t hold the above views, but aren’t well catechised/informed about the faith, so they cannot do it effectively.
Last edited:
S
stpurl
Guest
Most Catholics don’t proselytize, which is what some, if not much, of ‘evangelization’ is practiced by non-Catholics.
One can evangelize by modeling Christ-like behavior to others, or by deeds without words, or by being like St. Peter and having a word ‘ready when asked’ while not necessarily going around every minute asking people “Are you saved”?
And let’s be fair and not assume that “most Catholics” refers to “Catholics in the US and Canada along with Western Europe”. Catholics in South America, Africa, and Asia might surprise the OP.
One can evangelize by modeling Christ-like behavior to others, or by deeds without words, or by being like St. Peter and having a word ‘ready when asked’ while not necessarily going around every minute asking people “Are you saved”?
And let’s be fair and not assume that “most Catholics” refers to “Catholics in the US and Canada along with Western Europe”. Catholics in South America, Africa, and Asia might surprise the OP.
V
Vico
Guest
One form of evangelization is to give witness, which is a variety of ways of charity and demonstrating good behavior.Unless I am badly mistaken, most Catholics (but not all) do not evangelize. Why is this so?
P
pianistclare
Guest
We do it by our lives, actions, conversations. We walk the walk.
Not much good fruit comes shouting people down. When some folks talk evangelization, that’s what they mean. That’s different, those people proselytize. Evangelization is an invitation to discovery.
Catholics welcome people into their parishes, lend a hand when needed, and pray for others when asked.
True story:
There was a woman who passes recently, who grew up in the midwest, dirt poor, 13 children in the family. The Sisters from a nearby parish keep this little family in fresh baked bread, and sewed clothing for the children, tended the mama when she was ill from her many births, and did mending for them, always prayed for them to thrive.
Fast forward a few decades, and this woman dies. In her will, she directs that whatever Catholic parish she lived closet to, that parish would get her estate as a tribute to the kindness shown to her family from the Catholic nuns. That check, for $5000,000 was used to pay off the mortgage of St. Peter the Rock parish in rural south Georgia.
Apperently she did very well as an adult. Never converted, but also never forgot.
And used her treaure wisely.
The bottom line is:
WE NEVER KNOW what our kindnesses will reap.
Not much good fruit comes shouting people down. When some folks talk evangelization, that’s what they mean. That’s different, those people proselytize. Evangelization is an invitation to discovery.
Catholics welcome people into their parishes, lend a hand when needed, and pray for others when asked.
True story:
There was a woman who passes recently, who grew up in the midwest, dirt poor, 13 children in the family. The Sisters from a nearby parish keep this little family in fresh baked bread, and sewed clothing for the children, tended the mama when she was ill from her many births, and did mending for them, always prayed for them to thrive.
Fast forward a few decades, and this woman dies. In her will, she directs that whatever Catholic parish she lived closet to, that parish would get her estate as a tribute to the kindness shown to her family from the Catholic nuns. That check, for $5000,000 was used to pay off the mortgage of St. Peter the Rock parish in rural south Georgia.
Apperently she did very well as an adult. Never converted, but also never forgot.
And used her treaure wisely.
The bottom line is:
WE NEVER KNOW what our kindnesses will reap.
Last edited:
X
Xanthippe_Voorhees
Guest
Because what most people think of as evangelization is really prostelization. JW’s prostelitize. Mormons prostelitize. A large majority of Protestants–especially Baptists–prostelitize.Unless I am badly mistaken, most Catholics (but not all) do not evangelize. Why is this so?
Evangelization is far harder and more subtle than that. It’s living and breathing your faith. Not shoving it down people’s throughts but being a constant and real example of what it means to live your faith.
S
SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
I think that many people say they don’t evangelize because they don’t collar people and ask if they know Jesus or ask if they have they been saved. What they don’t realize is that we evangelize (or, perhaps, dis-evangelize) every single day. How we speak about God, about the Church, about our priests and bishops, how we live our lives, how we spend our time, all have an effect on people. “Let me tell you about the liturgical abuses in my parish” says something. “Yesterday I was busy preparing a meal for the homeless with other people from my parish” says something. “I’m so sorry to hear about your problem, I’ll keep you in my prayers” says something.".
S
steve-b
Guest
Sloppy ecumenical speak and thinking, that has evolved, has produced an indifferentism towards all forms of Christianity. Then there is the overall ignorance of the faith, that is self imposed. If people show little interest to learn, with the avalanche of materials available today to educate in every area of the faith, then the following CCC point happens. Even if one has not even read the CCCBecause I would say a majority of Catholics either
a) are not passionate / dont care enough to do so / think "all religions / forms of Christianity are equal"
b) don’t hold the above views, but aren’t well catechised/informed about the faith, so they cannot do it effectively.
1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.
Last edited:
B
BornInMarch
Guest
Because there are already specialists (priests, missionaries, etc) who are far better at this task.
X
Xanthippe_Voorhees
Guest
Again, what you’re referring to is prostelization.I think that many people say they don’t evangelize because they don’t collar people and ask if they know Jesus or ask if they have they been saved. What they don’t realize is that we evangelize (or, perhaps, dis-evangelize) every single day. How we speak about God, about the Church, about our priests and bishops, how we live our lives, how we spend our time, all have an effect on people. “Let me tell you about the liturgical abuses in my parish” says something. “Yesterday I was busy preparing a meal for the homeless with other people from my parish” says something. “I’m so sorry to hear about your problem, I’ll keep you in my prayers” says something.".
Catholics don’t (or shouldn’t) have any part in that. Quite frankly, that kind of behavior is sinful and boarders on the immoral. It is clear that when we set out to facilitate a conversion we are never to use manipulative tactics.
D
DebCWil
Guest
When I made my Cursillo, there was an emphasis on evangelization. Evangelization was mention in terms of the large E, Evangelization, and the small e, evangelization.
St. Francis is credited with saying, “Preach always and if necessary use words.”
Most often, when people think about evangelization, they think in terms of the big E, the person who preaches Christ using words. If the listeners is not yet ready to hear about God’s love, or how much Christ is doing in my life, I can actually turn him/her away from the message of the Gospel.
In 1982, during a Jesus Day Conference, the speaker spoke about “being so full of the Spirit as to lose sight of the Spirit.” Am I so full of zeal and desire to spread God’s message that the seed falls on deaf ears rather than fertile ground where it will grow?
On the other hand, small evangelization can be more effective. St. Paul reminds us that we are living stones that are being read. It is are actions that speak more eloquently than mere words. It may not seem like much, but that homeless person with whom you take time to listen may remember that gesture. I have had it happen; being the only person who spoke to a certain individual for six months.
St. John the Baptist said that Christ must “increase while I decrease.” Once while I was visiting my mother, the televangelist asked “How many have you brought to Christ?” My mother in her simple unassuming manner said, “at least six.” Most of us do not know who we might lead to the Catholic Church. I see my own role as one planting the seeds while somebody else bring in the harvest. Does it really matter when we are all part of the same Body of Christ? My mother could respond as she did because of our family life. My parents sponsored at least 3 couples from outside Christianity into the Catholic Church because of the love they witnessed.
The evangelization came not through flowery words. It came through lifestyle. It came through how our house was decorated, and how we treat one another.
St. Francis is credited with saying, “Preach always and if necessary use words.”
Most often, when people think about evangelization, they think in terms of the big E, the person who preaches Christ using words. If the listeners is not yet ready to hear about God’s love, or how much Christ is doing in my life, I can actually turn him/her away from the message of the Gospel.
In 1982, during a Jesus Day Conference, the speaker spoke about “being so full of the Spirit as to lose sight of the Spirit.” Am I so full of zeal and desire to spread God’s message that the seed falls on deaf ears rather than fertile ground where it will grow?
On the other hand, small evangelization can be more effective. St. Paul reminds us that we are living stones that are being read. It is are actions that speak more eloquently than mere words. It may not seem like much, but that homeless person with whom you take time to listen may remember that gesture. I have had it happen; being the only person who spoke to a certain individual for six months.
St. John the Baptist said that Christ must “increase while I decrease.” Once while I was visiting my mother, the televangelist asked “How many have you brought to Christ?” My mother in her simple unassuming manner said, “at least six.” Most of us do not know who we might lead to the Catholic Church. I see my own role as one planting the seeds while somebody else bring in the harvest. Does it really matter when we are all part of the same Body of Christ? My mother could respond as she did because of our family life. My parents sponsored at least 3 couples from outside Christianity into the Catholic Church because of the love they witnessed.
The evangelization came not through flowery words. It came through lifestyle. It came through how our house was decorated, and how we treat one another.
S
SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
Jesus never said that only priests or missionaries should go out and spread the gospel. He gave that command to all of us.
E
edwest211
Guest
We are told to go out and spread the Gospel. When I did street evangelization, I offered booklets about God to people. Most took it, some refused. I heard a priest on Catholic radio talking to his church Men’s group. He said, “If you’re not out there evangelizing, why not?” If your Church does not have a men’s group or women’s group, talk to your pastor about forming one. If you don’t know how to start or how to do it, ask him.
M
Maximilian75
Guest
How so?If you believe in “freedom of religion”…why would you evangelize?
That would not be respecting another person’s religion/beliefs.
Who here has said otherwise?assume if you believe in evangelizing, you would believe in it for all religions, right? Or just for your own?
E
edwest211
Guest
When people from other religions show up at my door, I don’t tell them to leave. I hear what they have to say, and accept or reject whatever materials they may offer. The End. I usually find leaflets from various contractors on my door, so there is no problem.
We are free to visit our neighbors - even if we don’t know them - for other reasons.
We are free to visit our neighbors - even if we don’t know them - for other reasons.
Last edited:
S
SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
I think the big difference between evangelizing and proselytizing is showing respect for the other person. If I share my faith with you, that’s one thing (and assumes some interest or openness on your part). If I try to shove my beliefs down your throat, that’s something entirely different.
And keep in mind that “freedom of religion” comes from the Constitution. It applies to government, not to individuals. I believe that I need to respect the sincerely held beliefs of other people but there’s no law that compels that.
And keep in mind that “freedom of religion” comes from the Constitution. It applies to government, not to individuals. I believe that I need to respect the sincerely held beliefs of other people but there’s no law that compels that.
E
edwest211
Guest
“freedom of religion” applies to everybody.
H
hymin
Guest
I think we have lost the sense of penance. “Hope is not a virtue for people with a full stomach.” (Pope Francis, General Audience, 27 Sept 2017) And St. Paul says, “we are saved by hope” (Rom 8:24)
S
stpurl
Guest
Because it’s freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
As people have already pointed out, evangelization does not equal proselytization. Most Christians here have participated in interfaith services and not segregated themselves from contact with ‘unbelievers’.
And your "Muslim’ comment is an example of how you are equating evangelization with proselytization, because you stated, “show them why their beliefs are the right ones”. That’s proselytization, not evangelization, and we would be right to call that a problem, just as they would be right to call it a problem were we to specifically invite them to a Catholic Mass to ‘see why OUR beliefs are the right ones’.
That is not what we do. What we do is show (if asked) why we believe what we believe. Obviously, since we are not indifferentists or relativists, we would believe our beliefs are true, else why hold them, and this would be the case of any person regarding any truth, right?
There is a big difference between showing (by deed as well as word) that we believe in Christ and that as such our task is to know Him, love Him, and serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, in this world and the next, and to love our neighbor as ourself. . . (which is evangelization). . .
or to say, “There is no god but Allah, and all who do not worship shall perish by the sword” or “there is no God but Jesus, and all who do not worship shall be damned to hell no matter what”, or even, “there is no god, and those who do believe in one are evil and stupid and the cause of all hatred and evil through history”.
You don’t come across as stupid, so I think you see the difference quite well. . .
As people have already pointed out, evangelization does not equal proselytization. Most Christians here have participated in interfaith services and not segregated themselves from contact with ‘unbelievers’.
And your "Muslim’ comment is an example of how you are equating evangelization with proselytization, because you stated, “show them why their beliefs are the right ones”. That’s proselytization, not evangelization, and we would be right to call that a problem, just as they would be right to call it a problem were we to specifically invite them to a Catholic Mass to ‘see why OUR beliefs are the right ones’.
That is not what we do. What we do is show (if asked) why we believe what we believe. Obviously, since we are not indifferentists or relativists, we would believe our beliefs are true, else why hold them, and this would be the case of any person regarding any truth, right?
There is a big difference between showing (by deed as well as word) that we believe in Christ and that as such our task is to know Him, love Him, and serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, in this world and the next, and to love our neighbor as ourself. . . (which is evangelization). . .
or to say, “There is no god but Allah, and all who do not worship shall perish by the sword” or “there is no God but Jesus, and all who do not worship shall be damned to hell no matter what”, or even, “there is no god, and those who do believe in one are evil and stupid and the cause of all hatred and evil through history”.
You don’t come across as stupid, so I think you see the difference quite well. . .
T
Thom18
Guest
I think most Catholics who fail to evangelize fall into the “every religion is equal” category. They know next to nothing about the faith, and it’s for lack of trying- they really don’t want to know more about their faith, so they see no reason to try and convince others to do so.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.