Why evangelize?

[DarkLight]

Could it be lack of faith? Maybe most church-goers have too much internal doubt that the foolishness of the cross is a good enough explanation for how to be saved… maybe this is a product of our relativistic culture.

We doubt whether the truth of Christ that “works” for us is good enough to be the truth that works for everyone.

I’m not sure how much of it is the “truth of Christ” and how much of it is how people present that truth. I know I was pushed farther and farther away from Christ by classic evangelism techniques, so I’m pretty skeptical of them.

 

[einna]

My approach to evangelization is to subtly reveal that I’m Catholic and then preach by example. I won’t engage people in theological conversation unless they ask. My hope is that through my prayers and example they will seek God. I leave the more proactive style of evangelization to the professionals - those missionaries mandated by the Church.

And to answer the question in your topic line: the Church evangelized because the Catholic faith is necessary for salvation, both by necessity of means and necessity of precept.

Are you saying that protestants cannot be saved, because that is not true according to the priests at my work.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

What does the Catholic faith have that others do not? I want honest answers from honest Catholics.

Protestants evangelize to save souls that would otherwise be lost. Buddhists evangelize to save the unenlightened from perpetuating the cycle of suffering. Militant atheists evangelize because they think a religious person is a bad person.

But why Catholics? I’m just curious. To me it seems most Catholics don’t feel the need. I come from a very Roman Catholic city, and they have churches and schools everywhere, and it’s not rare to still see nuns and monks here. But none of them ever talks to anyone about faith with an eye towards turning to Christ. To most of them, to be Catholic is just one option among many.

It could be said that evangelization on Catholics’ part is to offer people the richness of the Catholic experience. But what if the people are happy just the way they are? What if they think they don’t need a faith, any faith? Does the Church turn away, give up, or keep trying, one way or another? Why should it keep going?

I’m just curious. I’ve been brought up Protestant, and was a Hindu-Buddhist for a long time. I know why they seek out new converts. But for all the religiosity of Catholics, they’re just not as interested in claiming souls for God.

I haven’t read through all the posts but my answer would be:

The Catholic church has the real presence of Jesus and the fullness of truth. It is not just an experience, it is a lifestyle. It is the Church that Jesus gave us.

Also, there are many Catholics who spend time speaking of Christ or evangelizing and there are many protestants who don’t and visa versa.

Just because someone is happy the way the are doesn’t mean they are in the right the way they are.

Many Catholics come to this forum or have blogs or websites or talk to family, friends and co-workers or go around giving talks at colleges and high school and retreats and work at soup kitchens and volunteer at hospitals and stand out front of abortion clinics praying and saving babies and adopt children and homeschool and volunteer at church events and pray very hard and tweet and have facebook pages and help out at mass and so much more, in efforts to bring people to Christ. There are many ways to evangelize.

 

[PJM]

=may_they_be_one;10120660]Could it be lack of faith? Maybe most church-goers have too much internal doubt that the foolishness of the cross is a good enough explanation for how to be saved… maybe this is a product of our relativistic culture.

We doubt whether the truth of Christ that “works” for us is good enough to be the truth that works for everyone.

So my friend,

Who determines “who IS lost?”

and One what basis?

And can just everyone evangualize?

God’s continued Blessings!

 

[PJM]

=einna;10130419]

are you saying that protestants cannot be saved, because that is not true according to the priests at my work.

please see post #58

 

[einna]

I’m not sure how much of it is the “truth of Christ” and how much of it is how people present that truth. I know I was pushed farther and farther away from Christ by classic evangelism techniques, so I’m pretty skeptical of them.

I agree. In Catholic school we were taught to live are faith and be an example of our faith in everything we did. Words are not as strong as actions.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

I agree. In Catholic school we were taught to live are faith and be an example of our faith in everything we did. Words are not as strong as actions.

Boy, that’s true. I remember a phrase - people would rather see a sermon than hear a sermon.

 

[may_they_be_one]

I’m not sure how much of it is the “truth of Christ” and how much of it is how people present that truth. I know I was pushed farther and farther away from Christ by classic evangelism techniques, so I’m pretty skeptical of them.

Check out the documentaries “Furious Love” or “Father of Lights”… www.wpfilms.com. This is the new and improved evangelism of LOVE!