Why Evangelize?

[jpthepartyboy]

I don’t understand why we’re supposed to evangelize people voluntarily at all. We shouldn’t be giving out pamphlets and wearing our faith like the hypocrites do. Instead, we should split ourselves from the tactics of the Evangelical Christians and lead by example. The last time we tried to imitated the Protestants in the Counter-Reformation, we went to far and condemned the Scientific Revolution. Why should we try and be like the Evangelicals.

 

[jmcrae]

Well, first of all, we are all called to go forth and make disciples of all nations. The proper role of the laity (that is, everyone who is not a priest, a monk, or a nun) is to Christianize the world at work, at school, at home, and at play.

Secondly, Catholic evangelism can’t be the sort of “one-off” thing that happens with Evangelicals, where all they have to do is convince someone to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer,” and that’s it; they’re done - it’s up to the person then to figure out whether they want to go to Church or not, what their sins are, and what they need to change in their lives, if anything.

As Catholics, we want them to go to RCIA classes and become Catholic, live the Catholic lifestyle, go to Confession, and receive Holy Communion, etc. for the rest of their lives. Becoming Catholic is a lot harder, so obviously the sorts of evangelism techniques that work for Evangelicals won’t work for us - we can’t just accost people at the bus stop and get them to “accept Jesus” and then move on to the next potential convert - we actually have to get to know the person quite well, bring them to Mass, teach them things, and sponsor them for RCIA.

 

[jc-servant]

We don’t imitate Protestants by evangelizing. They imitate us. We are the 1st Christians after all.

I think that you are picturing their method of answering Christ’s directive to make disciples of all nations. You can evangelize by leading a life that shines as a good example of your faith and if someone asks you why you have a good life filled with joy then you can tell them about your faith.

I have had coworkers and other people ask me why I’m so positive and joyful and peaceful during stress and it gives me the opening to briefly witness to my faith. I don’t beat them over the head with Bible verses or anything. I tell them that my life has changed for the better since I became Catholic and then provide more info it they ask.

I’ve also had openings to provide a witness to my faith by having someone observes me cross myself when praying at a restaurant. I’ve had people ask about Catholic t-shirts or jewelry or pins. I also make no secret that I’m Catholic although I’m a minority of 1 in my office. I’ve had people ask where I disappeared to at lunch and I say “daily mass.” I then say that our church gives us the opportunity to worship daily, not just on Sundays which is a huge surprise to many Protestants who think that we don’t really live our faith “daily” the way that they do . I had a coworker ask me about prayers to the saints last week at lunch because she always wanted to know about it.

I would say that part of our responsibility is to be ready to explain our faith/church with the real facts as stated by the church. If you don’t have a Catechism of the Catholic Church, then I would strongly suggest getting one and just reading a little bit every so often. It has a topic index so that you can look up what the church really teaches on marriage or sex or a host of other subjects where there is discussion, confusion or even misinformation among Catholics as well as others.

 

[littleone]

I don’t understand why we’re supposed to evangelize people voluntarily at all. We shouldn’t be giving out pamphlets and wearing our faith like the hypocrites do. Instead, we should split ourselves from the tactics of the Evangelical Christians ** **. The last time we tried to imitated the Protestants in the Counter-Reformation, we went to far and condemned the Scientific Revolution. Why should we try and be like the Evangelicals.

Hi I think you are evangelizing aren’t you, in the proper mannr for you that is? Go for it

God bless
littleone

 

[Em_in_FL]

I don’t understand why we’re supposed to evangelize people voluntarily at all. We shouldn’t be giving out pamphlets and wearing our faith like the hypocrites do. Instead, we should split ourselves from the tactics of the Evangelical Christians and lead by example. The last time we tried to imitated the Protestants in the Counter-Reformation, we went to far and condemned the Scientific Revolution. Why should we try and be like the Evangelicals.

Clearly you have a sound understanding of how “evangelization” (in the protestant understanding) can sometimes push people away from faith.

Evangelization does NOT have to be forced or hypocritical. You do have to keep in mind the heart of the listener (people are usually smart enough to notice when someone is faking piety)…

Leading by example is a perfectly ideal form of evangelization!

Can you really “win the hearts” of non-believers by proving what a “perfect Christian” you are???
No… you win the hearts by leading by example… showing love, sympathy, understanding, etc…

Sounds like you know what you’re doing already.

 

[littleone]

I don’t understand why we’re supposed to evangelize people voluntarily at all. We shouldn’t be giving out pamphlets and wearing our faith like the hypocrites do. Instead, we should split ourselves from the tactics of the Evangelical Christians and lead by example. The last time we tried to imitated the Protestants in the Counter-Reformation, we went to far and condemned the Scientific Revolution. Why should we try and be like the Evangelicals.

Just recapping what you have written and I wonder if you are saying that Jesus and the Apostils had no right to evangelize it should be all volentary

 

[gvogt4]

I don’t understand why we’re supposed to evangelize people voluntarily at all. We shouldn’t be giving out pamphlets and wearing our faith like the hypocrites do. Instead, we should split ourselves from the tactics of the Evangelical Christians and lead by example. The last time we tried to imitated the Protestants in the Counter-Reformation, we went to far and condemned the Scientific Revolution. Why should we try and be like the Evangelicals.

“Preach the Gospel always…and sometimes use words.” St. Francis of Assisi