Why Is Catholicism So Unattractive to Evangelicals?

[FollowChrist34]

I would say that evangelicals tend to not think there’s much to dialog about. In many evangelical’s ecclesiology, there’s no real authority beyond the local church, and as a result, they view all believers as part of the universal church, simply a different expression of it. That is why you may have 4 different evangelical churches on the same block, and they’ll look at you funny if you call that division.

Do social issues matter in this? If one group says abortion is acceptable, do Evangelicals reject them? Or if the Anglicans say you need to help the poor and that Evangelicals don’t really put a lot of time or effort into that? Do you get in arguments about how to apply Christian doctrine? I am just wondering. (hint: Catholics do.)

 

[theropod]

Do social issues matter in this? If one group says abortion is acceptable, do Evangelicals reject them? Or if the Anglicans say you need to help the poor and that Evangelicals don’t really put a lot of time or effort into that? Do you get in arguments about how to apply Christian doctrine? I am just wondering.

Oh, absolutely. I spent a lot of time in the Evangelical world. There are definitely litmus test issues, abortion being one of them. Simply, alliances are built upon common beliefs, rather than formal structure and ecclesiology. That’s the starting point for any conversation and cooperation. Most Evangelicals are linked together in informal networks, and tend to not worry about those linked in their own informal networks. With respect to the Mainlines, many view the Mainlines as in apostasy, or rapidly descending into it.

I think it’s sometimes hard for Catholics to wrap their head around the way Evangelicals view their relationship to each other and the global body of Christ.

 

[FollowChrist34]

I think it’s sometimes hard for Catholics to wrap their head around the way Evangelicals view their relationship to each other and the global body of Christ.

Yeah, my Missouri Synod relative once told me he thought ELCA was kind of wacky, but he wasn’t mean or militant about it - he is very soft spoken - it didn’t sound like all out rejection.

So I take it Evangelicals think they are the body of Christ and the rest of us are outside of it - or do they accept that a Catholic or Anglican who “believes” can be in it?

Thanks for answering.

 

[theropod]

Yeah, my Missouri Synod relative once told me he thought ELCA was kind of wacky, but he wasn’t mean or militant about it - he is very soft spoken - it didn’t sound like all out rejection.

So I take it Evangelicals think they are the body of Christ and the rest of us are outside of it - or do they accept that a Catholic or Anglican who “believes” can be in it?

Thanks for answering.

Absolutely. Well…ok, not absolutely since you will find people who say no.

Mainstream Evangelicals believe there are saved people in every church and tradition. They will view some traditions more conducive to cultivating salvation than others, viewing Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, and Mainline traditions with skepticism in that respect. All the evangelicals I know will tell you there are Christians in the RCC that are going to heaven, and there are “Christians” in their own church who are not.

 

[FollowChrist34]

All the evangelicals I know will tell you there are Christians in the RCC that are going to heaven, and there are “Christians” in their own church who are not.

Fair enough, that is what I would say back to them - I think most Catholics would say that.

 

[FollowChrist34]

theropod you might enjoy this:

Archbishop of Canterbury: Anglicans ‘must have space for deep disagreement’
Amid division within the Anglican Communion over homosexuality and women’s ordination, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury invited the 37 Anglican primates to a January meeting to discuss the Communion’s future.

“The difference between our societies and cultures, as well as the speed of cultural change in much of the global north, tempts us to divide as Christians: when the command of scripture, the prayer of Jesus, the tradition of the church and our theological understanding urges unity,” he wrote.

“A 21st-century Anglican family must have space for deep disagreement, and even mutual criticism, so long as we are faithful to the revelation of Jesus Christ, together,” he added. “We have no Anglican pope.”
catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=26166

(I feel your pain - and I have a Pope .)

 

[clem456]

No, those are just smokescreens.

Evangelicals find Catholicism unattractive because we need to be wrong for them to be right.

We have two Evangelical Christian families on our street who are awesome people. By coincidence, each of these families has adopted two children from mothers who couldn’t or wouldn’t keep them, at great cost to themselves. Honestly, they embarrass the neighboring Catholics in their discipleship, myself included.

These people have no interest in proving they are right/wrong in relation to Catholicism. Catholicism is simply not even on their radar. We are so far in the rear view mirror that we are non-factor in the community, in terms of seeking a church to call home. Our parish does a massive amount of good in the community, but it won’t in 50 years, cause it might not exist cause people like these are not finding Christ at our parish.

They know about Catholics obviously, and have made a choice to worship elsewhere, but we are putting words in people’s mouths when we claim they are

1. knowingly rejecting the truth that Catholicism proclaims because it is hard
2. looking for entertaining services
3. looking for coffee and donuts and other divorced people to date

Nonsense, for the most part. There are elements of all this for sure, but these people simply have no compelling reason to consider Catholicism. Many of them have a powerful desire to know Jesus Christ. And we are not evangelizing them, or our own people.

In most parishes, if Catholics begin to talk about how powerfully Jesus Christ has affected their lives, people begin to back away as if you have two heads. It’s too raw, it’s too protestant, out of control. Etc…There is a tyranny of silence in many Catholic parishes.
Take note, the next time you are in conversation with folks in your parish ministries, how many people will say the name “Jesus Christ” out loud in public. Give it a try.

How often do you hear Catholics speak about the Kerygma, which is the fundamental truth of Christianity.
"Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh, Son of the living God, who came for our salvation, lived and died to redeem us, rose from the dead in victory over sin and death. Jesus Christ saved me from sin and death. " If people are looking for real and true answers to life, Jesus Christ is the answer. We have to proclaim the core Gospel before we can talk about Catholic doctrine. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life.

By and large, we do not show people what this relationship with Jesus Christ looks and sounds like, and until we do people will keep driving by. If we are ashamed of Jesus’ name, our ministry cannot flower.

 

[z_0101]

How often do you hear Catholics speak about the Kerygma, which is the fundamental truth of Christianity.

Most Catholics that I have met wouldn’t even know the word.
Catholic Answers: The Kerygma Enigma

By and large, we do not show people what this relationship with Jesus Christ looks and sounds like, and until we do people will keep driving by. If we are ashamed of Jesus’ name, our ministry cannot flower.

• How should we, as Catholics, be showing what a relationship with Jesus looks like?

 

[chimo]

When I was in Evangelical circles years ago, I’ve never met Catholics who ever defended their faith that hard. So it’s probably a surprise to a few Evangelicals when they see Catholics “hitting back”.

The only reason I ever found my way back to the Church was mainly because I couldn’t agree with the Evangelical “doctrines” anymore, particularly on OSAS and sola fide; at some point and after a few more interactions with Evangelicals, those teachings felt completely and utterly abhorrent.

My take is, from my experiences, Catholicism looks completely unattractive to Evangelicals because it looks like too much work. But that would beg the question as to whose will you want to do, your’s or God’s.

It is very interesting to what you said. If you look at the doctrine of the Mass (and the Divine Liturgy) we find out that the Mass and the Divine Liturgy is not our work but God’s work. It is God’s consoling Sacrifice for us. Therefore what we do outside the Mass and the Divine Liturgy is our work and sacrifice. The two “works” must work together if the potential of the Mass and the Divine Liturgy is to be released into the world. This is something Evangelicals cannot grasped, this understanding of whose “work” and “sacrifice” is it at the Mass and the Divine Liturgy. Since the Evangelical does not rely on God’s “work and sacrifice” which the Mass and the Divine Liturgy offers than they must rely on their own work and sacrifice to carry out God’s Mercy into the world. Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholics, Coptic Orthodox and any other Christian groups which have valid Apostolic orders have this luxury to witness the great awesome Work and Sacrifice of God so that they can respond in thankfulness to channel that great Mercy into the direction of the world. I really believe the Mass and the Divine Liturgy is God’s work for us. There is no greater work than God’s. When we come to discover what this work of God means for us the transformation is dynamite! God’s initiative love at the Mass and the Divine Liturgy is searching for a response from us. Why Evangelicals misunderstand this (the power of the Mass and the Divine Liturgy) is probably a lack of experiencing it. That is why the Mass and the Divine Liturgy never changes. It is the same Sunday to Sunday so that it will come to change you. You don’t change God but He is there to change you. The ever Patience of God is waiting for His Love and Mercy to find a home.

 

[conRep12]

Maybe my origins are too Mainline, but when I was converting, I don’t remember ever entertaining the sentiment that I was going back to United Methodism if the parish wasn’t “welcoming” enough. All analogies suffer, but I likened it to being naturalized to my new home country; I didn’t expect every born citizen to shake my hand as I walked down the street. I “immigrated” because I recognized a superior culture and form of government, not because of the cultural sensitivity and hospitality of my new compatriots. I didn’t expect them to speak my language nor adopt my mannerisms. I was becoming Catholic; they weren’t becoming the Church’s convention and visitors bureau.

 

[clem456]

Most Catholics that I have met wouldn’t even know the word.
Catholic Answers: The Kerygma Enigma

• How should we, as Catholics, be showing what a relationship with Jesus looks like?

1. By naming him. This is such a basic thing that it is easy to overlook.
   If you had dinner with someone famous, or got tickets to the ballgame with some celebrity, would you hide his name from those who want to hear your story?

We have an encounter with Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church, and we do not use his name in conversation.
That’s the first step in letting others know he is alive and wants to have a relationship with us. We talk about those we love. We want the whole world to know about Jesus. Jesus is the Good News.

 

[josie_L]

I don’t believe this for a second, speaking for myself. I think God knows his Church - it is comprised of all who truly love and obey him - those who open their hearts and are truly transformed and allow Christ to dwell in them. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist, psychiatrist or mystic to see evidence of this in a person (or lack of it) - I don’t care what a Christian calls himself or how often he goes to Church or how well he spits out the Catechism. In short, God either “works” in you or he doesn’t.

This is true, and that’s why I sometimes visit an Evangelical church for prayers and bible readings. It helps us both to bring down our barriers and realize that we are all part of God’s family, despite some differences.

p.s. I have received much support from these Evangelical brothers and sisters, but there were many misconceptions which I had to deal with, and in many ways I felt it was God’s way of using me " to make us one" again.

 

[Denise1957]

By and large, we do not show people what this relationship with Jesus Christ looks and sounds like, and until we do people will keep driving by. If we are ashamed of Jesus’ name, our ministry cannot flower.

In the old days, there were, on occasion, processions around the parish building, with the Blessed Sacrament (consecrated host in the monstrance) held up for everyone to see. This is a way of proclaiming Jesus which does not require words, but which is a very public acknowledgment of Our Lord.

When we receive Jesus in Holy Eucharist, we do so silently. The priest speaks, but we do not.

Just another way to see the situation, IMO.

 

[BernadetteM]

I had to laugh at one poster’s comment about our priests/clergy living a high life. Although I know there are small protestant communities with little money can only pay their clergy small salaries, many of the larger ones ministers have large lavish homes, wear very expensive suits and go on wonderful vacations, they do live a very high life style.

In my parish, our priest lives in a very very small area behind the church building. Unless things have changed most priests live in a rectory on the same ground as the church. They don’t wear expensive clothes, drive expensive cars etc. Of course there are some priests whose families have money and they buy the priest a nice car etc. As a former Anglican I know many lived much better than I did. In fact a TEC Bishop who is related to my niece owned a very expensive home in one of the most expensive areas of his diocese.

Beautiful liturgy, vestments, paintings etc. used or in a church are for the Glory of God. The Catholic Church gives the best they can in the liturgy to Jesus Christ our Savior. Remember his approval of having his feet covered with oil. We believe He is the King and treat Him as a King. The Lord should be given all reverence as He is GOD.

Yours in the hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[Jeanne_S]

In the old days, there were, on occasion, processions around the parish building, with the Blessed Sacrament (consecrated host in the monstrance) held up for everyone to see. This is a way of proclaiming Jesus which does not require words, but which is a very public acknowledgment of Our Lord.

When we receive Jesus in Holy Eucharist, we do so silently. The priest speaks, but we do not.

Just another way to see the situation, IMO.

There is a lovely little parish,not far from my home that does a procession through the neighborhood,on the feast of Corpus Christi. This particular parish is very traditional and has a rather large Hispanic congregation.I just assumed this was part of the Hispanic tradition.I don’t recall having ever seen this done anywhere else.

 

[Tomyris]

To be balanced, there are a lot of things that ARE attractive to Evangelicals about Catholicism.

 

[z_0101]

1. By naming him. This is such a basic thing that it is easy to overlook.
   If you had dinner with someone famous, or got tickets to the ballgame with some celebrity, would you hide his name from those who want to hear your story?

We have an encounter with Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church, and we do not use his name in conversation.
That’s the first step in letting others know he is alive and wants to have a relationship with us. We talk about those we love. We want the whole world to know about Jesus. Jesus is the Good News.

maybe it’s the area I live in (or the people I keep company with ); however, in general conversations, our Lord is often named, usually in the abbreviated “Our Lord;” however, still named.

Is there not more than just a name?

Is it truly that simple?

Being from a more Baptist family background (I was agnostic myself) in my experience, some Evangelicals use our Lord’s name so often that the usage is an affectation of speech - to the point, where Christ’s name becomes as common place as Larry, Moe, and Curly.

Perhaps, St. Francis’ quote “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

or his prayer…
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

is the path we, as Catholics, need to follow to evangelize the Evangelical-Protestants?.

As in my prior post, my belief is that it is the all too common lack of genuine faith and genuine works that is the root cause of the lack of appeal the Catholic Faith has to some Evangelicals. (( while to others, it’s the misunderstanding of Catholic customs and the lack of desire to learn about those customs and the foundation of their faith ))

You use an example of discipleship where Evangelical couples adopted children at some great cost. I give you two Catholic families, spending terrible sums of money, taking on great and burdensome loans against everything they own, fighting two governments, to adopt four young ladies from China that, at birth - if not before, were to be killed and their families severely punished due to the laws in China at that time (NYTimes). These couples have made sure that these four young ladies are contact with their birth parents - these couples could have simply assumed that role; however, they sacrificed that role so that their children would know and understand their family history - and that they are loved.

My point - there are very good people in all faiths that make great sacrifice for the betterment of mankind. These are the people, that I think, St. Francis was talking about… they preach the Gospel daily and rarely need to use words.

James 2:18 - Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

 

[Peter_J]

To be balanced, there are a lot of things that ARE attractive to Evangelicals about Catholicism.

Be patient, we’re working on those things.

 

[Denise1957]

There is a lovely little parish,not far from my home that does a procession through the neighborhood,on the feast of Corpus Christi. This particular parish is very traditional and has a rather large Hispanic congregation.I just assumed this was part of the Hispanic tradition.I don’t recall having ever seen this done anywhere else.

My understanding is that processions were more common before the liturgical changes in 1969. Parishes that celebrate the EF usually do a few processions a year. The Dominican parish that I attend did one this year. There’s a parish another city not far from here that does one every year, but it’s not a Hispanic parish.

 

[JustaServant]

To be balanced, there are a lot of things that ARE attractive to Evangelicals about Catholicism.

What do you feel those things are?