Wise as serpents, innocent as doves

[RedEyeKnight]

I’m a 20 year old Catholic physics student. I mention this because I’m a young guy going to encounter people of different lifestyles and knowledge backgrounds from crazy radical left and crazy radical right. I’ve been warned often in my past not to be fanatical, usually/often by family members. At the same time, I’m told not to “hide my light under a shade”. What is the best way I can share my faith without looking like a crazy fanatic? In other words, how can I be an active Catholic that doesn’t “push my faith on family, friends, or others”, but not silent on today’s issues, or a moderate Catholic who does the Lord’s will being wise as a serpent, but innocent as a dove?

 

[Della]

Just practice your Catholic faith and people will see that your life reflects Christ. That will draw them to ask you questions or it may make you a target, but either way, it will be enough to get others attention.

There’s no need to accost people to push your faith on them but don’t be shy about standing up for the truth when needed, either. Gaining the wisdom to know when to speak comes with prayer. Set up a regular prayer routine and stick to it, say Morning and Evening Prayer or 5 decades of the rosary daily. Be faithful in attending Mass on Sundays and HDOs. Be kind and considerate, helpful and friendly, mild mannered but manly, and you should do just fine.

 

[petra22]

Don’t worry about what other people think. Put God first and love Jesus shamelessly.

 

[PennyinCanada]

Catholic who does the Lord’s will being wise as a serpent, but innocent as a dove?

Doesn’t that scripture just make the wheels in your head turn?
How does one do that??
When you’re with people and you talk respectfully, without swearing, and looking toward their good even if it’s inconvenient to you, people notice that. People notice when you’re patient in a trying circumstance, when you are walking in peace when others are getting upset. If you live your Christian life, people notice. When God has been working in someone’s heart for a while, they will be drawn to you. The ones with a hard heart will despise you for no reason, because their spirit is dark and you are light.

One thing I learned is not to say to someone, ‘you shouldn’t…’ because they’ll say you’re judgemental and get turned off. You can find the same thing to say but start with ‘I wouldn’t…’ or ‘I would…’ That somehow opens up a discussion rather than shutting it down.

Walk every day with God, and you’ll have some stories of God coming into the situation!
God bless.

 

[BunnyLover]

I was lucky that my school was largely Catholic. Even though it still had the “God Squad”, even the normal, drunk party-kids went to mass.

Don’t be ashamed of it, and really the best thing you can do is learn the answers to the most common questions. It is really, really hard in certain parts of the US to find good groups of Catholics: those who are not fanatical, yet still proud of their faith.

I also know that in some areas, the last thing you want is for people to know you go to church because they will instantly barrage you with prejudiced remarks. I understand what you are going through, but maybe you can find someone else who is just as afraid of being “Caught Catholic” as you are, and together it will be easier to express your faith without being afraid.

 

[fhansen]

I’m a 20 year old Catholic physics student. I mention this because I’m a young guy going to encounter people of different lifestyles and knowledge backgrounds from crazy radical left and crazy radical right. I’ve been warned often in my past not to be fanatical, usually/often by family members. At the same time, I’m told not to “hide my light under a shade”. What is the best way I can share my faith without looking like a crazy fanatic? In other words, how can I be an active Catholic that doesn’t “push my faith on family, friends, or others”, but not silent on today’s issues, or a moderate Catholic who does the Lord’s will being wise as a serpent, but innocent as a dove?

Stand for the truth and don’t worry what others think. In that way you’re truly innocent before God. At the same time, be shrewd enough to recognize that the world, like Pilate, doesn’t necessarily recognize or value truth at all, but rather it values those things which can serve to benefit it in some way or another.