Evangelization, Practically Speaking

[Marie-Therese]

Well, I was having a conversation with my fiance today (who attended both Vigil and Easter Mass with me), and as some of you who know me are aware, he is unchurched. He believes in God and says that he believes that Jesus is God's Son but was terribly scarred by dealings with evangelical Protestants in his youth that has left him very suspicious of religion in general. Religion has been a sticking point with us at times, to be sure.

Today we were conversing about faith, and about the holier-than-thou attitudes he has dealt with from many Protestants, which is a huge source of his discomfiture. I told him that during my years as a Protestant I obviously had doctrinal issues that Protestant theology couldn't deal with, but there was also a social element which made me feel somewhat out of sorts. Once I found the Catholic Church, all that disappeared. (Deo Gratias!)

I told him that as my Catholic faith deepened and became more rich, I had learned to take God at His word and leave the judgment of the state of other people's souls to Him. Once I stopped trying to assess the other person's "salvation" then that freed me to just be able to love them, because I wasn't wasting time speculating about their spirituality. I think I made more headway in that one conversation that I have in a long time.

[Ora et Labora]

[quote name='Marie-Therese' date='05 April 2010 - 03:00 AM' timestamp='1270450849' post='2086852']
Well, I was having a conversation with my fiance today (who attended both Vigil and Easter Mass with me), and as some of you who know me are aware, he is unchurched. He believes in God and says that he believes that Jesus is God's Son but was terribly scarred by dealings with evangelical Protestants in his youth that has left him very suspicious of religion in general. Religion has been a sticking point with us at times, to be sure.

Today we were conversing about faith, and about the holier-than-thou attitudes he has dealt with from many Protestants, which is a huge source of his discomfiture. I told him that during my years as a Protestant I obviously had doctrinal issues that Protestant theology couldn't deal with, but there was also a social element which made me feel somewhat out of sorts. Once I found the Catholic Church, all that disappeared. (Deo Gratias!)

I told him that as my Catholic faith deepened and became more rich, I had learned to take God at His word and leave the judgment of the state of other people's souls to Him. Once I stopped trying to assess the other person's "salvation" then that freed me to just be able to love them, because I wasn't wasting time speculating about their spirituality. I think I made more headway in that one conversation that I have in a long time.
[/quote]

That's awesome! And congratulations by the way! I find that very comforting and inspiring because that is the attitude I need to remember to have with my Protestant friends.

[God Conquers]

[quote name='Marie-Therese' date='05 April 2010 - 03:00 AM' timestamp='1270450849' post='2086852']
Well, I was having a conversation with my fiance today (who attended both Vigil and Easter Mass with me), and as some of you who know me are aware, he is unchurched. He believes in God and says that he believes that Jesus is God's Son but was terribly scarred by dealings with evangelical Protestants in his youth that has left him very suspicious of religion in general. Religion has been a sticking point with us at times, to be sure.

Today we were conversing about faith, and about the holier-than-thou attitudes he has dealt with from many Protestants, which is a huge source of his discomfiture. I told him that during my years as a Protestant I obviously had doctrinal issues that Protestant theology couldn't deal with, but there was also a social element which made me feel somewhat out of sorts. Once I found the Catholic Church, all that disappeared. (Deo Gratias!)

I told him that as my Catholic faith deepened and became more rich, I had learned to take God at His word and leave the judgment of the state of other people's souls to Him. Once I stopped trying to assess the other person's "salvation" then that freed me to just be able to love them, because I wasn't wasting time speculating about their spirituality. I think I made more headway in that one conversation that I have in a long time.
[/quote]

Yay! Right on! Keep it up!

Advantage to his being unchurched: He probably could be open to conversation (sometime... right place right time come holy spirit) about who Jesus is, and why Christianity is your faith of choice. Particularly since he says he believes Jesus is God's Son. Trilemma FTW.

[HisChildForever]

[quote name='missionseeker' date='04 April 2010 - 02:46 AM' timestamp='1270363578' post='2086487']
Thanks. That's helpful. The next step is confession.

D has mentioned it. Idk about the other. I might I get a priest that he knows and who is pretty awesome and who saw him Mass tonight to mention it.
[/quote]

It would be amazingly helpful if a priest incorporated Confession in his homily. Next weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday, so it should be mentioned during the homily. Therefore, definitely encourage your friends to go to Mass this weekend. They may not get a chance to go after Mass, but at least a huge seed will be planted in their hearts. You could, however, mention Divine Mercy Sunday to them BEFORE the weekend, perhaps when you invite them to Mass (say Wednesday or Thursday). Stress how wonderful an opportunity it would be to go to Confession this weekend, and that such an opportunity only happens once a year. I love Divine Mercy Sunday because it just so happened that it was that Saturday I went to Confession after seven years. I had just gotten out of a terrible relationship a couple days after Easter and literally ran to Confession.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='HisChildForever' date='05 April 2010 - 11:24 AM' timestamp='1270484699' post='2086977']
It would be amazingly helpful if a priest incorporated Confession in his homily. Next weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday, so it should be mentioned during the homily.
[/quote]

Also, the gospel for next Sunday deals with the institution of the Sacrament of Penance by our Lord.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I think the best Catholic witness you can give is by your love and caring attitude.

One reason I am here is because of an 80-year old nun, who rarely, if ever, talks theology, but happiness and holiness radiates out of her. She never judges. Never pushes. She never is "holier-than-thou." She always laughs, even at the problems of getting older. She just is who she is.

I talked to my mother yesterday. (Unlike the rest of my family, my mother is not an atheist, but is not an active Christian, either). She has met Sister Helen, and yesterday asked me a lot of questions about her. She finished the conversation by saying, "Sister Helen is the closest thing we will ever meet to a saint on Earth." My mother remembered this from a short conversation she had with Sister Helen 10 years ago.

THAT is an effective Catholic witness, when that is the memory you leave with someone you met briefly 10 years ago.

Unbelievers came to Jesus (in throngs) because he made them feel so welcome and they liked being with him.

I had an aunt who was a convert to Catholicism, and although she did many good things, her constant talking about the good things she did, and her frequent "pushing" to be Catholic, turned most of my family (and at least two of her children) into rabid anti-Catholics. It taught me the value of "knowing your audience" and going slowly. If you are leading a life with that "something extra" people will be attracted to you, and ask how you got that way. THEN is the time to evangelize.

That is why even non-Catholics go to Rome to catch a glimpse of Pope Benedict. They have never read any of his writings, and know little of his background, but he radiates holiness and goodness.

Added note: I should have empasized "know your audience" more in my post. Obviously, if the person to whom you are talking about your Catholic faith is your fiance or a good friend, especially if the person has asked YOU questions, then effective evangilization is much different than if you are talking to a stranger.

Edited April 5, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[missionseeker]

Well...




One "problem" is that the reason he is going is... well... me... =/

[God Conquers]

haha, nice.

Flirt to convert.

[missionseeker]

I mean, he's a nice guy and all. But... no.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='missionseeker' date='05 April 2010 - 02:56 PM' timestamp='1270497373' post='2087162']
Well...

One "problem" is that the reason he is going is... well... me... =/ [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif[/img]
[/quote]

I'm not sure exactly what you meant, but are you saying that you think he is going to Mass etc. because he is "interested" in you? If that's the case, that's a tough one. Do you have any feelings for him? If not, that's even tougher. However, if you are also beginning to be "interested" in him, you could suggest doing other activities besides attending Mass, etc. to help separate any feelings you might have for each other from his possible growth in the Catholic faith.

If you do not have any "interest" in him, all I can think of is that sometime don't tell him when/where you are going to Mass--maybe even go to Mass in a different place than normal--so he can't go to Mass with you, and see if he goes to Mass anyway on his own. Perhaps Catholicism is starting to "set in" for him, apart from any feelings he might have for you. You also might introduce him to some male Catholics, with whom he can go to Mass etc, if he is genuinely interested in Catholicism.

If I have misread your situation, I apologize.

In either case, I'm sure others probably have better suggestions than I have.

[missionseeker]

You have not misread the situation. Unfortunately, I am forty minutes away from the next nearest church and have no way to get there. Fortunately there are three Masses here that I can go to.

That said, I mean, I obviously want him to go Mass. I just don't want me to be the reason he goes. lol

[Lil Red]

[quote name='HisChildForever' date='05 April 2010 - 09:24 AM' timestamp='1270484699' post='2086977']
It would be amazingly helpful if a priest incorporated Confession in his homily. Next weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday, so it should be mentioned during the homily. Therefore, definitely encourage your friends to go to Mass this weekend. They may not get a chance to go after Mass, but at least a huge seed will be planted in their hearts. You could, however, mention Divine Mercy Sunday to them BEFORE the weekend, perhaps when you invite them to Mass (say Wednesday or Thursday). Stress how wonderful an opportunity it would be to go to Confession this weekend, and that such an opportunity only happens once a year. I love Divine Mercy Sunday because it just so happened that it was that Saturday I went to Confession after seven years. I had just gotten out of a terrible relationship a couple days after Easter and literally ran to Confession.
[/quote]
+JMJ+
AMEN!! many parishes across the country have Divine Mercy Sunday devotions - here they are having Mass said, Confessions, Divine Mercy devotions and rosary!!

[tinytherese]

[quote name='missionseeker' date='05 April 2010 - 03:24 PM' timestamp='1270499086' post='2087197']
You have not misread the situation. Unfortunately, I am forty minutes away from the next nearest church and have no way to get there. Fortunately there are three Masses here that I can go to.

That said, I mean, I obviously want him to go Mass. I just don't want me to be the reason he goes. lol
[/quote]

Tell him the mushy things you say about Sacred Music Man like you do with us and how awesome of a boyfriend he is to you. And if he still won't back down...










then Jeff and him can get ready to rumble!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='tinytherese' date='05 April 2010 - 04:23 PM' timestamp='1270502583' post='2087224']
Tell him the mushy things you say about Sacred Music Man like you do with us and how awesome of a boyfriend he is to you. And if he still won't back down...










then Jeff and him can get ready to rumble!
[/quote]
I call Jeff's second.

[Marie-Therese]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='05 April 2010 - 05:31 PM' timestamp='1270503063' post='2087228']
I call Jeff's second.
[/quote]

You are so chivalrous! Are you going to be in charge of the gauntlet, or let Jeff do it?


Cat, that sure is an awkward position to be in...trying to be a good witness but knowing that the guy has some other motives. Maybe a good way to encourage his Mass attendance would be to continue to invite him, but in the context of a group? Do you have a group of Catholic friends that could plan to attend Mass together? That could still allow you to reach out to him and encourage his church attendance, while defraying some of the underlying tension. It might be a good way to let him know that his coming to Mass is important to you as a friend.

Hugs!