Evangelizing Without...

[tinytherese]

How do we do that without going to either extreme? We can't constantly try to "make nice and fluffy" i.e. not challenging people, yet we don't want to want to be uncharitable.

[Brother Adam]

I think it depends on your role in the body of Christ and the circumstances. We always evangelize through our own authority and natural relationships. This is why I do not like to see Catholics use a lot of street evangelization. There may be some with such a gift to do that, but it is not the norm. A bishop may evangelize by speaking difficult truth in a pastorally prudent way, such as when Bishop Olmstead stripped a St. Joseph of its Catholic identity and affirmed the excommunication of some of those at the hospital. Most of us will evangelize through our friendships and family members by witnessing to our faith. Invitation is probably the best way to evangelize people. Through invitation you are not confronting a person in a way that will cause them to shut down or defend themselves. In other circumstances some type of intervention may be required - if a person is practicing a destructive cult or harming others in another way.

[Micah]

Hm, it would help I think if our priests and bishops began teaching more on evangelization. A lot of people aren't sure where to begin. I pretty much just practice my faith as best I can and know it as best I can. Before long, one of my family members came poking about. Now she's Catholic. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/clap2.gif[/img] Now after almost a year, two more family members are poking about. My Catholic family member has alot of convert zeal, and I can see how her aggressiveness turns them off. What really helped was always, always having a basic explanation for their questions and criticisms. In a way, they catechized themselves. Every critique was followed by a gentle explanation until they eventually warmed up, and now want to be Catholic. Though they still flippity flop.

[tinytherese]

I get frustrated by the Catholics in my family who don't go to mass every Sunday and they receive communion when they actually do come without going to confession beforehand.

Last Sunday, mom and I went to mass, but mom didn't take my little brother. He is nine years old and received his first communion less than a year ago. She was going to take him, but didn't because he was having fun with my aunt and cousin (who are Catholic and weren't going to go to mass because they didn't want to,) so she didn't take him. He was supposed to be getting ready (change out of his pajamas,) but he hadn't. When mom and I were in the car on our way to mass, mom admitted that he should have gone and that she needed to do a better job of getting him to mass every week. She just seemed to be in a rush and didn't try to get him ready, figuring that he would fuss, make it really difficult on her, and then we'd be really late. She figured it wouldn't be worth it. (That little guy can sure be a handful.) I can understand why she didn't go through with it, but still she as his mother is responsible for getting him to fulfill his Sunday obligation. That little man and mom need to go to confession before receiving communion again.

I want to call her out on this, but wouldn't that be disrespecting how my mom is parenting my brother? I can easily see my mom making the above excuses if not other excuses if I were to point out her obligation in raising her children in the faith. "He would have been too difficult and a brat at mass for making him go. He doesn't get anything out of mass anyway." She's a lawyer and isn't afraid to argue. When I vented to her about my frustrations with some of my peers at school who have been getting drunk, she said it wasn't that big of a deal and when I pointed out that getting drunk with full knowledge and full consent is a mortal sin she questioned why that is. I tried to explain, but she asked/(argued), "What about those who eat more than they should. Is that a mortal sin?" That didn't go over so well.

[Socrates]

I'm afraid that far too many Catholics today confuse being politically incorrect or upsetting people with being "uncharitable."

We should never compromise truth for the sake of being pc or not making people upset. The truth will always upset some people, and may bring anger, ridicule, or even persecution upon ourselves. Christ's message upset people enough that they crucified him.

This doesn't, of course, mean we should be a rude jerk in our evangelization, but it isn't that hard to know when to draw the line - tell the truth, but avoid any kind of personal insults whatsoever, and exercise prudence.

Edited December 29, 2010 by Socrates

[Socrates]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1293414982' post='2194557']
I think it depends on your role in the body of Christ and the circumstances. We always evangelize through our own authority and natural relationships. This is why I do not like to see Catholics use a lot of street evangelization. There may be some with such a gift to do that, but it is not the norm. A bishop may evangelize by speaking difficult truth in a pastorally prudent way, such as when Bishop Olmstead stripped a St. Joseph of its Catholic identity and affirmed the excommunication of some of those at the hospital. Most of us will evangelize through our friendships and family members by witnessing to our faith. Invitation is probably the best way to evangelize people. Through invitation you are not confronting a person in a way that will cause them to shut down or defend themselves. In other circumstances some type of intervention may be required - if a person is practicing a destructive cult or harming others in another way.
[/quote]
While it may not be for everybody, I think Catholics could definitely stand to do a bit more in the "street evangelization" department. After all, if you read the Acts of the Apostles, you will note that the Faith was originally spread mostly by public street preaching type methods - as it was by many of the great missionary saints.
Catholic organizations such as the Legion of Mary use door-to-door evangelization.

For those who say such methods never pay off, the Mormons and JW's are the fastest-growing sects in America, and rely heavily on such methods.
Not saying the Catholic Church should model it's evangelization on the Mormons or JW's, but most Catholics certainly could be doing more to publicly spread the Faith to others. Far too many Catholics are doing next to nothing to spread the Faith and evangelize.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='tinytherese' timestamp='1293412882' post='2194554']
How do we do that without going to either extreme? We can't constantly try to "make nice and fluffy" i.e. not challenging people, yet we don't want to want to be uncharitable.
[/quote]
convert or die.