The Proliferation Of Denominations And Eating Habits Of Americans

[N/A Gone]

Thank you sir. I am only a neophyte here but i try.

Analogies help as long as we understand the limitations and are willing to learn what we can from them. I like the analogy (I believe I offered a hug for it on the first page hehe) but only if we can use it to start a discussion in which we can explain.

[HS_Dad]

[quote name='Revprodeji' post='1379502' date='Sep 6 2007, 11:08 AM']/rant[/quote]

These analogies I have actually heard quite often... There is some truth to it. However, I think if you meet (pun ) with many people working in church growth, they are actually concerned about bringing in the seeker and helping them to grow in their faith through getting into the Word, joining what Catholics call "small Christian communities" i.e. bible study and praying and caring groups, etc.

Looking at it from a Catholic perspective, one could argue that trying to help seekers find God is good incarnational theology.

I do agree there are temptations and problems with this approach. However, the "sit back and they will come" approach of most mainline Protestant Churches and most Catholic and Eastern Orthodox parishes also has tremendous weaknesses. In a western world growing increasingly pagan, can we just sit back and not look to meet the seeker?

Although I would argue it is not very "well honed", most dioceses are seeing the importance of Evangelization and are trying to meet this important need. Eg. [url="http://www.archspm.org/Evangelization/index.html"]http://www.archspm.org/Evangelization/index.html[/url]

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='HS_Dad' post='1380022' date='Sep 6 2007, 11:23 PM']I do agree there are temptations and problems with this approach. However, the "sit back and they will come" approach of most mainline Protestant Churches and most Catholic and Eastern Orthodox parishes also has tremendous weaknesses. In a western world growing increasingly pagan, can we just sit back and not look to meet the seeker?

Although I would argue it is not very "well honed", most dioceses are seeing the importance of Evangelization and are trying to meet this important need. Eg. [url="http://www.archspm.org/Evangelization/index.html"]http://www.archspm.org/Evangelization/index.html[/url][/quote]

Yep, I agree. The Baptist churches I've attended were focused on serving peoples' needs in order to lead them to Christ. It's not so different from a business serving customers in order to get their business and keep 'em coming back. I'd say most Catholic parishes aren't so good on customer service. We avoid the pitfalls that Protestant churches fall into, but at the same time, we aren't getting the benefits and leading as many non-Catholics to the sacraments as we could.

Sounds like the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is doing some awesome work!

Edited September 7, 2007 by LouisvilleFan

[thessalonian]

[quote name='HS_Dad' post='1380022' date='Sep 6 2007, 10:23 PM']These analogies I have actually heard quite often... There is some truth to it. However, I think if you meet (pun ) with many people working in church growth, they are actually concerned about bringing in the seeker and helping them to grow in their faith through getting into the Word, joining what Catholics call "small Christian communities" i.e. bible study and praying and caring groups, etc.

Looking at it from a Catholic perspective, one could argue that trying to help seekers find God is good incarnational theology.

I do agree there are temptations and problems with this approach. However, the "sit back and they will come" approach of most mainline Protestant Churches and most Catholic and Eastern Orthodox parishes also has tremendous weaknesses. In a western world growing increasingly pagan, can we just sit back and not look to meet the seeker?

Although I would argue it is not very "well honed", most dioceses are seeing the importance of Evangelization and are trying to meet this important need. Eg. [url="http://www.archspm.org/Evangelization/index.html"]http://www.archspm.org/Evangelization/index.html[/url][/quote]


HS_DAD,

I really don't know what point your trying to make in this thread. If you want to discuss evangelization I would be glad to do that. I just ran an 8 week class on theology of the body, complete with your discussion groups and a call for those who went through the study, by Christopher West, to cast out in to the deep! In other words spread the message. That is exactly what I am trying to do. I did not post this thread as some sort of an excuse to leave protestants where they are at and they just don't get it. Quite the contrary. I am currently thinking about holding TOB sessions in community centers around the cities and inviting Protestant pastors for free that they might encourage their congregations to attend after they have heard about it or teach it to them themselves. The purpose of the analogy is not to excuse our inactivity with regard to evangelization but to say THEY NEED THE CATHOLIC FAITH! They NEED EVAGENLIZATION! The fact is Catholics do as well. Mr. West said it quite well when he spoke of the PITIFUL! job the Catholic Church has done in this area and JP II has called for a New Evangelization. I am familiar with what the Archdiocese is doing in this area and it is good. So what's your point in your counterposts?