Converting Non-Catholic/Christians

[Dream]

At what point should we give up trying to convert non-Catholics or non-Christians and respect their choices of religion?

I know that I am going to get a lot of responses along the lines of "we should never give up in trying to spread the Good News," but there has to be a point where we respect somebody's right to reject Jesus Christ and His Church. Some people just are not ready to make a leap of faith and no matter how hard you try to convince them, they will just have none of it.

In fact, sometimes pressing hard for conversion can actually be a turn-off. If you tried to convince a friend to convert to Catholism every day for a year, there would eventually be a point where he or she would say "Enough! I've had it with you! I don't want anything to do with you and I don't want any part in the Catholic Church!" It seems that in that case, you've done more harm than good. Not only have you lost a friend, you may have permentally kept them away from the Church.

Just take a look at Jehova Witnesses for that matter. So many people are so sick of them that they are often not even taken them seriously anymore.

I'm just curious to hear some of your thoughts.

 

[Anthony]

Only God converts, all man can do is spread the word.

 

[Paul S]

I don't think we should ever give up trying , but you're right that a too-pushy approach can backfire. Maybe instead of preaching, we can pray for the person's conversion, and put it in God's hands, perhaps bringing the subject up quite a while later.

 

[stray bullet]

I feel that we don't need to push people, I believe the Lord will guide people back to the Church. I didn't know any Catholics, no one tried to convert me, but when I felt a strange desire to learn about the Church, being exposed to the truth of it won me over.

What I think we need to do as Catholics first and foremost is take care in the way we treat others, that'll inhibit people's consideration of the Church.
We also need to stand up and speak against any misrepresentation of our Church. The world is plagued with lies and misunderstandings by people who either in ignorance or in hatred create and spread them. We are far larger than any other group and we make the easiest target. Whose Church does the father of all lies going to work hardest against too?

Finally, we need to take the time to answer questions and share our faith if appropriate. If someone expresses interest, hook them up with a good source of information. Many protestants, for example, don't know that much about the Church.. I firmly many would return if they knew more about it.

People who open their heart to Church, I believe will be guided by the Lord back to the fold, be they non-Catholic or non-Christian. Every day, you can help bring the rest of the sheep under one flock, one shepherd.

 

[Rising_Suns]

DT, peace be with you,

This is not really a question that can be answered with any concrete formula. We know the Catholic Church is in the fullness of truth, so we certainly have a perpetual obligation to help others see this. But our witness mostly manifests itslef through our actions. As St. Francis once said; "preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words."

It is important to always remain at peace with others, for in our peace, God will be able to use us as effective witnesses. So a good indicator by which one can tell if one should "back off" so to speak, is if we start to become impatient when others continue to reject the teachings of the Church. At such a point, we should return to quiet prayer and find that stillness in our hearts once again before returning to our ministry.

Anyway, in the end, each situation is unique and requires the guidance of the Holy Spirit to know whether to dust off our shoes and move on, or persist with gentle correction and love (or sometimes tough love, if required).

May the Lord forever be in your heart!

-Davide

 

[Highway of Life]

There was a couple once, who, after being raised pretty much non-Christian, became really fervent for the Lord.

They would go visit their parents house fairly often, but anytime they began to talk about God the parents would say "Do not talk about God in our house." The couple did not talk about God in their house out of respect for their parents. They just lived, lived like a witness. This went on for years.

The couple prayed for their parents every day.

Out of all the kids that those parents had, this one couple was the only one that had not gotten a divorce, or the kids of the couple had not been in some kind of trouble.

Unbeknownst to the couple, the parents began to change. Years later, for the first time, the Father volunteered to say the prayer before dinner.

It has progressed since then.

Now the parents talk about God all the time, now they are saying "We are praying for you" on a regular basis.

Recently the parents had some friends come over, and the friends asked the parents not to talk about God.
This made the parents very upset, it made them sick.

But the impact that the couple had on the parents was very strong. When forced to ask what was different about the couple, there was only one answer, and is as clear as a mountain spring.

It was Jesus.

Sometimes, you just have to respect their wishes, maybe they will change, maybe they will not. But we must always be trying to convert them. And praying for them, it will never work without prayer.

The number one thing was never that they become Catholic, rather, it was that they accept Jesus.

Blessings in Christ,
Highway of Life
P.S. This is the story of my Family

 

[Epiphanygirl]

Sometimes, to convert, we must do so by living better lives ourselves. By setting a better example, showing more compassion, charity, and love. And pray, always pray for those that are in need of God's loving grace.
As Anthony stated above, it is not us who convert, but God, we are just the instruments that he uses to do so.

 

[geocajun]

You should never stop trying to bring people to the Catholic Church - without which there is no salvation.

Below are selected quotes I pulled from Catholic Answers written by Saint Augustine about the gravity of those in Schism or Heresy:

"We believe also in the holy Church, that is, the Catholic Church. For heretics violate the faith itself by a false opinion about God; schismatics, however, withdraw from fraternal love by hostile separations, although they believe the same things we do. Consequently, neither heretics nor schismatics belong to the Catholic Church; not heretics, because the Church loves God; and not schismatics, because the Church loves neighbor" (Faith and the Creed 10:21 [A.D. 393]).

"[J]ust as baptism is of no profit to the man who renounces the world in words and not in deeds, so it is of no profit to him who is baptized in heresy or schism; but each of them, when he amends his ways, begins to receive profit from that which before was not profitable, but was yet already in him" (On Baptism, Against the Donatists 4:4[6] [A.D. 400]).

"I do not hesitate to put the Catholic catechumen, burning with divine love, before a baptized heretic. Even within the Catholic Church herself we put the good catechumen ahead of the wicked baptized person . . . For Cornelius, even before his baptism, was filled up with the Holy Spirit [Acts 10:44–48], while Simon [Magus], even after his baptism, was puffed up with an unclean spirit [Acts 8:13–19]" (ibid., 4:21[28]).

"The apostle Paul said, ‘As for a man that is a heretic, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him’ [Titus 3:10]. But those who maintain their own opinion, however false and perverted, without obstinate ill will, especially those who have not originated the error of bold presumption, but have received it from parents who had been led astray and had lapsed . . . those who seek the truth with careful industry and are ready to be corrected when they have found it, are not to be rated among heretics" (Letters 43:1 [A.D. 412]).

"Whoever is separated from this Catholic Church, by this single sin of being separated from the unity of Christ, no matter how estimable a life he may imagine he is living, shall not have life, but the wrath of God rests upon him" (ibid., 141:5).

 

[Dream]

Thank you all for your responses.

As always, this place is filled with intelligent people.

 

[Highway of Life]

The number one most important thing as disciples evangelizing is to BRING PEOPLE TO JESUS.

Bring people to the CHRISTIAN faith. To know God. To know Jesus intimately.

And if they are Christian, we should help them grow in faith. No, we should never stop being Catholic, but you should never have to force Catholicism.

Blessings,
Highway of Life

 

[Trizm]

As others have said it is God who brings us to Jesus. All people can do spread the word and Gods children will come. Now I am not even a Catholic and I am writing this. Why because I became born-again and found Jesus who I have been able to grow in. Just a while ago today I learned about how the Protestant Bible was tainted and now I am wondering how to become closer to God. I have no denomination myself and who knows, I may become a Catholic myself, MAYBE. I am sure that the Holy Spirit will guide me to God and if becoming a Catholic is Gods good will, then let it be. So dont give up trying to preach the good news, it may happen anywhere, even on a website.

 

[Dream]

now I am wondering how to become closer to God

A big first step would be to become part of the Church that God created.

Thank for your responses Trizm and Highway.

 

[Highway of Life]

Just a while ago today I learned about how the Protestant Bible was tainted and now I am wondering how to become closer to God.

There where some Scriptures they did/tried to throw out, also, you should switch to the NIV version it has the best translations.

Highway of Life

 

[Skripper]

There where some Scriptures they did/tried to throw out, also, you should switch to the NIV version it has the best translations.

Highway of Life

Perhaps . . . if he doesn't mind the missing books.

 

[bigsierra]

Hello Trizm

Welcome to Christian Forums and OBOB

 

[Rising_Suns]

I may become a Catholic myself, MAYBE.

Trizm, peace be with you,
Just so you are aware, there is an orange link near my signature. If you click on it, it will bring you to a Q&A page that helps explain and defend the Catholic faith and dispells many of the misconceptions. Perhaps it will be able to help answer some of your questions.

May the Lord give you His peace!

-Davide

 

[Trizm]

Hey thank yall for welcoming me to OBOB but Im not a Catholic right now. I dont even kno anything, im more of a protestant right now even though I dont consider myself to be of any denomination. Besides my friend invited me to his protestant church already anywayz.

 

[bigsierra]

I try to welcome folks that are new to the forums or OBOB specifically, when I notice.

I welcomed someone to CF, last night, with a post count of 1.

It is good to have you here. You definately aren't being pushed, prodded or coaxed by anyone here into becoming Catholic. We will do the best we can to answer your questions. That never does anyone any good anyway.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Hey thank yall for welcoming me to OBOB but Im not a Catholic right now. I dont even kno anything, im more of a protestant right now even though I dont consider myself to be of any denomination. Besides my friend invited me to his protestant church already anywayz.

Sounds good. Please let us know how it goes!

-Davide

 

[Victrixa]

Hi everyone!

Just take a look at Jehova Witnesses for that matter. So many people are so sick of them that they are often not even taken them seriously anymore.

Exactly. There are even some signs that people put at their door which say 'No Jehovah Witnesses allowed'. It's that bad. They can be extremely harrassing... Now we don't want that to happen to us, Catholics.

The number one most important thing as disciples evangelizing is to BRING PEOPLE TO JESUS.

Bring people to the CHRISTIAN faith. To know God. To know Jesus intimately.

And if they are Christian, we should help them grow in faith. No, we should never stop being Catholic, but you should never have to force Catholicism.

I so agree with you Highway of Life! That people become Christians, real disciples of Christ, is the most important thing. The rest, the Lord takes care of.

Excellent post Highway!