On Bringing the ‘Friendlies’ Back into the Fold

Submitted by LocutusOP on Sat, 12/08/2018 - 23:58
Author: 

Roderick Halvorsen ,Myshkin , Mike44R ,AvatarIvan mi je ime,AvatarDeplorable S E Delenda, Halina,AvatarFr Peter Morello,AvatarJohnnyCuredents,Etchmiadzin,Avatarcs,

Avatarhow's_the_boy ,
Avatarelizabeth

 

 

 

          

Date: 
Saturday, December 8, 2018 - 23:00

 

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        Roderick Halvorsen • 8 days ago

        What an interesting article.

        As a convert exposed to many ex-Catholics for 48 years before I converted, I'd add that Catholics need to throw themselves into study of the Scriptures and be prepared to share what they have learned. Do that and watch the defections subside.

        Will win some converts, too! It was the Bible that led me home.

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    Myshkin Roderick Halvorsen • 8 days ago

    For whatever reason, as a serious-natured person, I am astonished by the utter lack of curiosity and lack of seriousness amongst most people. My parents set a good example, and for the life of me I have no idea why my siblings abandoned the Faith.

    I plunged into reading pretty much everything that I could get hold of beginning in early adulthood regarding our Faith.

    Having gone down the path of trying many times over the years of charitably trying to interest many other people in the Faith -- including, perhaps especially so, many lukewarm Catholics -- I am at a loss even to comprehend the lack of seriousness with which so many people consider the claims of Catholicism.

    The facile, blithe, ignorant, and sometimes hostile manner in which so many people of all faiths -- including non-Christian -- dismiss Catholicism speaks to me of nothing so much as laziness & fear. Laziness for the obvious reason -- it is easier to coast through life with the "I'm okay / you're okay" attitude; or "live-let-live"; and fear, because of this almost subliminal sense that people have that they are truly afraid of the demands of Catholicism if perchance they should explore it seriously and come to be persuaded.

    Whether laziness or fear, both attitudes bespeak a dishonesty, in my opinion. A dishonesty worthy of Chief Priests and Pharisees.

    And, so, when the author of the article speaks about "we need to do this or that" to "bring" people to the Faith, I no longer blame myself when the response is indifference or hostility. I blame obtuseness, or the infamous "heart of stone".

    We can do what we can do. The Holy Spirit can do only what the Holy Spirit can do -- no disrespect here, because God Himself kindly and gently respects everyone's free will. The Holy Spirit can lead people to the flowing water of everlasting life, but He cannot force people to drink from it.

    May God bless you, Roderick. God gave you a gift -- yes! -- but you RAN with it!! You accepted it!! God blessed me and all the readers here, and all your family and friends with your ACCEPTANCE of God's gracious gift.

    Fight the good fight! Run the race! Keep the faith! 2 Timothy 4:7.

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      Mike44R Myshkin • 8 days ago

      Laziness and fear. The first, I think, is definitely true, especially today. The plantation mentality seems to be of pandemic proportions not just in America, but throughout the world. Everyone wants everything - including eternal life - for nothing or at least for as little as possible. I've often thought this might be one of the prime motivations for joining an evangelical community - so many seem to have this view that the only thing one needs to do is profess belief in Jesus as one's personal savior; a one-time confession and you're home free. But that is not how it works. There IS a covenant, an agreement in which both sides have duties and responsibilities. That covenant says "if you fulfill the two great commandments of love for God and neighbor (which includes Jesus first and foremost) then God will accept you as one of His people and He will be your God, which means He will save you from the hands of those who hate you (meaning Satan and his comrades)." The first part of this covenant means we must do our part and God will do His. But doing our part requires a lot of work by us and with the help of God's grace. Conversion is not a one-time thing. It is a constant daily struggle which takes perseverence and steadfastness until the very end. Those who are lazy will surely be overcome, subverted or corrupted, by the enemy. Which brings us to fear.

      Fear of the demands of true Catholicism coupled with fear of giving up all the things we prefer to do under the cover of darkness. That is, fear of losing our pleasurable pastimes in the world (another word for darkness). Yet, if someone fears both or either of these things - the demands of Catholicism and losing one's worldly pleasures - then I would seriously question the validity and the depth of their love for God. The burden and the yoke that Jesus gives us is made lighter for those who love Him because that love makes us want to please Him and bear and endure anything for Him. Thus, what is there to fear?

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      Ivan mi je ime Roderick Halvorsen • 7 days ago

      Well, I must add be sure that the Bible is well the Catholic one. Saying that, I do not mean only not some protestant Bible, but get one of the safe Latin Vulgate (which is the only official Bible of Catholic Church) translations, published before 1960., and even earlier. 

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      Deplorable S E Delenda Roderick Halvorsen • 8 days ago

      It is "profitable" (to quote some translations) to read the Scriptures, but let's put this in historical context.

      There was no defined Canon of Scripture for several hundred years; and even after there was a defined Canon, the lack of any mechanized production and widespread illiteracy mean few people had the opportunity to read the Bible. It's a fair bet that many great martyrs never read the Bible, but were still willing to die for the faith.

      Even with widespread availability, and now tht mechanical reproduction is supplemented with virtually limitless, instant and cost-less electronic reproduction and propagation, we still have the problem that "all language is subject to construction", so people read passages without any knowledge that words may mean something different than what is meant contemporary interpretations. "Brothers meaning extended kid, rather than siblings comes to mind". Then you have the "verse hunters" the people who such out that verse that has been cherry-picked to support some predetermined practice or position.

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    Halina • 8 days ago

    Great article, much needed yesterday, today and tomorrow........

    When I was young and 'lukewarm', my friend who came from Poland was telling me about her 'church' and how I need to have a 'personal relationship with Jesus'.......

    I grew up in Communist Poland, we had Catholic Church open 24/7, we had the Jews and Jehovah Witness. My family left Poland the end of 1971......I was 16 years old.
    So, when she spoke to me about her 'church', I was shocked......is there other 'church', besides the Catholic Church? This is how naive I was. All we knew was Catholicism. Coming to a Protestant country, to a New Mass, to relatives that became Novus Ordo instantly, and never looked back.....even today, was no small influence on me. The Church in America was not the Church that we left behind.......

    She told me 'proudly' that she has left the Catholic Church.

    When John Paul II invited Billy Graham to come to Poland, a huge gathering was organized, where hundred of young students were invited to hear him.......and so they did, together with their families, legions of them left the Church +++for from that time many Protestant missionaries, swarmed Poland with their 'poisonous errors,' and never left, mind you.

    + As a consequence, in Poland you have every 'stripe' on every corner, including the Synagogues and Mosques...........

    .......for Catholics were told that 'we are brothers and sisters in Christ', that it is 'not what divides us, but what unites us.'

    I was invited by her to come to her Evangelical 'church'........I will never forget, the moment I walked into this huge 'bare' auditorium with big screen, I was feeling close to fainting, I knew that I am not in the Church.......Where am I? I asked. She told me to relax (extremely pleasant was her family) guiding me gently to sit...... foolish me, I wanted to lower my knee and cross my heart.......

    I went back two more times, for my friend kept encouraging me to go....... after the third time, I came home so shaken, fell down on my knees and prayed, and prayed....... for I knew that this was not The Church.

    In vain have I tried to encourage her to come back to the Church. Have given her many Catholic books, she rejected all. We went our separate ways......for by then, by the grace of God, I acknowledged my sins. I begun to study my God given Faith.....I was set on fire.......Lord may it never be extinguished! God forbid!

    In God's time, He brings back His lost sheep to His fold........

    Jesus Maria Joseph I love You, save souls!

    ...

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      Fr Peter Morello • 7 days ago

      At first I thought converts were nice. Now that many 'born' Catholic are leaving and we're caught in the spiritual trauma of false doctrine and Apostasy it's the converts who are making the best fight in retaining the Apostolic Tradition. The reason is they entered Catholicism after serious consideration, study of the faith and finally with conviction. What most Catholics lack. As said before I believe the influx of converts was providential. Now with the proliferation of error and ambiguity fewer are entering. Allan Ruhl makes a vital point. We must turn to the "Friendlies" and do what we can to bring them back. St Augustine was adamant on this and cites the prophets on the shepherds neglect of the sheep, especially the strays. There are many ways Laity and clergy may draw them back. Perhaps the best apart from the blessing of an orthodox parish and good preaching is spreading the truth. The Internet and Catholic websites is major. The other is prayer sacrifice and the willingness to offer one's suffering [Sorry but suffering thru a bad sermon doesn't count].

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        JohnnyCuredents Fr Peter Morello • 7 days ago

        Couldn't agree more. How often do I happen upon a particularly enlightening Catholic article only to discover that its author is a convert? And even back in better days for the Faith, there were men like Newman and Knox..... One of the sorriest results of today's hierarchical shenanigans at home and at the Vatican is that many great potential defenders of the Faith are nauseated by them and turn their talents to other matters.

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      Etchmiadzin • 7 days ago

      I am a recent convert but to the tlm. I wouldn’t try to evangelize anyone right now until this priests scandal has been cleaned up. I would prefer to wait until the church threw off vatican 2 and returned to orthodoxy and tradition, but that’s probably not going to happen in my lifetime.

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        cs Etchmiadzin • 7 days ago

        I think it will be our witness to the faith that shall evangelize, more than lectures, intellectual Bible discussions, etc., et

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        how's_the_boy cs • 6 days ago

        You are very much correct dear cs. An Evangelical couple I know are close friends and they have twice in recent months asked me if I would ever leave the Catholic Church (in view of Francis' heresies and general-purpose wickedness). I have said on one occasion "would I leave home if I find an evil stepfather is beating up my Mother?" and the second time I told them there is an Antichurch operating within the Church, and this must be exposed to the light.
        This couple are open to the Truth. They want to believe in the Real Presence and are not far at this point. But still many many misunderstandings. The only way to proceed is to tell everything exactly as it is.
        What we need to remember is that the genuinely seeking non-Catholic is still looking for the Truth today, as much as they ever were. It is harder for them today to find It, but that is where we come in. We must tell them the whole dirty truth.

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    elizabeth • 7 days ago

    This former Evangelical feels like I'm the only one reaching out to new people at church on Sunday mornings. Y'all need to say "Hi" to that new person! Makes all the difference just like Mr. Skojec said.

     

     

     

     

     

    Own comment: 

    The Novus Ordo has created more apostates than virtually all persecutions combined. The author argues that some of these are still friendly to Catholicism and can be brought back.

    I don't disagree but the NOChurch hierarchy doesn't make our job any easier. They are a repugnant bunch and any self-respecting person who does not understand the claims of Divine Revelation would want to steer well clear of them, and quite how we distance ourselves from the hierarchy while explaining that it has its rightful place seems to be beyond anyone's comprehention at this point in time.