How to witness to a Catholic?

[ilive4him2]

Hi. I am having a tough time figuring out how to help my neighbors, who are Catholic. I had a dilemma earlier this year about a Catholic friend who invited me to Mass (ended up not going) and it caused us to drift apart. I want to handle this one delicately.

Our neighbors just moved here a few months ago, and my husband and I are just now getting to know them. We are all roughly the same age (mid 20's). Both husband and wife are Catholic, while we are southern Baptists. We're all getting along really well and I hope to see that they go to Heaven :smilewinkgrin:

How should I start this conversation? What are some points that they will try to make that I should be prepared for? Thanks so much!!:wavey:

 

[Iconoclast]

Hi. I am having a tough time figuring out how to help my neighbors, who are Catholic. I had a dilemma earlier this year about a Catholic friend who invited me to Mass (ended up not going) and it caused us to drift apart. I want to handle this one delicately.

Our neighbors just moved here a few months ago, and my husband and I are just now getting to know them. We are all roughly the same age (mid 20's). Both husband and wife are Catholic, while we are southern Baptists. We're all getting along really well and I hope to see that they go to Heaven :smilewinkgrin:

How should I start this conversation? What are some points that they will try to make that I should be prepared for? Thanks so much!!:wavey:

1] they have been taught that the RC church is the one true church
2]They believe that in the sacrifice of the mass they have the eucharist..the literal body of Christ
3]They believe the pope is infallable in matters of faith and practice.
4] they worship Mary,and the saints
5] they believe that good works help someone to get to heaven
6] they have no assurance of salvation
7] they believe in making graven images,and using icons and relics in worship
8] they believe the pope is gods representative on earth..they call him holy father.
Make sure you read and understand Hebrews 9 and Hebrews 10 very well.

Present Jesus as the Perfect once for all time sacrifice for sin,Hebrews 10;1-14
establish that the scripture alone is the rule for faith and practice....they are taught the scripture plus what the church extra biblical tradition teaches are equal authority with the bible.

try to present the truth about the blood of Jesus as the only thing the Father accepts as payment for sin, before you have to confront the church errors.
some will mention the virgin mary appearing around the world..like in Lourdes france.....or medajgourie.....[demonic apparitions]

As you begin talking about spiritual things,,,ask if they even read the bible.....many catholics have never read it, they use a missal,and catechism....

Then offer to help them,or invite them for a bible study at your home.

have an easy to read book or a basic salvation message,tape or cd available to let them listen to it..

try not to start out with an attack of the errors of rome,,,they might be totally unaware of their own beliefs or church history.

 

[Alive in Christ]

1st, find some things that you can compliment them on.

You could tell them that your appreciate their rich, 2000 year old history. They have lots of beautiful artwork and paintings at the vatican and some of their churches. You could say you appreciate their stand against baby killing.

But beyond that, wittnessing to them would usually be no different than wittnessing to any other lost person. Probably 95% of Catholics have no saving relationship with Jesus Christ. They know some things ABOUT Him...but they dont know Him personally as we do. At least the majority. Their could be some catholics who have encountered Christ personally, and are regenerated, but usually those ones will leave after some period of time.

So, just be kind to them....and share the truth of the gospel with them.

 

[Ed B]

With one exception the Catholics I know and have known do not know or read the Bible. That activity has been outsourced to the Priest. Sharing interesting things from Scripture in casual conversaton might be a start. Not heavy stuff at first, just interesting things that might peek their interest. if you can get them the Bible, you will be off to a good start.

 

[HAMel]

...rots of ruck! :thumbsup:

Actually, there is nothing you can do for a Catholic..., but witness to them. The Lord can do something though.

Catholic used to say, "Give us your kids for seven years and they will be Catholic for life."

That's sad.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

Hi. I am having a tough time figuring out how to help my neighbors, who are Catholic. I had a dilemma earlier this year about a Catholic friend who invited me to Mass (ended up not going) and it caused us to drift apart. I want to handle this one delicately.

Our neighbors just moved here a few months ago, and my husband and I are just now getting to know them. We are all roughly the same age (mid 20's). Both husband and wife are Catholic, while we are southern Baptists. We're all getting along really well and I hope to see that they go to Heaven :smilewinkgrin:

How should I start this conversation? What are some points that they will try to make that I should be prepared for? Thanks so much!!:wavey:

This is actually a very difficult task depending on the type of catholic they are.

I have a lot of experience with roman catholicism because I was a rebelious youth and joined them for awhile based on worldly apologetics. Thankfully God led me back out fo that mess though.

A well informed roman catholic will have a very strong argument for their position. It will take a well informed christian to deal with them. They strongly believe that they are the one true chruch founded by christ and that their church is infallible and holds all truth. They trust their church the way we trust our bible. We have different authorities. They place the bible under the authority of their church and claim that only they have the ability to interpret it correctly.

They also think you need to participate in sacraments to be saved. They believe that their chuch is the only valid place to get those sacraments.

It is a challenge.

Just present them with the gospel and let God decide where it will go.

If you want to practice debating roman catholics I suggest you try www.carm.org there are great apologetic resources on that site as well as an active forum. The owner of the site is convicted that roman cathoilcs need to be evangelized so you are safe to engage them there. If you try to engage them at CF or CA you will be quickly banned.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Hamel...

Actually, there is nothing you can do for a Catholic..., but witness to them. The Lord can do something though.

Catholic used to say, "Give us your kids for seven years and they will be Catholic for life."

Not always. :godisgood:

My parents gave me to the Catholic church for 8 years of grade school before I went to a public high school.

The didnt get me for life.

During my early 20's God kept causing me to encounter all these pesky evangelicals who were actually born again. I didnt take them up on their offer right away, but the seeds were planted.

In time...I couldnt take the conviction any longer, and I was born of the Spirit. My life was changed forever. :jesus:

 

[saturneptune]

Here is my idea, as some in my family have married a Catholic in the past. The first thing I would do is find something in common to talk about and suggest you go to lunch or dinner. Find out if the person is a devoted Catholic or one that has not been in years. You will have much more success with the latter group. Devoted Catholics know their stuff and are generally a lost cause. A casual Catholic tells me they do not fully understand their faith or do not care. As was said in an above post, have a general idea of the differences between Baptists and them. I believe there was an excellent list posted above. Finally, do not say negative things about their beliefs, say what we believe and be prepared to show in Scripture why. And most of all, pray that the Lord is working through you on that given day. It is like visitation in general though, it may take years for what you said to have an impact.

By the way, I believe there are saved Catholics despite their church structure and beliefs.

 

[ilive4him2]

Thanks everybody. All of the replies were very helpful.

I invited the wife over when our husbands were gone to work and we had lunch and talked. I asked her if she is saved. "Of course" she said, "are you?" I told her that I was and why I believed that I was saved and would go to Heaven if I died today. I asked her why she would go to Heaven (not in a challenging way, just a casual friendly discussion). She said that she loves God and feels that she is a kind and good person, and follows Gods laws.

I told her I was curious about her faith and I had some questions. I asked her to explain saints to me. She said that saints are people that had done good work while they were on earth, martyrs, etc. and that most Catholics identify with particular saints. I asked her who she identifyed with and if she "prayed" to this person, and she told me she doesn't pray to the saint, but asks the saint to pray for her. She said it's no different than asking a living person to pray for you in a time of need. I'm trying to grasp this way of thinking and I kind of get it... but not really.

There is much more that we discussed, but I don't have time right now to type it all... but I will try to come back here tomorrow.

 

[Alive in Christ]

live4him2...

Nothing out of the ordinary there. Those are classic Catholic mindsets and behaviors.

A good thing to do at some point in time is to ask how they are enriched by feeding on the scriptures. (most catholics dont bother to feed on the scriptures. They feel that doing that is for the priests.)

Also, ask if she knows Jesus Christ personally, like she knows her family members.

These are just good ways to plant seeds and facilitate discussion.

God bless.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

Thanks everybody. All of the replies were very helpful.

I invited the wife over when our husbands were gone to work and we had lunch and talked. I asked her if she is saved. "Of course" she said, "are you?" I told her that I was and why I believed that I was saved and would go to Heaven if I died today. I asked her why she would go to Heaven (not in a challenging way, just a casual friendly discussion). She said that she loves God and feels that she is a kind and good person, and follows Gods laws.

I told her I was curious about her faith and I had some questions. I asked her to explain saints to me. She said that saints are people that had done good work while they were on earth, martyrs, etc. and that most Catholics identify with particular saints. I asked her who she identifyed with and if she "prayed" to this person, and she told me she doesn't pray to the saint, but asks the saint to pray for her. She said it's no different than asking a living person to pray for you in a time of need. I'm trying to grasp this way of thinking and I kind of get it... but not really.

There is much more that we discussed, but I don't have time right now to type it all... but I will try to come back here tomorrow.

If you get confused or have any questions please come back here and ask us. I for one will do my best to help you through this.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Id leave it alone unless they bring it up.Your way WAY over your head. Proselytizing is a great way to make an enemy of a friend....Of course, unless they bring it up.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

...rots of ruck! :thumbsup:

Actually, there is nothing you can do for a Catholic..., but witness to them. The Lord can do something though.

Catholic used to say, "Give us your kids for seven years and they will be Catholic for life."

That's sad.

Actually Jesuit Catholics, the same bunch that taught me. :laugh:

That took a long time (32 yrs) in fact to break with them & then only gradually. That brain washing is difficult to break from

 

[Alive in Christ]

Earth wind and fire...

Id leave it alone unless they bring it up.Your way WAY over your head. Proselytizing is a great way to make an enemy of a friend

I sure am glad all those friends who kindly proselytized to me years ago didnt "leave it alone". I might still be lost right now. Instead of that, here I am today... :wavey: ...a saved man!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Earth wind and fire...



I sure am glad all those friends who kindly proselytized to me years ago didnt "leave it alone". I might still be lost right now. Instead of that, here I am today... :wavey: ...a saved man!

Why, are you one of those who believes a Catholic has no salvation?

 

[jaigner]

They may already have come to faith as Catholics. This happens to many, and though people around here will tell you differently, many who have come to saving faith choose to remain Catholics.

 

[glfredrick]

I'd accept the invitation to go to mass, then ask a whole bunch of questions about what was said and done. Let THEM do the talking. Don't worry, they'll run out of things soon enough. That's when they turn to you and ask, "What do you do?"

 

[Alive in Christ]

Earth wind and Fire...

Why, are you one of those who believes a Catholic has no salvation?

Well, I didnt, and none of my friends did during all of those 8 years of Catholic grade school.

But to answer your question, of course *some* catholics have somehow managed to stumble onto true saving faith in Christ, in spite of the catholic false gosple.

Miracles still happen.

But I have no doubt that the vast VAST majority of catholics dont know Christ. They have been indoctrinated into a hellish, damning, ungodly false gosple.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Earth wind and Fire...

Why, are you one of those who believes a Catholic has no salvation?

Well, I didnt, and none of my friends did during all of those 8 years of Catholic grade school.

But to answer your question, of course *some* catholics have somehow managed to stumble onto true saving faith in Christ, in spite of the catholic false gosple.

Miracles still happen.

But I have no doubt that the vast VAST majority of catholics dont know Christ. They have been indoctrinated into a hellish, damning, ungodly false gosple.

My mother was a very Christ Centered individual & Catholic. to her it was all about Christ.

 

[Alive in Christ]

My mother was a very Christ Centered individual & Catholic. to her it was all about Christ.

Praise the Lord! I am very glad to hear that. :godisgood: