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catholicdan
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| Joined: | Wed Jul 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Merced, California USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Danny | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | From A 2 Z now on to RC. |
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Posted: Sun Jul 15th, 2007 11:41 pm |
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Hello my friends.
I had a very serious question and one that I wanted to know or get your input on.
My wife and I come from a very active group of church during our journey home. All our work involved evangelization in one form or another. We went out to parks and passed out fliers for up and coming plays about how people came to Jesus through different circumstances. We also would go door to door and offer prayers, bibles and the opportunity to study with us on the wonderful Good News of Jesus Christ. We had concerts (contemporary to rap and everything in between) that seem to open doors too.
I am feeling a call to evangelize as Christ stated in Matthew 28. Souls are perishing everyday and would the fire to get busy is buring in my heart and soul.
What would be the churches stance on the average person in the church to do things like this? How would the church feel about having home bible studies lead by a married couple and that same couple using their free time to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Peace.
Last edited on Sun Jul 15th, 2007 11:42 pm by catholicdan
____________________
"To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant." Cardinal Newman
"Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux,
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux"
May the Holy Cross be my Light.
Let not the dragon be my guide.
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2104 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 12:14 am |
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If you were not considering becoming a Catholic, the Church would have no say in the matter simply because you are not Catholic nor are you looking to become one. As it is, you say you will be entering RCIA soon. Therefore, the Church does have a say. And typically what a pastor would ask a person who is looking to become Catholic would be something like this:
What do you intend to preach? And how can you do this effectively as a Catholic if you are still learning what the Church’s doctrine or interpretation is?
In other words, it is good that you have such enthusiasm. But one must wonder if you are properly prepared to do the job right from the Catholic point of view. Eventually, if things work out as planned, at some point you will enter the Church officially. At that point you can begin learning what you need to know as a Catholic in order to participate in a lay apostolate such as street preaching.
It could very well be that you can find one or more groups already organized that you can join. (Such groups do exist, and they use a number of different approaches.) If not, you need to be informed as to what steps are necessary to organize such a group yourself. Yes, it is theoretically possible to do what you propose as a simple individual or as a family, but it is much more effective to be part of a group that has the approval of the bishop.
Home bible studies are considered to be a devotional exercise within the Catholic Church rather than an evangelistic tool. I would caution you, therefore, that the pastor or bishop may well see your ambition in this area as biased toward sola scriptura (the bible alone) instead of embracing the Catholic view of the sources of doctrine: scripture, tradition and magisterium all working together to establish the foundation of faith.
What I would recommend, then, Dan, is that you be patient and follow the proper channels after you become Catholic. This does not reflect on your idea or your sincerity, only that we need to put first things first.
David
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 12:49 am |
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catholicdan wrote: I am feeling a call to evangelize as Christ stated in Matthew 28.
Dan, in my opinion, the most effective evangelization you can do at this time is to share with people you know your reasons for becoming Catholic. Instead of approaching people at random, you could be much more effective sharing your faith experience with those who you evangelized previously.
My bishop is in the process at this time of forming evangelization teams that will go door to door to every home in my diocese, so I'm not discounting your idea or enthusiasm in any way. However, I truly think that at this time, you would be much more effective in targeting your efforts by sharing your new faith discoveries with those who already know and trust you.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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catholicdan
Member
| Joined: | Wed Jul 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Merced, California USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Danny | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | From A 2 Z now on to RC. |
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 05:38 am |
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CajunRick wrote: catholicdan wrote: I am feeling a call to evangelize as Christ stated in Matthew 28.
Dan, in my opinion, the most effective evangelization you can do at this time is to share with people you know your reasons for becoming Catholic. Instead of approaching people at random, you could be much more effective sharing your faith experience with those who you evangelized previously.
Well, that is what the first form of evangelization is, is it not? We share our faith with those who ask us to give an account for why we believe and live what we do. So this of course would be my first step in the spreading of the Gospel. Of course I would study all aspects of the Catholic faith so I would be inline with the teaching of Paul to Timothy;
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
What is very interesting is that I have found that the main foundation of the Catholic faith I already believe and follow even before I came to the decision to convert. This discovery is the very reason why I and my wife have made the transition or are making the transition to the RCC.
The first doctrine that I came to understand, follow and then teach was the sacrament of baptism. I came from a church that taught that baptism was only an outward sign of an inward work, but when I would ask where that idea or teaching came from and the authority for it, they could not answer with certainty. So, because my conscience would not permit me to teach any other Gospel than that which we have heard and seen from the Apostles and their writings, I had to make a stand and was asked to leave that fellowship and resign my position as men's home director and associate pastor.
The second doctrine that I came to understand correctly was that of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. I came to understand that Jesus is truly and actually present in the Eucharist. I was taught that the Eucharist (Lord's Supper in my neck of the woods) was nothing more than another symbol of what Christ did for us on the Cross. I studies intently on this matter and the Ante-Nicene Fathers all taught that Jesus IS in the Eucharist. So once again another matter that got me in trouble with that church.
The third doctrine that I came to understand that was very important was the doctrine of authority. Now when I say authority I mean Apostolic Succession. New terms same meaning. This was very important to me because I saw that the Ante-Nicene Fathers all taught that The Bishop was the very successor of Christ on earth starting with Peter the Apostle, and we all needed to have or be under the right authority as God sees fit.
I may have a ways to go but sharing my story is evangelizing.
Peace.
____________________
"To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant." Cardinal Newman
"Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux,
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux"
May the Holy Cross be my Light.
Let not the dragon be my guide.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 08:40 am |
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catholicdan wrote: I may have a ways to go but sharing my story is evangelizing.
Absolutely. St. Francis of Asissi was known for saying "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words when necessary." The best way to evangelize is to live our faith, which is why Catholics tend to evangelize through charitable acts rather than words.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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