The Truth About Catholicism
CONCLUSION
In the haste of bringing to an end the present book we have perhaps missed giving more stress to the practical side of our personal evangelism among Roman Catholics, emphasizing in its stead the doctrinal differences that divide the Church of Rome from the followers of the Word of God. While this could be taken as a lack or defect on our part, we must candidly affirm that we have done it rather intentionally because we believe that there is no better method in religious evangelism than to clarify, above all, the controversial issues that constitute the fundamental cause of misunderstanding. Naturally we feel that clarification is only possible through a detailed exposition of both sides of the problems in discussion, and this we have tried to do according to the best of our ability. However, in the introduction we have presented several suggestions concerning the gradual steps that we have to take in order to approach successfully our Catholic friends. It is not our intention therefore to repeat ourselves, but we would like to add a few more things to those already said, hoping and trusting that our efforts in winning Catholics for Christ may be rewarded with gratifying results.
RIGHT ATTITUDE
First, in teaching our friends we should be sure to have the right attitude and disposition. Very often our failure in converting them can be blamed on us rather than on them. Perhaps we did not have the right attitude and did not study enough the practical situation, the disposition of the people and their need. Sometimes a method good for one is not satisfactory for another, a lesson used in one occasion can be obsolete or untimely in a different one. Jesus Christ preached in one way to the Samaritan woman and in another to the adulteress. He did not give to Nico-demus the same lesson that he gave to Zacchaeus. The apostle Paul did not teach the Athenians in the same way he taught Lydia or the jailer. So, let us try to understand the character and inclinations of the different people and teach them the right things with the right attitude.
LOVE FOR HUMANITY
Second, let us have and show genuine love for humanity. Nothing can bring us closer to our fellow-men than to show them our sincere love and interest for their souls. There is neither a greater nor more efficacious appeal in the world today than the love for others. This is, however, one of the most essential commandments in the Bible: "Love thy neighbour as thyself." The gospel message is nothing else but love. The stories of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan have always exercised a tremendous appeal on the hearts of men. So, let us have a working love toward others, and especially toward those whom we want to convert. Let us help them even at our own cost, even making personal sacrifices in their behalf. Like Jesus we should be ready to say: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13. If we are willing to suffer and even to die for the spiritual salvation of our friends then we will do everything in order to convert them.
WISDOM
Third, let us be wise in discussing with people, choosing the words we have to say and the doctrine we have to expound. We read in Prov. 25:11-12: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear." Sometimes we rush ourselves saying things which should be said in a different way or in a different time. We must be sure that people are mentally prepared to receive our lesson, otherwise they will turn away from us or reply to us with unpleasant or tricky words. Jesus told us to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matt. 10:16. Oftentimes worldly people use more intelligence and wisdom in their businesses than we do in our work for Christ. Let us therefore have prudence and wisdom in our personal evangelism in order that we may avoid Christ's warning: "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Luke 16:8.
GRACE AND GENTLENESS
Fourth, let us have grace in our speech exactly as the apostle Paul suggested to the Colossians (4:6): "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Harsh discussions are to be avoided as well as offensive remarks, but in all humility and understanding, smiling even when cursed, teach with gentleness and patience. To his beloved disciple Timothy Paul did recommend the very same thing: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
GOOD EXAMPLE
Fifth, let us spread a sweet-smelling ordor of holiness around us. If we really want to convert others we must first convert ourselves to a life of obedience, love and self-denial. The lesson of good example is the best talk we can ever make. Our evangelistic success is to a great extent depending on our own behavior. As Christians we ought to set a good example in all the manifestations of our interior and exterior life. That is why Paul warned us: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Eph. 4:29. However, good example does not mean frigidness or legalism, it is the fruit of our wholesome dedication and consecration to our Lord Jesus Christ through faith and love. Being the temple of the Holy Spirit we ought to live a godly life, a Christlike existence in order that others may see in us the transforming power of the gospel. Only then shall we be able to teach and answer the questions of our friends according to Peter's admonition: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Pet. 3:15.
If our personal work of evangelism is based on such principles as those suggested above we can be sure that our Lord will bless our efforts in a truly providential way and we shall be comforted with abundant and lasting results.
In the haste of bringing to an end the present book we have perhaps missed giving more stress to the practical side of our personal evangelism among Roman Catholics, emphasizing in its stead the doctrinal differences that divide the Church of Rome from the followers of the Word of God. While this could be taken as a lack or defect on our part, we must candidly affirm that we have done it rather intentionally because we believe that there is no better method in religious evangelism than to clarify, above all, the controversial issues that constitute the fundamental cause of misunderstanding. Naturally we feel that clarification is only possible through a detailed exposition of both sides of the problems in discussion, and this we have tried to do according to the best of our ability. However, in the introduction we have presented several suggestions concerning the gradual steps that we have to take in order to approach successfully our Catholic friends. It is not our intention therefore to repeat ourselves, but we would like to add a few more things to those already said, hoping and trusting that our efforts in winning Catholics for Christ may be rewarded with gratifying results.
RIGHT ATTITUDE
First, in teaching our friends we should be sure to have the right attitude and disposition. Very often our failure in converting them can be blamed on us rather than on them. Perhaps we did not have the right attitude and did not study enough the practical situation, the disposition of the people and their need. Sometimes a method good for one is not satisfactory for another, a lesson used in one occasion can be obsolete or untimely in a different one. Jesus Christ preached in one way to the Samaritan woman and in another to the adulteress. He did not give to Nico-demus the same lesson that he gave to Zacchaeus. The apostle Paul did not teach the Athenians in the same way he taught Lydia or the jailer. So, let us try to understand the character and inclinations of the different people and teach them the right things with the right attitude.
LOVE FOR HUMANITY
Second, let us have and show genuine love for humanity. Nothing can bring us closer to our fellow-men than to show them our sincere love and interest for their souls. There is neither a greater nor more efficacious appeal in the world today than the love for others. This is, however, one of the most essential commandments in the Bible: "Love thy neighbour as thyself." The gospel message is nothing else but love. The stories of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan have always exercised a tremendous appeal on the hearts of men. So, let us have a working love toward others, and especially toward those whom we want to convert. Let us help them even at our own cost, even making personal sacrifices in their behalf. Like Jesus we should be ready to say: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13. If we are willing to suffer and even to die for the spiritual salvation of our friends then we will do everything in order to convert them.
WISDOM
Third, let us be wise in discussing with people, choosing the words we have to say and the doctrine we have to expound. We read in Prov. 25:11-12: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear." Sometimes we rush ourselves saying things which should be said in a different way or in a different time. We must be sure that people are mentally prepared to receive our lesson, otherwise they will turn away from us or reply to us with unpleasant or tricky words. Jesus told us to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matt. 10:16. Oftentimes worldly people use more intelligence and wisdom in their businesses than we do in our work for Christ. Let us therefore have prudence and wisdom in our personal evangelism in order that we may avoid Christ's warning: "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Luke 16:8.
GRACE AND GENTLENESS
Fourth, let us have grace in our speech exactly as the apostle Paul suggested to the Colossians (4:6): "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Harsh discussions are to be avoided as well as offensive remarks, but in all humility and understanding, smiling even when cursed, teach with gentleness and patience. To his beloved disciple Timothy Paul did recommend the very same thing: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
GOOD EXAMPLE
Fifth, let us spread a sweet-smelling ordor of holiness around us. If we really want to convert others we must first convert ourselves to a life of obedience, love and self-denial. The lesson of good example is the best talk we can ever make. Our evangelistic success is to a great extent depending on our own behavior. As Christians we ought to set a good example in all the manifestations of our interior and exterior life. That is why Paul warned us: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Eph. 4:29. However, good example does not mean frigidness or legalism, it is the fruit of our wholesome dedication and consecration to our Lord Jesus Christ through faith and love. Being the temple of the Holy Spirit we ought to live a godly life, a Christlike existence in order that others may see in us the transforming power of the gospel. Only then shall we be able to teach and answer the questions of our friends according to Peter's admonition: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Pet. 3:15.
If our personal work of evangelism is based on such principles as those suggested above we can be sure that our Lord will bless our efforts in a truly providential way and we shall be comforted with abundant and lasting results.