All the tough questions have answers – powerful, reasonable, logical, historical, Scriptural answers, writes Graham Osborne.
Why are Catholics so hesitant to evangelize?
It’s a complex question, but I think part of the problem lies in the fact that it is not uncommon to encounter real hostility these days when trying to present the Gospel message. This can sometimes leave us feeling a little apprehensive about sharing the good news.
It’s further complicated by the fact recent surveys suggest many Catholics have real doubts about their faith, and are just barely hanging on themselves, never mind trying to convince anyone else of it. To share their faith in a sometimes hostile, secular world is far beyond their comfort level.
For others, while their faith may be strong, they often still hesitate to share it because they are concerned they may encounter tough questions that they feel ill equipped to answer. Underlying this can sometimes be a gnawing fear that maybe these questions actually can’t be answered.
But when we start to learn our faith, so that we can be prepared for those difficult questions, we actually strengthen, even reawaken, our own faith. To some degree, we actually evangelize ourselves!
These tough questions all have answers – every one of them – powerful, reasonable, logical, historical, Scriptural answers. As you investigate them, you’ll find your faith coming alive in ways you had never imagined, as topics that were once a source of dread now become exciting sources of renewed faith. And with this renewed faith will come a desire to share it.
One final, related thought. I believe we have greatly overlooked the critical importance of Christian unity in evangelization. In John 17, Jesus gives his final teaching to his Apostles, and it is profoundly important! He prays for unity in his followers. And not “we-all-love-Jesus-let’s-agree-to-disagree” unity. He prays for “perfect” unity. The same unity he has with the Father.
Why? So “that the world may know that you (the Father) sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” This is the heart of evangelization! That God so loved the world that he sent his only son. How will the world come to see this? Jesus says it will be through the perfect unity it sees in his followers!
Now ask yourself, does the world see anything even close to perfect Christian unity? It sees thousands of different denominations often professing very different things on some VERY important topics. No wonder the world stands unconvinced!
This is why I believe one of the keys to evangelization lies in Catholics coming to know their faith in a very deep, personal, Biblical way – so that they can convincingly share it, and especially with our separated brothers and sisters in Christ.
There has been an unprecedented swell of Protestant converts into the Church over the last few decades. We’ve never seen anything like it before. Brilliant Bible scholars, passionate pastors – people the likes of Scott Hahn, Steve Wood, Marcus Grodi, Francis Beckwith, Jimmy Aikens, Tim Staples, and countless others. These are some of the finest Catholic apologists we have. And every single one of them was radically opposed to the Catholic Church at one time in their life.
What brought them into the Church? The Holy Spirit of course! But he was working through faithful Catholics who were able to share their faith in deeply personal, but scriptural, ways – through Catholics who could answer the tough questions.
Having a strong knowledge of our faith that is solidly rooted in the Bible will be a key way to share our faith convincingly with all the people around us – and particularly with our Protestant brothers and sisters. And the Christian unity that will result will evangelize and change the world!
For great , solid Catholic answers, I recommend Catholic Answers! www.Catholic.com
Graham Osborne writes the Shy Catholic column for The B.C. Catholic. He will be at St. Mary's Parish in Vancouver Feb. 23-24 with the Y B Catholic Conference: Explaining the Faith.