Posted on 12/28/2019 11:42:34 PM PST by Jyotishi
Complete title: Pope Francis Criticises Proselytization "You Are Not A 'Disciple Of Jesus' If You Try To Convert Non-Believers"
Pope Francis. Photo credits: Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Advocating a new outreach strategy https://www.dailywire.com/news/pope-francis-tells-students-how-not-to-convert-unbelievers for the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has said that speech should never be used in order to convince a non-believer of the truths of the Catholic Faith.
Francis made these remarks while addressing the students of Rome's Pilo Albertelli classical secondary school last Friday (Dec 20).
"Never, never bring the gospel by proselytizing," Francis said. "If someone says they are a disciple of Jesus and comes to you with proselytism, they are not a disciple of Jesus."
"In front of an unbeliever, the last thing I have to do is try to convince him. Never. The last thing I have to do is speak," Francis said. Instead, he stressed, "I have to live consistent with my faith. And it will be my testimony to awaken the curiosity of the other who says: 'But why do you do this?' And yes, I can speak then."
Francis made a reference to the crusades and conversion by the sword, calling it "shameful" and noting that Christians too across the globe are persecuted for their faith.
Recounting the forced conversion of Muslims, "This happened in history! . . . What happened here to me is shameful because it is a story of forced conversion, of disrespect for the dignity of the person."
"We are not in the times of the crusades," he said. ". . . 'Either the baptism or the sword.' This has happened in history! They also do it with us Christians in other parts, they are also doing it but what we did was shameful because it is a story of forced conversion, of not respecting the dignity of the person."
Speaking of own personal experience from his native country of Argentina, Francis said. "In Argentina there is a small group of closed-minded Catholics who do not want Jews, do not want Muslims, but this group . . . I have never liked it, is a group that is on the fringe, they have a cultural magazine but they do not have impact in society."
At this point in history where forces of secularization are working overtime, this Pope is attempting to further secularize The Catholic Church. He is part of the battle that has been raging in The RCC between the left and the right ever since Vatican II. If you watch him, his public statements are usually very politically charged, frequently championing the leftist political agenda and just as often they are aimed at conservatives within The RCC. He is very simply creating discord within The RCC and the world at large for the sake for his own petty political agenda. It is a terrible spectacle. That is apparently the character of this man.
Oh the irony.
Then he needs to practice that philosophy and SHUT UP.
We dont need to hear his words again. He can just show us by example.
Like climate change. He should never use an automobile, airplane or electricity again
Immigrants. Until he fills every vacant spot in every Catholic Church, shut up preaching about welcoming illega immigrants.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world’.”
I won’t analyze or even worry about this Pope’s exact words. Mark said it clearly enough. I’m firmly convinced that if God wants us to change this approach, He will tell us unambiguously.
I have zero use for this preening commie, but really all he is saying is that you should first make such a positive example in how you live life that you are asked about it before you try pitching it to others.
Correct. That is what he said. However, whether I agree or not is not necessarily important. He’s the pope and his teaching is not biblical. So, perhaps he needs to refrain from speaking.
If that is what he said then the Catholic Church might want to poison another Pope. On the other hand though how much do they wish to pull all faiths in under one banner? To do so they have to deny the uniqueness of Christ, His mission and His commission.
Did Jesus really say, “Go in and be obnoxious, telling nonbelievers why my way is right and the best, without first showing them the value of a Christian life”?
Patience (waiting) is a virtue. However, with passage of time and enough rope hypocrites and company will always hang themselves. And this is precisely what our Democrats, Leftists, Progressives (is there any difference anymore?) are doing. With enough time they’ll open their mouths and unwittingly confess that they are liars fueled by contempt, arrogance, and hatred. By their own mouths they indict and condemn themselves before unseen watchers: God and angels.
Yeah but he goes on to say that the crusades were basically a slaughter of muslims.
That’s wrong.
You’re right, that is wrong.
He never says anything I even mostly agree with.
So the actual disciples of Jesus were not disciples of Jesus? If you read the book of Acts, they did plenty of proselytizing.
Why when some try to make a point, they take it to an extreme. You know what he said.
I hope misinterpreted your post.
As I said to the OP, I disagree with what he said about the Crusades and Muslims. And I don’t like this Pope at all.
But the soft sell is more effective than the hard sell, and proselytizing without first demonstrating probably isn’t very effective—or what the Bible dictates.
One of the pastors at our church mentions often that WE are the ones to do God’s work on Earth, and to bring people to Christ. Often it is by our words, and more often by our actions. But it is up to US.
“That is Plan A people. And there is no ‘Plan B’. If I was God - I wouldn’t have set it up like that - to depend on me to spread the Gospel. But that’s the way it is - it is up to us to lead people to Christ, with Jesus working through us to do it.”
Also in our church (Protestant), is the idea that we are so sinful that we can’t even imagine choosing Christ. So that means that He chose us, and reached out to us (through people). And we can either accept that or not.
Remember when “Is the pope Catholic” was an expression meaning of course, rather than a serious question?
This Pope is to the Catholic Church as Barack Obama was to the United States of America.
i think i see the problem. Where did Christ appoint anyone His vicar or give anyone special powers to speak for Him?
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