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."
Galatians really about grace, not being a bad, pushy salesman.
And Corinthians too about something completely different, the issue of how Christ’s personal story goes down to two other groups:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/1-corinthians-1-23.html
Thanks.
****Teaching is always done best with example.
And he expressly says teaching them to observe what they, the Christians, do.****
Just unmitigated crap. Even Christian children can teach the Gospel by example set about by their families to other children.
You may take that as your own example, but the Gospel is written in stone. Thou Shalt is not debatable.
Maybe the problem is with the word "truths". ;o)
***Jesus himself flashed miracles before asking nonbelievers to believe***
Horstrash. You have no understanding of the one year ministry of Yeshua and what and why he did what he did. He fulfilled the prophetical walk that was laid out before him and was crucified for it.
What is wrong with this guy. More and more everyday he sounds less Catholic.
Excoriate the Antichrist.
Let’s be fair to the guy. He’s saying that talk ALONE is not the way to convert, but that one’s actions count. “I have to live consistent with my faith.” It’s right there, in his words, but those words are being ignored. He should have made that more clear, but this article skips over what he actually said.
He says that living as a Christian will awaken the curiosity of the non-Christian who will see that it is done out of faith, and at that time the Christian can speak (proselytize).
As for forced conversion, it was wrong, but he should have acknowledged that m*zzies did it more than Christians.
He’s a doofus, but one’s hatred for the Catholic Church doesn’t justify distorting reality.
I don’t know if the Catholic church sends out what many protestant denominations refer to as “foreign missionaries”, but many protestant organizations have been sending missionaries to most any foreign nation where it is reasonably safe for them to live. And, of course, the purpose is to teach and preach and covert non-Christians to Christianity.
That definitely seems like something this pope would not approve of.
He’s advocating a promotion by attraction approach, which I like, as opposed to the multi level marketing approach often encountered at the evangelical churches.
Repeating his words is not slander.
When do Catholics protest?
Seems like some someone said “ go into all the world and tell folk something”, paraphrase of the great commission of the Christ.
Of course, the pope is correct regarding living witness, but “faith comes by hearing the word of God”....
It’s not slander. This Pope is a disaster not just for the Church and the faithful. But for the world.
My God and Savior can and will use them all (great and small) to establish His will in heaven and earth. This Pope is the true Judas
of the Catholic Church and another to Christ Jesus. My biggest concern is how to pray for someone like this. For Salvation I suppose as that is this mans only hope for the life to come. It is every living persons only hope.
The ImPopester isn’t even pretending to be Christian anymore.
Oh, gosh! Horrible! The Good News not so good? Really Francis? I there a way to IMPEACH you?
I’m not Catholic, but have had many Catholic friends over the years. This Pope seems to be totally off the reservation. What gives?
The only biblical “Vicar of Christ” is the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 declares, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:16-18 proclaims, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” The Holy Spirit is Christ’s “replacement” on the earth. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor, Teacher (John 14:26), and guide into all truth (John 16:13).
It is funny/interesting that there are rules of such things. And most of those rules seem not to have been very well figured out or defined by men (even men of God). At least, I don't recall them having been clearly laid out in Church.
I wonder if their (said rules) not having been laid out clearly" is part of the rules of engagement between God and the forces of evil such that it is incumbent on us mortals to figure this stuff out for ourselves.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.