I stink at evangelism.
Are you familiar with the term ‘inside baseball?” Wikipedia has a good definition when it defines it as “Inside baseball describes details or minutiae of a subject so detailed or requiring such a specific knowledge about what is being discussed that they generally are not well known or appreciated by outsiders.”
I am bogged down by minutiae.
In my other life as an IT professional some people have become aware of my alternative gig as a “catholic” writer. These things happen I suppose. Couple this with the fact that I have five children (a starter family if you ask me but we got married later in life) and I have become known at work as that Catholic guy. For better and for worse. First the better. I have occasion in which well meaning and curious people ask me genuine questions about “Catholicism.” I have been asked about how to go back to confession after years of being away. I tell them of the joy and relief it brings. Sure you are nervous, but the priest has heard your story a million times I tell them and so has Jesus. Go. It is easier than you think. I have also had some good debates with informed protestants about the particulars. These are good moments when you feel the Holy Spirit working through you. That accounts for about 1%.
The other 99% I am completely out of my league.
April 9, 2012 at 6:05 am
Great article.
The same thing happens to me when people discover I have an advanced degree in Catholic theology.
I usually find myself having to give a couple answers: One, what I know or suspect is a correct answer from the perspective of the Church, and another that is my own.
It is tough, because even the most seemingly hostile questioner is (usually) really wondering about the things they ask about, I think.
There's a wide space between what culture tells us is "common sense" and the answers we seem to get from religion.
Few people can rise to the occasion of being a spokesman for the faith all of the time…
April 9, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Been there. Done that. Now the trick is to keep living in the moment. Don’t let the next opportunity pass you by when you are in the midst of it. The devil wants you to keep looking back at that moment of failure. The devil is accusing you of being a failure and of not being worthy to call yourself Christian. Instructions for this type of situation: 1) laugh at the son of a !@#$% (the devil, that is), 2) proclaim CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR! and 3) call upon the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s rich love and mercy so that you might be more disposed to be a true light of Christ at the next opportunity.
Lastly…repeat steps 1-3 time and time again.
April 9, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Maybe you should start by showing and telling your friend how having Jesus Christ in your life has changed your life. You can do this by apologizing to him and asking for his forgiveness. Humble yourself to him and tell you know the people of the Church are not perfect but it is the Church that brings Jesus to you through the Sacraments and how important that is. Remember that most people have never had extensive contact with a Catholic that is really trying to live out their faith. Pre-evangelization is done by establishing trust by showing others radical love with radical hospitality and service. We don’t evangelize by catechizing them. That comes later after they desire Jesus and want to learn how to love and serve him. The early Church was known by its radical love for each other and those around them — that and the Martyrs is why Christianity spread so fast. Arguing with someone outside the Church about the “inside baseball” is putting the cart before the horse. Hope this helps—I will now step off my soap box.
April 9, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Maybe you should start by showing and telling your friend how having Jesus Christ in your life has changed your life. You can do this by apologizing to him and asking for his forgiveness. Humble yourself to him and tell you know the people of the Church are not perfect but it is the Church that brings Jesus to you through the Sacraments and how important that is. Remember that most people have never had extensive contact with a Catholic that is really trying to live out their faith. Pre-evangelization is done by establishing trust by showing others radical love with radical hospitality and service. We don’t evangelize by catechizing them. That comes later after they desire Jesus and want to learn how to love and serve him. The early Church was known by its radical love for each other and those around them — that and the Martyrs is why Christianity spread so fast. Arguing with someone outside the Church about the “inside baseball” is putting the cart before the horse. Hope this helps—I will now step off my soap box.
April 10, 2012 at 11:10 pm
"Inside baseball" also has an implication of being the type of information that can ruin something for those who enjoy it—see also Bismarck on lawmaking and sausages.