How do I handle this?

[JAGCath28]

Hey Everyone!

I need some help and advice on how to handle this situation. It is easy for me to share my Catholic faith with non-Catholics when it is a non-confrontational atmosphere (like if they ask me questions about it in a non-accusatory way). However, I came into a situation tonight that I haven't been in before, and I didn't know how to handle it.

We are friends with our next door neighbors, and we had dinner with them tonight. I knew they went to church every Sunday so I wanted to find out what church (mostly to make sure that I didn't say anything offensive about their denomination by accident). Well, it turns out they are Church of Christ. I belonged to a Church of Christ for like 4 years so I'm familiar with the way they do things. Anyway, I guess because I "sounded interested" the husband kept pressuring to get us to go to their church. He kept saying that "the Bible answers everything" blah blah blah. I'm a convert into Catholicism, and feel very strongly about the Catholic Church so there is NOTHING that would convince me otherwise. However....I'm still so timid when confronted in this way that I didn't know what to do so I was pretty much silent. Just smiled and nodded. When he said at one point, "You should come to our church to see how well behaved these kids are." (with respect to a conversation we were having about kids these days) I told him that the reason why I love our Parish so much is because it is so family oriented and so on. But I didn't have enough courage to actually talk about the Catholic church in general. My excuse is that he's a very kind of loud talker guy (was a NYC policeman for 20 years), and so I didn't want to start a "my church is better than your church" kind of argument at dinner tonight.

Anyway, I'm kind of flustered because I have a feeling this will come up again because now they are going to want to "convert" us. And I want to convert them!!!! hahaha But, I'm so timid about this when I'm not "hiding" behind my computer. How do I do this in person? I've talked to family members or friends about the Catholic faith, but only when they have asked me about it, not me bringing it up to them. So, he's not asking me, he's telling me to ask him about his church so how do I do this? What should I say if/when the next time he tries to get us to come to his church? He already said that he is going to try to convert us.

Please help!

Peace and love,

Jessica

[Church Militant]

Yeah, you're going to be hip deep in alligators now my friend.

Sounds like you're going to have some pretty "confrontational" discussions with them as some of the rhetoric that I've seen from CoC folks has been pretty strident.

I would suggest that maybe you broach the subject again out in the front yard or over the fence or something and maybe open with something like, "Hey, I know you guys go to church every Sunday. Would you like to go with us to Mass this Sunday?"

I figure it will be on like Donkey Kong from that point.

The odds are high that they have never even seen the inside of a Catholic Church and never been to Mass before, so it will (if they go) open doors for dialog.

Let me know what you decide to do.

[gnoa]

Hi JAGCath28,

I would start off by preaching the Gospel through the example of continuing to be a fantastic neighbor and practicing Catholic. Actions sometimes speak louder than words. I would then follow-up by finding common ground to continue to build trust and mutual understanding. If he or his wife asks a question about Catholicism, don't hesitate to answer in a polite, non-threatening manner. Everyone is at a different stage of spiritual growth. Eventually you can work in how you used to belong to CoC and the reason you found Catholicism to be the Fullness of Truth.

God bless,

Scott
www.scottandceleste.com