trophy hunting

[theculturewarrior]

Ever feel like some Catholics view evangelizing as trophy hunting?

I have been guilty of this in that past, but learned the hard way. We don't bring anybody to Christ, with the possible exception of our children. The best I can hope to do in the workplace is to bring Christ to others, and then, I do it imperfectly.

[journeyman]

i've often wondered if others have the same issue - it may be wonderful to hear a revival brought 1000 souls to Christ . . . but then what did they do? and were those 1000 folks still ripe for picking when the next crusade hit town?

I think even the folks most ardent against works and for faith might admit that one's works evidence a profession of the faith

walk the walk, and when it comes time to talk, half the battle will already be won . . . Isn't evangelizing imperfectly better than not evangelizing at all?

[Sojourner]

I've actually seen this attitude in several different settings, particularly in evangelical churches. Evangelization becomes about the "sale" of the gospel. A movie that actually does a decent job exploring this topic is "The Big Kahuna" with Danny Devito and Kevin Spacey. It's pretty foul at points, but overall very interesting.

Here's one quote; Devito's character speaking:
[quote]It doesn't matter whether you're selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or 'How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.' That doesn't make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are - just to find out, for no other reason. Because as soon as you lay your hands on a conversation to steer it, it's not a conversation anymore; it's a pitch. And you're not a human being; you're a marketing rep. [/quote]

This is a difficult problem to tackle, because how can it be bad to be telling people about God? I think it comes down to I Cor. 13: we can do all sorts of really marvelous things, but if we don't have love it means nothing.

[Honour]

Its an icky situation. I went on a protestant mission trip my senoior year to Panama. We did a street drama, then had 5 min to try to tell someone how to come to Christ. Afterward on the bus everyone would rejoice about all the souls they had seen led to Christ, everyone who had accepted Christ into their heart. Maybe I am a cynic but I always wondered just how many of those people even grasped what we were trying to tell them. I hated it.
I would listen to someone lead one of these people in the "sinners prayer" and then they would promptly congradulate them on now knowing they would go to heaven if they died tonight.
This is a big problem for me in my Evangelical faith...salvation. Maybe because I don't have one of those instant conversion stories...try explaining how you know you know Christ as your savior to an Evangelical without being able to pinpoint that moment.
I don't even know enough about Catholicsm to know If you beleive anyone outside of the Church is going to heaven. Maybe you don't even believe I can know Christ as my savior.
Hmm...well that went a little off topic...sorry, its just I have been off phatmass for a while, and been doing too much thinking and not enough praying and reading.

[theculturewarrior]

I knew Christ is my Savior before I came to the Catholic Church. I later came to realize that the Catholic Church is the Church he founded, and that I need to be in this Church.

I don't really understand the idea of no salvation outside the Church. I'm not sure what the Church is...I asked on the debate table. I know the Holy Spirit moves among other Christians, but I guess if you come to the realization that the Catholic Church is Christ's Church, that's when it becomes necessary to be Catholic.

Apotheon could tell you more.