A-tracting attention

A few months ago, I went to my local bank’s ATM machine, only to find a Protestant tract sitting on top. It wasn’t anti-Catholic or anything - just the standard “Take Jesus as Lord and Savior” type thing. Still, it got me thinking. I have so many opportunities to do the same kind of thing; it really doesn’t take much time or effort to leave tracts behind. So that’s what I’ve been doing since then, putting Catholic tracts on the Eucharist everywhere I go - restaurant counters, public telephones, ATM machines, etc. I won’t see any effect from my efforts in this life, but I certainly hope to in the next!

Rosalyn Davies, Atlanta, GA

There’s one in every class. . .

Evangelization and apologetics sometimes takes you to the strangest places. For a long time, I was a nominal Catholic, not really knowing or fully practicing my faith. I started attending a Bible study held by a local non-denominational church. It was pleasant enough, but I started noticing that some of the things they taught didn’t match with what I was hearing in the Catholic Church, especially in regard to communion and Mary. This made me want to check out why the Catholic Church claims the things they do in those areas. I read through some great apologetics works and returned to the Bible study with answers. The study leader was taken aback! He obviously hadn’t expected a Catholic to be interested enough to search for answers to the questions he’d been bringing up. Add to that, the fact that the answers themselves were good ones.

After that particular class, several of the other participants came to me and told me they were either nominal or ex-Catholics. They were really interested in getting more information on the Church’s true position in the disputed areas. I don’t know if anything will come from this, but at least I was able to show the class that Catholics do have answers to tough questions. And in the process, I strengthened my own faith and knowledge of my Catholicism.

Annette Jacobi, Lexington, KY

Throwing the book at them

Many of my apologetic experiences have occurred at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, where a group of Protestants gather to discuss their faith and to “search the Scriptures.” One particular ex-Catholic and I have had several discussions on Church authority. He has actually admitted that, intellectually, the Catholic arguments are cogent. Still, they don’t match up with his interpretations of the data, so he rejects them and maintains his Protestant allegiance. I’ve found solace in recalling Frank Sheed’s statement that a good answer is always irrelevant to the mind of one who is, from the outset of the discussion, uninterested in the question. Still, while some people are uninterested in the question (and even more, the answer), there are others who overhear those conversations who aren’t so content to dismiss them. It’s for this reason that I continue to engage in this kind of dialogue.

As those experienced in such endeavors can tell you, many attempts to defend the Catholic Faith, no matter how well-articulated, are received with nothing more gratifying than ridicule and ad hominem attacks. However, Our Lord promised us that, as His faithful disciples, we’d be subjected to ridicule and rejection. That comes with being faithful to His great commission to spread the gospel. I’ve also found that my efforts inspire me to learn more about the doctrines that my opponents so easily reject. It’s those times when I remind myself that no matter how cogent is my defense for the Faith, ultimately it’s always God, the Holy Spirit, Who accomplishes the conversions.

One particular evening, I brought to Barnes and Noble a copy of Patrick Madrid’s Surprised By Truth, which is an excellent compilation of stories of individuals’ overcoming their intellectual and emotional obstacles to Catholicism, laced with great scriptural and historical arguments for the truth of the Faith. My friend, when I suggested that he read the book, responded that he refused to be polluted by the “legalism” with which the Catholic Church bound Her members. This sort of rejection, by non-Catholics, of an objective consideration of the Catholic Church’s claims is a phenomenon which is quite familiar to us who attempt to spread the Faith. Humans just have a natural tendency to cling to the beliefs they hold dear - even when those beliefs aren’t in line with the facts. I pray that all Christians will be content only with the full truth, and that we will likewise seek “to dwell in the house of the Lord,” “the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

Bryan Gesinger, Bakersfield, CA

Witnessing to the Witnesses

I have a strategy I like to use whenever a pair of Jehovah’s Witnesses come to my door. First, I’ll speak pleasantly to them (so few do), showing interest in what they’re saying. I try hard not to let on that I’m Catholic, unless, of course, they ask me. I’ll purchase whatever publication they’re trying to sell that day (usually a copy of Awake! Magazine) and make arrangements to meet the next week.

Before the second meeting, I prepare myself to discuss several controversial topics with them. The divinity of Christ and the immortal soul are both big ones. Coupled with that, I’ll get out several photocopies I have of old Watchtower magazines. Many of the older issues have prophecies that the Watchtower Society has made in the past - prophecies that have since proven false. It’s important for you to show the Witnesses photocopies of the actual magazines, or they won’t believe you.

When the Witnesses finally come over, I start with the photocopies. If the Watchtower Society is God’s prophetic voice on earth (as they claim), then they’ve done a bad job proving it. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 tells us that if a prophet’s words don’t come to pass, he’s a false prophet. The Watchtower Society fails this test, marking it as a false prophet. When the Witnesses see this evidence in black and white before them, it makes a real impact. From there, you can move onto scriptural topics like the Trinity or the existence of Hell. I always start with the prophetic stuff, though, or else the Witnesses will automatically discount your interpretation of the disputed verses. They’re trained to follow the Watchtower Society’s interpretation, thinking them prophets. Once they see that the Society fails the test of a true prophet, they’ll be much more likely to listen to your scriptural arguments with an open mind.

Mark Reyes, Frederick, MD.