Team GotQuestions Blog

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Regarding a Catholic Neighbor

September 13th, 2014

Robert Lowry‎Got Questions Writers
September 12

I have a neighbor I talk with regularly. He comes out of the Catholic church. He seems to sincerely believe in all the important things about becoming a Christian, e.g. that there is sin in his life, that it is necessary to repent of sin, that Jesus died in our place for sin, that Jesus was raised from the dead and lives today, and that salvation is only through Jesus Christ. He says he believes in all this, and yet, he does not seem to have appropriated Jesus’ saving grace for himself personally. When you ask him if he knows Jesus as his savior personally, he kind of shrugs and says “Wellll,…..” Some people seem to come so close, and yet remain so far away. If any of you have witnessed to people like this, how have you approached it?

  • Gina Cook likes this.
  • Sarah Van Baale How men interact and how women interact is quite different. But if I were in your situation with a neighbor friend, in conversation I might ask something along the lines of, “Does it ever seem to you like God is far away?” Or if someone is going through a particularly difficult time, I might ask how they are doing and where they get their hope from. Sometimes the conversation goes somewhere, sometimes it does not. But I always am ready to lead them further on to a personal relationship with Christ. Because there is a difference between head knowledge and personal relationship. With teenagers, I’ll ask a question like, “Do you think you’d know Jesus if he was walking down the street?” My MO is to ask a lot of leading questions and then listen – but always be ready to help them take that next step. Depending on their personality, there are a lot of scriptures that can “startle” people into thinking hard about their relationship (lukewarm Christians) and others that can comfort them further into a relationship (David’s Psalms). Probably a weird way of thinking about it, but I think it is a lot like chess. You have to know the other person, where they are coming from, and try and stay a step ahead of them so that you can guide them where they need to be. Except with chess you’re on opposite teams. In this case, you’re on the same team!
    16 hrs · Like · 2
  • Tim White In those situations, I like the “believe in and call upon”. I use verse 14 (Romans 8) to wrap it up. 4 things listed as needed in reverse order. 1. A true witness. I take care of that part. 2. Hearing. Do you understand? 3. Believing. Do you believe? 4. Calling. Will you ask Christ to save you now?
    16 hrs · Like · 2
  • NV Harder Robert, I was called out of a Roman Catholic family. Although personal experiences with God are very different from each other among believers, have you conveyed to your neighbor what you mean by a “personal” relationship with Jesus by showing your neighbor an example of your own? For instance, although I have often ignored His presence in doing things my own hard headed way, I have actively listened to and spoken with the Lord in more or less ongoing confessional, intercessory, and conversational prayer for over 50 years. Sometimes my prayers are long but more often than not they are short “Thank you!”s spoken aloud with my eyes looking upward to my Daddy in heaven. I did not notice that anyone had ever noticed this habit of mine until my husband mentioned it recently. (I realize that this might embarrass some people.) Also, in lieu of actually reading His Word, prescribed worship of and intercessory mantras to His mother, Mary, in the Roman Catholic Church may be getting in the way of your neighbor knowing Him. A gift of a New Testament and/or book of Jesus’ parables might get your neighbor into closer proximity to our Lord and Savior.
    13 hrs · Edited · Like · 1
  • Robert Lowry My neighbor has a Bible. He admits it’s dusty. He and his wife attended a “Reformed” church for awhile. They left because it was all fluff and no substance. He completely rejects the rituals of the Catholic church and specifically rejects Mary worship. He knows what he needs to do. He is so close. And yet, he is so far away.
    4 hrs · Like
  • Timothy Craig Munger Let God’s Spirit work on his heart with the truth of God’s Word. Sometimes it has to soak in, and then the Spirit drives it home to their mind and heart. Then wait for the next opportunity to share the Gospel with them.
    3 hrs · Edited · Like
  • Sarah Van Baale I echo what Tim wrote, but I’d also add that sometimes I use metaphors to help people think about a situation differently. Since I’m not very creative, I borrow my stories from LifeLine Productions which is part of Need Him Ministries. They create many of the radio shorts that you hear on Christian Radio. 2 years ago I downloaded their archives, but I can’t think of a particular short that matches this situation. If I find one, I’ll let you know. Here is an example of their work and something I’ve used with people who think their belief (though it is wrong) will save them. Go Herehttp://www.lifelinepro.com/radio_spot_cd-BestOf.html and scroll down to “This Train Not Going to Paris” Click on it to listen to the short. Their entire archive can be downloaded or you can search for other stories here:http://needhim.org/need-him-media/radio-spots?view=archive
    3 hrs · Like
  • Sarah Van Baale I’m listening to a ton of these – this one MIGHT work if you change it around just a bit.http://www.lifelinepro.com/…/Cause_I%27m_a_Real_Nice… And this idea might not work for you either. I think a lot of how we witness to other people depends on our personality, their personality, and the type of relationship we have with them – that and being guided by the Holy Spirit.
    2 hrs · Like
  • Gina Cook You’ve just described half of my family Robert. I took some of them through the 10 commandments and started letting God’s Word do it’s work on their hearts. I got strong reactions but honest, deep reactions and know they took a harder look at their idea of God’s forgiveness in their lives. What my family had believed/believes is that as long as you believe in Christ’s existence and death and resurrection and do good you are in. To them He really isn’t enough – good works are needed to really get us through the gates of heaven that Jesus opened for us. This is why I took them through the commandments and then Romans road. We can’t do anything for our own entrance into heaven-we are wretched! Some of my family would seem to get it but then they would say “we are all bad we just have to do the best we can and Jesus will forgive us” I second Timothy’s comment-Prayerfully let God’s Spirit work on his heart with the truth of God’s Word. Keep sharing and loving him with the Truth
    2 hrs · Like · 1
  • Marilyn Mcclintock I have led three Catholic’s to Christ after much prayer and using Ephesians 2:8-10, after laying the simplest groundwork. My neighbor recently came alive as we walked through who Jesus is, what He did, and Christ alone as the source of eternal life. We talked about how receiving Christ as our personal Savior is often the missing link, as in John 1:12. These verses and others on “believe” opened her eyes, and she readily received Christ. God will continue to open her eyes to His truth as we study the scriptures. She sees the error of Catholicism and is eager to grow. Her Catholic father is a hesitant-seeker of truth, so I am praying that her new life in Christ will be used to turn the tide for him.

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