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April
2005
World
View
Witnessing to Roman Catholics
• Good
Gospel tracts are rarely discarded. People in Latin communities
often keep literature given to them
in safe places in their home to share with friends and
family. Be sure the tracts used are clear about the
essentials of the new birth (confession of sin, repentance,
faith
in Christ alone)
• Check
with the missionary as to whether or not certain witnessing
aids are appropriate before using
them. For example, in settings where there is spiritism,
a “power bracelet” that uses different colored
beads to tell the gospel story may be seen as another trinket
to manipulate the spirit gods behind the Catholic saints.
Many “good Catholics” actually follow a teaching
called Santeria that identifies the saints with African
gods represented by the colors of the beads.
• When
at all possible, have the convert pray their own prayer
of repentance and faith instead of asking them
to repeat prayers. The Catholics are taught that God's
favor is gained through repeating prescribed prayers. Offer
the seeker the opportunity, after they have heard the gospel,
to voice a prayer from the heart in their own words.
• Do
immediate follow up, even if there is only enough time
to lead the person to a passage of assurance
such as I John 5:11-13. Ask the convert, where does God
say that eternal life is to be found? Answer - in His
Son. Then say, it is clear then that eternal life is
not a thing
but what? Answer - A person. Then ask, “Who is eternal
life?” Answer - Jesus Christ. “Who did you
ask into your heart?” Answer - Jesus Christ. What
then do you have? Answer - Eternal life. Assure the new
believer
that since Jesus is eternal life and they have given their
life to Him then they have eternal (forever, never to be
taken away, can't be lost) life!
• Ask
the new believe who needs to know about their new life
in Christ more than anyone else they can think
of. Then pray with them to have the grace and faith to
go right then to that person and share the best they can
about their new life in Christ.
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