The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of all and the Catholic Church does not exist on earth solely for the sake of "Catholics". This is the very reason why the Catholic Church involves herself in matters that affect the spiritual and moral aspect of each and every person, not merely of Catholics, because it is her mission to proclaim the Gospel to all people.
In Nostra Aetate, or the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to non-Christian Religions, there are two main reasons stated why the Church should relate itself with others even those who do not share the same Faith that we Catholics have:
[1] The community of all peoples - since all of us have been created by the One God the Father; and
[2] Our common final end - eternal union with the same God in His heavenly city.
While other religions tend to be exclusive, that is, focused on their own and concerned only of their own, the Catholic Church understands that it is her mission to embrace everyone since the Lord Himself said that He has other sheep and that there shall be one Fold and one Shepherd [see John 10:16]. It is to His Apostles that He entrusted the Church, particularly the Apostle Peter [see Matthew 16: 13-20], and this is what the Church has been fulfilling as an important mission and obligation ever since the Holy Spirit descended upon them during Pentecost [see Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2]. It is the same Holy Spirit whom the Lord promised to send and to remind the Church of everything that He has taught her through the Apostles [see John 14: 16-17].
The great sending out of the Apostles during the Lord's Ascension is a very basic command which the Church has received and which she has faithfully followed ever since [see Matthew 28: 19-20, the whole of Acts of the Apostles particularly 1:8]. No period in the history of the Church did she fail to accomplish the task of proclaiming the Gospel even amid many tribulations, persecutions, misunderstanding of its role by political powers, and more. She faithfully obeyed the command and proved to be truly guided by the Holy Spirit even in areas where the Church faced the threats of death.
However, in our dealings with non-Christians, we must be guided by the spirit of charity. Most non-Christians would not welcome us if they feel that our purpose in relating with them is all about proselytizing, or merely for the purpose of converting them into our Faith. This is because many of them have had their own unique awareness and experience of God. As Nostra Aetate states [Number 2]:
"From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense."
We could do much more to inspire them to become one with us by our example of loving one another for the Lord Himself said that it is by so doing that others would know that we are His disciples and friends [see John 13:35, 15: 12-17]. It is through this that we could guide them to the profound mystery of the true God who have manifested to them in other ways [such as natural reason and through His creation] and yet have fully revealed Himself through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ [see Catechism of the Catholic Church for more about this including the Biblical citations].
There is an ocean of difference between aiming merely to convert persons and true evangelization. True evangelization seeks to proclaim the Gospel, conversion follows through the action of the Holy Spirit within the person hearing the Gospel. Mere purpose of converting others lack the Spirit. It is more of a human design to seek appreciation and recognition. It is initially enough that we proclaim the Gospel, then set examples about the truth of the Gospel through loving each other and others, and then conversion will naturally follow in accordance with the movement of the Spirit. The same document we mentioned [Number 2 also] above says :
"The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and LOVE [emphasis mine] and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men."
and also [Number 5]:
'We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man's relation to God the Father and his relation to men his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: "He who does not love does not know God" (1 John 4:8).'
We can do more by loving one another than by trying to convert others through others means like eloquence in argumentation and debate.
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| Image taken from the catholicherald.co.uk via google.com |
[1] The community of all peoples - since all of us have been created by the One God the Father; and
[2] Our common final end - eternal union with the same God in His heavenly city.
While other religions tend to be exclusive, that is, focused on their own and concerned only of their own, the Catholic Church understands that it is her mission to embrace everyone since the Lord Himself said that He has other sheep and that there shall be one Fold and one Shepherd [see John 10:16]. It is to His Apostles that He entrusted the Church, particularly the Apostle Peter [see Matthew 16: 13-20], and this is what the Church has been fulfilling as an important mission and obligation ever since the Holy Spirit descended upon them during Pentecost [see Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2]. It is the same Holy Spirit whom the Lord promised to send and to remind the Church of everything that He has taught her through the Apostles [see John 14: 16-17].
The great sending out of the Apostles during the Lord's Ascension is a very basic command which the Church has received and which she has faithfully followed ever since [see Matthew 28: 19-20, the whole of Acts of the Apostles particularly 1:8]. No period in the history of the Church did she fail to accomplish the task of proclaiming the Gospel even amid many tribulations, persecutions, misunderstanding of its role by political powers, and more. She faithfully obeyed the command and proved to be truly guided by the Holy Spirit even in areas where the Church faced the threats of death.
However, in our dealings with non-Christians, we must be guided by the spirit of charity. Most non-Christians would not welcome us if they feel that our purpose in relating with them is all about proselytizing, or merely for the purpose of converting them into our Faith. This is because many of them have had their own unique awareness and experience of God. As Nostra Aetate states [Number 2]:
"From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense."
We could do much more to inspire them to become one with us by our example of loving one another for the Lord Himself said that it is by so doing that others would know that we are His disciples and friends [see John 13:35, 15: 12-17]. It is through this that we could guide them to the profound mystery of the true God who have manifested to them in other ways [such as natural reason and through His creation] and yet have fully revealed Himself through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ [see Catechism of the Catholic Church for more about this including the Biblical citations].
There is an ocean of difference between aiming merely to convert persons and true evangelization. True evangelization seeks to proclaim the Gospel, conversion follows through the action of the Holy Spirit within the person hearing the Gospel. Mere purpose of converting others lack the Spirit. It is more of a human design to seek appreciation and recognition. It is initially enough that we proclaim the Gospel, then set examples about the truth of the Gospel through loving each other and others, and then conversion will naturally follow in accordance with the movement of the Spirit. The same document we mentioned [Number 2 also] above says :
"The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and LOVE [emphasis mine] and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men."
and also [Number 5]:
'We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man's relation to God the Father and his relation to men his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: "He who does not love does not know God" (1 John 4:8).'
We can do more by loving one another than by trying to convert others through others means like eloquence in argumentation and debate.
To be continued
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