Chris Stefanick encourages a joyful, genuine approach to evangelization that, with time and persistence, can reach even the most hardened, bitter atheists.
Transcript:
Host: Peter on YouTube wrote the following in. What’s up, Peter on YouTube. Peter on YouTube says:
“Should we talk to people about faith every day? I don’t know how. When I occasionally mention Christianity my classmates are disgusted. I live in one of the most atheistic countries. What can I do? I really love God and His Church, but I do not know how to talk to atheists about faith.”
Chris: Oh Peter, I love you man, thank you for bearing that cross. You know, often people will act more disgusted than they actually are. I gotta point that out. Sometimes the rebellious teenagers who maybe hate their grandma or parents, you know, so they’re just acting out on that. If you’re being yourself, and you’re sharing from a sincere place of joy, usually people will perceive, “At least this guy is sincere about who he is and what he’s sharing with me,” and they won’t really reject it.
You know, I think of Penn & Teller; Penn is a famous atheist magician comedian, and there’s a great quote I read from him, he said, you know, people think that sharing your faith is mean or pushy, he said, “How much do you have to hate someone to believe eternal life is possible and not tell them that?” He said, “I actually respect my Christian friends when they share the faith with me.” So keep sharing, from a gut level, keep being who you are.
Peter, we have a whole world that’s constantly telling us, “Be who you are, be who you are!” And I think the world’s forgotten who the heck they are. Suddenly, in that context, we Catholics are afraid to be who we are. Push back against that fear you’re feeling, and insist on being who you are in the most natural, relaxed way possible. You know, and if–if an atheist sneezes and you say, “God bless you,” and they get offended, just smile. Because that’s who you are, brother.
You know, don’t let them stop you, don’t let them stop, first and foremost, though, seeing the joy that it gives you. Because they can reject you for a long time, but, you know, after a while they’re not gonna reject your joy. You have something that everyone, everyone wants.