Door to Door visitors

[St_Gabriel]

Every time a JW or Mormon comes knocking at my door for some reason I feel nervous. I don’t know why. Something about them just rattles my nerves and make me feel on edge though I know that I have no reason. They always offer a track and I refuse politely telling them that I have catholic literature and they go away. Most times they are just friendly and try to make idle chit chat.

Does anyone else get this? Any suggestions?

 

[dhgray]

You could keep a fire extinguisher near the door…as soon as they knock, open the door and blast them in the face and as they run away screaming, yell, “Remember, your religion says you have to forgive me.”

or you could just talk to them like real people, but always remember their hidden agenda is to convert “save” you.

Either way, read up on the Catholic faith so you can prepare for spiritual attacks and read up on their faith so you know where they are comming from.

[SIGN]GOD BLESS[/SIGN]

 

[St_Gabriel]

You could keep a fire extinguisher near the door…as soon as they knock, open the door and blast them in the face and as they run away screaming, yell, “Remember, your religion says you have to forgive me.”

or you could just talk to them like real people, but always remember their hidden agenda is to convert “save” you.

Either way, read up on the Catholic faith so you can prepare for spiritual attacks and read up on their faith so you know where they are comming from.

[SIGN]GOD BLESS[/SIGN]

I just had one at the door. The first thing he told me, was, “I’d like to give you some literature, it’s not meant to convert you.”

I guess when I hear that, I’m already prejudiced and think, this guy has started off with a lie and it gives me shivers.

 

[dhgray]

What bothers me is that they are carring out Jesus’ last instructions
Mark 16:15:

"He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

and we don’t. Catholics need to get out and spread the Good News!

 

[LaLucia]

When people start preaching to me I tell them…“Jesus knows my name”. It’s a fact that Jesus does know my name and knows who I am.
The people get all happy when I tell them that.

 

[He_Man]

Every time a JW or Mormon comes knocking at my door for some reason I feel nervous. I don’t know why. Something about them just rattles my nerves and make me feel on edge though I know that I have no reason. They always offer a track and I refuse politely telling them that I have catholic literature and they go away. Most times they are just friendly and try to make idle chit chat.

Does anyone else get this? Any suggestions?

I pretend I am deaf and begin signing, in gibberish.

They apologize and leave, since they typically don’t know sign language.

 

[Miss_Echo]

I have very mixed feelings about those who knock on my door. (I’ve never met any Mormons but I do get a lot of JW’s for some reason…)

It disturbs me that they don’t come directly to the point. I had a very nice couple last week (a husband and wife, which was different - usually it’s an older person who does all the talking, with a younger person standing quietly in the background) and this man pointed to various Bible verses and asked me questions about the Fall of Man and eternal life on earth (interestingly, all of his passages were from the O.T., but then I don’t know a whole lot about their religion, so…) And I was as polite as I could be, but I really did want to shout, “WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE YOUR POINT SIR!” LOL I mean, if somebody asks me about my faith, I am happy to give them as many nitty gritty details as I can dredge up. I can’t help but wonder at the JW approach. It *does *seem a little… secretive.

On the other hand, as another poster mentioned, I admire them for actually getting out there and evangelizing. (Of course I believe they’re evangelizing the wrong church, but I do think that they are well-meaning and sincere, if misguided.) To this end I always say a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide me, and do my best to be polite right back and try to steer them in a different direction. I’m no apologist, and I’m not the greatest speaker, but I always try. You never know what the Holy Spirit might work through you to bring these people to Truth, right?

PS - There are some books available on the CA website about dealing with JW’s - one by Jason Evert - can’t recall the title, sorry!

 

[Tonks40]

We had Mormon missionaries come to our door once. My son answered and politely told them that he was Catholic. They thanked him and as they were heading out, my son handed them the tract “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth.”

A couple of minutes later I had to leave to run an errand and I saw them a couple of houses down intently looking at the tract.

There are opportunities to evangelize those who show up at the door, and you really don’t have to say much!

 

[puzzleannie]

Every time a JW or Mormon comes knocking at my door for some reason I feel nervous. I don’t know why. Something about them just rattles my nerves and make me feel on edge though I know that I have no reason. They always offer a track and I refuse politely telling them that I have catholic literature and they go away. Most times they are just friendly and try to make idle chit chat.

Does anyone else get this? Any suggestions?

It is your home and there is absolutely no reason to invite anyone inside who makes you uncomfortable, for any reason. Simply say, no, I won’t be talking to you today, and no I do not want your literature, I am very happy in my own church. goodbye. shut the door. conversation, chit-chat, etc is futile.

 

[St_Gabriel]

I never let them into the house. The nerves come just before I open the door and right after they leave.

There are opportunities to evangelize those who show up at the door, and you really don’t have to say much!

This is so true. I’ve had opportunities to speak about the Pope, St Theresa and even prayed the Lord’s Prayer with them. Soon as they know I believe in Jesus they are off and running. But it still rattles me.

Miss Echo, I agree, I don’t like the fact they don’t come straight to the point either.

 

[St_Gabriel]

I pretend I am deaf and begin signing, in gibberish.

They apologize and leave, since they typically don’t know sign language.

I’ve wanted to do this. But I know that I couldn’t get away with it. I’d start to laugh.

 

[marymol]

With the start of summer, is there not a part of us that wish , like some have posted above, how our own people too can be motivated and organised to do such works of mercy …

We could give the sacramentals such as bl.salt… holy water… miraculous medal… divine mercy pictures …and share The Truth …even help the JWs - this from my own limited interaction with a good employee who was JW - they have to do so many hours of door to door work before getting baptised ! and belive that only 144,000 persons would go to heaven - so I had to kiddingly tell her that if she manage to convert too many, she might get kicked out !

 

[Jennifer123]

I actually gave an SDA who had given me materials to review, and then returned later, a CD I had burned of a Journey Home program from an ex-Adventist.
I thanked him for the materials and asked him if he would take it the spirit of reciprocity.
He took it and I pray he listened…but you never know. I think I will print out some CAF tracts and have them ready near the door. I’ll take their materials if they"ll take mine!

 

[JKS]

I told them, “I’m not interested in your church, because unless I eat His Flesh and drink His Blood, I shall not have life within me, John 6:53” We should have banners with that at football games, to counter the Protestants’ “John 3:16”.

 

[IrishAm]

I handle the religion sellers the same way I handle the candy sellers. “Sorry. Not interested.” (Not said in a mean fashion; just statements of fact.) Then close the door. Take nothing from them and don’t give them a chance to engage you in conversation.

This is not that hard – especially after you do it a few times. Works on telemarketers as well (except, obviously, you hang up instead of closing the door . . . )

 

[Miss_Echo]

I’ll take their materials if they"ll take mine!

Exactly! It seems only fair, and you never know what seeds you might be planting!

 

[Miss_Echo]

We should have banners with that at football games, to counter the Protestants’ “John 3:16”.

Wow, do you get Protestants with John 3:16 banners at your football games?! :hypno:

(Yeah, I’m more or less sports illiterate! )

 

[PointlessShrew]

What bothers me is that they are carring out Jesus’ last instructions and we don’t. Catholics need to get out and spread the Good News!

This is so totally untrue, and as a cult-exit counselor working with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, I find this kind of thinking a bit insulting and very sad.

First, the context of the passage quoted is directed to the Apostles, first and formost. This charge is given to the priesthood by Christ–and then the priesthodd sends out who they will, if needed.

Secondly, there is no reason whatsoever to do what the cults do in most parts of the world as there are Catholic parishes in almost every single decent-sized community on earth.

Third, the context of the word “world” in the passage these groups use actually refers to Rome, ie, the known pagan world. The Church has not only followed the Divine Commission from the get-go, she continues to do so even today. Missionaries, lay and consecrated religious, are specifically called to this work, with authority; that the cults rail against Catholics in their own homes, claiming that we do none of this evangelical work, is an evil calumny. DON’T BELIEVE THE LIE.

You don’t have to go door-to-door to help fulfill the Divine Commission. Good stewardship on your part–giving of your time, talents and resources to the Church, via your local parish and diocese, to help fulfill the mission to bring all men to Christ is how you do your rightful part. Pray for discernment, and then act is if all the world depends on your small act of love.

In His Grace, miki

 

[St_Gabriel]

I told them, “I’m not interested in your church, because unless I eat His Flesh and drink His Blood, I shall not have life within me, John 6:53”

Wonderful. :clapping: I only quote this verse if they start quoting scripture. But it’s great you get it out right away.

The last fellow didn’t quote anything. But I used to sit beside a JW at work and I quoted the same verse. His reaction? “Eww. You really think that you’re eating his body?” The same reaction as some of the disciples in the next paragraph.

Also, his translation of the last supper also said, “This means my body”. not “This is my body”. So there was a debate about that.

 

[leonie]

JWs were just at my door a hour ago. The only things they said/did that I found disingenous was in reference to my Catholicism. For one, they pretended to not know I was Catholic even though I was talking to them on the front porch next to a large statue of Mary and I was holding my rosary–they dropped by when I was saying it. And, they said that a lot of Catholic youth leaders use their Watchtower as a reference when they lead Bible studies. yeah right.