Receiving Doorstep Christians

[TravisDover]

My door is frequented by a very sweet couple who belong to the Jehovah’s Witnesses who come by to share a verse from their Bible and to speak about it with me for a moment before giving me a copy of their Watchtower issue to read when they leave. And, after they leave, I do read (or at lease skim through) the publication. While they are at my door, I give them my Catholic perspective on what they quote from scripture without being overt in difference or combative, but astute and steadfast in my conviction. I would receive any Christian at my door in the same fashion, with love and kindness.
I have an in-law, who will remain unnamed, who is very different. He claims a devout Catholic faith, all-the-while verbally “beating down” anyone who disagrees with him.
I believe, and I am open for criticism, that the best way to receive a Christians (or pseudo-Christians as the Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons) is to find common ground with them as they preach, but to be shrewd in what you hold true to your faith as a Catholic. Find planes of agreement instead of throwing out facts and scripture and holding your own doorstep debate. Many of those who go door-to-door expect that approach and are ready for unconditional retort. When I was a Baptist, I lusted after the opportunity for debate, but as a Catholic, I believe the best way to convert a person is through their heart, and not through their intellect.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses who frequent my door have done so for about two years, and we know each other by name. I would invite them in my home, but I don’t want to scare them off with all my crucifixes and other Catholic images and art. I want them to return for as many years as it takes for them to ask me the reasons for my faith, at which time I will unleash the flood of my love for Christ. Until then, I will continue to pray for them in their ongoing conversion, with the hope that they will ultimately come to the full truth and love of God.
How do you receive others who are not of the same faith and mindset as you are in appreciating God and scripture?

God love you,

–Travis Dover

 

[SteveVH]

My door is frequented by a very sweet couple who belong to the Jehovah’s Witnesses who come by to share a verse from their Bible and to speak about it with me for a moment before giving me a copy of their Watchtower issue to read when they leave. And, after they leave, I do read (or at lease skim through) the publication. While they are at my door, I give them my Catholic perspective on what they quote from scripture without being overt in difference or combative, but astute and steadfast in my conviction. I would receive any Christian at my door in the same fashion, with love and kindness.
I have an in-law, who will remain unnamed, who is very different. He claims a devout Catholic faith, all-the-while verbally “beating down” anyone who disagrees with him.
I believe, and I am open for criticism, that the best way to receive a Christians (or pseudo-Christians as the Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons) is to find common ground with them as they preach, but to be shrewd in what you hold true to your faith as a Catholic. Find planes of agreement instead of throwing out facts and scripture and holding your own doorstep debate. Many of those who go door-to-door expect that approach and are ready for unconditional retort. When I was a Baptist, I lusted after the opportunity for debate, but as a Catholic, I believe the best way to convert a person is through their heart, and not through their intellect.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses who frequent my door have done so for about two years, and we know each other by name. I would invite them in my home, but I don’t want to scare them off with all my crucifixes and other Catholic images and art. I want them to return for as many years as it takes for them to ask me the reasons for my faith, at which time I will unleash the flood of my love for Christ. Until then, I will continue to pray for them in their ongoing conversion, with the hope that they will ultimately come to the full truth and love of God.
How do you receive others who are not of the same faith and mindset as you are in appreciating God and scripture?

God love you,

–Travis Dover

I invite them in only if they agree to come back at least five times. I tend to ask questions that lead them to find the truth on their own. What I have concluded, however, is that they are not knocking on my door to have a discussion in pursuit of truth. They are knocking on my door in order to fulfill a quota. With that as their true motivartion it is very difficult to have any serious discussion.

 

[DebChris]

Dialogue is “communication across differences.” It always begins with “common ground.” Accept the truth that the other person holds. Courtesy always holds better sway than argument. However, I would throw away the Watchtower without reading it.

 

[ConstantineTG]

The last couple I talked with was a please to talk to. They listened when I was talking, I listened when they were talking. It was a good exchange. I must say I have worse exchanges when discussing with fellow Catholics. I’m not looking to convert and I bet they’re not open to be converted. All I can hope is plant a seed within them and let God guide them in their faith. But as long as they are nice and civil, then I do not see why we cannot converse.

 

[TravisDover]

Dialogue is “communication across differences.” It always begins with “common ground.” Accept the truth that the other person holds. Courtesy always holds better sway than argument. However, I would throw away the Watchtower without reading it.

I should have been more clear about that. I only read or skim through the Watchtower to see what they are saying about the Catholic Church or certain issues so I am kept up to date with what they believe. I have found the more I know about them, the stronger my faith gets because I have to research where they are coming from and what the truth is. This way, if they day comes when I need to, I will be well versed on what they believe so I am not surprised in any way. I do the same with other Christian denominations. They are certainly not our enemy, but we should know them nonetheless.

Although I do feel bad for taking their publications that cost them money when there is absolutely no chance of them converting me. God love them anyway!

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Ecclesiastes 1:10 Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say:
Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.

I don’t mind sharing with the door knockers but I have no remorse for not accepting any of their materials that teach “another gospel” of Jesus Christ. I always remember the following scriptures that support my rejection of accepting another gospel from men, or another angel who enlightened men of another gospel such as Joseph Smith, Charles T.Russel, Mohammed etc;

2 John 7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. 5
9 Anyone who is so “progressive” 7 as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.
10** If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him;
11 for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.**

1 Timothy 6; 3 **Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching
4 is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, **5 and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain.
6 Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain…11 But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
12 Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses

Colosians 2; 16 **Let no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or sabbath. 8 **17 These are shadows of things to come; the reality belongs to Christ.
18 Let no one disqualify you, delighting in self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, 9 inflated without reason by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding closely to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and bonds, achieves the growth that comes from God.
20 If you died with Christ to the elemental powers of the world, why do you submit to regulations as if you were still living in the world?

2 Peter 2: 1 **There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. **2 Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.
3 In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.

Galatians 1: 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by (the) grace (of Christ) for a different gospel
7 (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8** But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! **9 As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!

see also 2 Corinthians 11:4

 

[DebChris]

I should have been more clear about that. I only read or skim through the Watchtower to see what they are saying about the Catholic Church or certain issues so I am kept up to date with what they believe. I have found the more I know about them, the stronger my faith gets because I have to research where they are coming from and what the truth is. This way, if they day comes when I need to, I will be well versed on what they believe so I am not surprised in any way. I do the same with other Christian denominations. They are certainly not our enemy, but we should know them nonetheless.

Although I do feel bad for taking their publications that cost them money when there is absolutely no chance of them converting me. God love them anyway!

I remember watching a rerun of Fulton Sheen on EWTN in which he said it was important to understand where the other person is coming from. Often Christians approach evangelization from a Bible only (“I believe because the Bible says so”) approach. They run into problems when discussing faith from this perspective, especially with non-Christians who have their own holy book (the Koran, as an example).
Effective debaters study the other side in order to have effective counter arguments.
Attacking another person’s faith or religion is counter productive.

 

[TravisDover]

These are all great quotes, but contradict each other if you take them out of context. For instance, 2 John 10 says: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; 11 for whoever greets him shares in his evil works… while 1 Timothy 11 reads: But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
12 Compete well for the faith…

Wouldn’t planting seeds of doubt and seeds of truth in the heart of a Jehovah’s Witness be only possible if you speak to them? If we “do not receive him or even greet him” it would be impossible to ever convert him. Furthermore, isn’t it showing love, patience, and gentleness by receiving what is being said (but of course speaking up for what is truth), and wishing those who evangelize well? Certainly, with the level to which has been revealed to these Christians or pseudo-Christians, they may be very holy and devout in what they think is truth, which is honorable, and God will judge them according to how much was entrusted to them, how much they knew, and what they did with that knowledge and faith.

Just because a person is “Catholic” does not make the person have a ticket that grants a seat closer to the field of Heaven. Half of American Catholics voted for President Obama, a proponent of infanticide, and those Catholics will be judged based on their knowledge of him, and their intentions, just like the lost Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and any other anti-Catholic churches.

**I only contend that we keep the dialogue open, as Pope Benedict XVI has done **with the Muslim world. Though I personally believe Islam is one of the world’s greatest evils, I trust our Pope’s intelligence and religiosity more than my own.

Thanks again for those scripture verses. They show the dangers that non-Catholic churches are open to, and how far away from the truth they have fallen. And, if one is not shrewd with his or her faith, it probably would be best to not answer the door at all, let alone accept a Watchtower publication.

God love you…

–Travis Dover

 

[TravisDover]

I remember watching a rerun of Fulton Sheen on EWTN in which he said it was important to understand where the other person is coming from. Often Christians approach evangelization from a Bible only (“I believe because the Bible says so”) approach. They run into problems when discussing faith from this perspective, especially with non-Christians who have their own holy book (the Koran, as an example).
Effective debaters study the other side in order to have effective counter arguments.
Attacking another person’s faith or religion is counter productive.

Couldn’t have said it better myself (of course, since my hero, A.B. Fulton Sheen was the one who said it).

Knowledge is power. Jeff Cavins or Patrick Madrid wouldn’t be so successful without knowing what others say in contrast to our faith.

 

[Legal_Eagle]

I always smile politely, say “no thanks,” and close the door.

Peace,

 

[DebChris]

Couldn’t have said it better myself (of course, since my hero, A.B. Fulton Sheen was the one who said it).

Knowledge is power. Jeff Cavins or Patrick Madrid wouldn’t be so successful without knowing what others say in contrast to our faith.

My youngest brother had a copy of Patrick Madrid’s book, Where is That in Scripture? I like his 6 word example of a sentence that can have different meanings depending on which word you place the emphasis.

 

[Calgar]

Well, considering that I go door to door with my family on occasion I would say continue to be cordial.

If you don’t wish to speak with them a simple smile and a no thank you works.

 

[DebChris]

Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
[Col. 4:5-6]