(Sorry, can't make it clickable in Safari 4).
Jehovah's Witnesses and a better approach at opening the door.
Since I just moved into my house, I had my first Jehovah's Witness visit this morning. I suppose along with the junk mail filled with offers from dentists, chiropractors, landscapers, and pest control guys the religious groups also know when someone knew has come to town. They invited me to come and join them for some event coming up. I've had several friends and neighbors while I was growing up who were members of this religious group. I've been a longstanding target for one family who tried for years to convert me. They were all totally lovely people. Growing up in Burbank for me was sometimes hard as a christian. The mormans and the jehovah's witnesses were pretty safe for me because at least we were all in the same boat of trying to be good kids loving our God and following some sort of set of rules. I found myself less likely to be asked to smoke out or do any number of things a 7th grader shouldn't do, if I was with one of these folks. However, the more I know about the JW's the more i think it's a bit creepy (have you walked the brooklyn bridge?) and damaging to those who believe...I feel sorry for the women, for the no celebrating holidays, for the limited number of people they think are getting into heaven which means I also feel sorry for the way they don't know the fullness of God's deep love and grace.
However, this said, I don't think it helps to get into huge arguments at your front door to convince them they're "wrong". I said "thank you, I'm a christian and I actually work in ministry Malibu Presbyterian Church. I respect what you are doing and that you're passionate about what you believe, but I won't be joining you for your event. I hope you enjoy this beautiful day!"
One of the woman who I think was a new recruit looked lovingly at me and thanked me. The other was cold and shut off the minute she got wind that I as a practicing protestant christian. (Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves christians, so I am trying to be specific here)
I thought about why she shut down so quickly. Had she been harassed by 100 other Christians who took the opportunity while this lady was on their doorstep to harass and argue with her? Or, was she believing that I wasn't any longer of interest to her so her kindness was wasted on me, who would most certainly not be included in the 144,000? I'll tell you...if that's all that is going to get into heaven I still wonder what in the world they're doing out recruiting. I think it would make much more sense to practice like the Buddhists do and just do your thing and hope to make it to the top of the class. Just seems logical to me.
I thought though, what if every time a JW met a Protestant Christian they experienced an outpouring of love. Would that make her less likely to shut down?
What if this was our approach with everyone. Less arguing. More love.
What if we really worked hard at being "known as Christians by our LOVE"?
I think I handled the situation at the door well today...but I have had a history of arguing (ask some of my friends I went to middle school with) and I am not as concerned with doing so any more. I answer when I'm asked...and ask questions that help others dive deeper and re-examine their thinking...but argue because I feel it's my christian duty? Nah. Not interested. ----- As you'd expect, we get the usual apologist comments....