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If you are approached by someone of a different faith

Posted: Aug 3, 2011

I was leaving for work this morning (it was mid-morning, I was goingin late as I had to wait for the gas company to come) and I saw 4 well-dressed people exit a car. I immediately guessed correctly what they were doing, they were going to go to knock on doors to share their sects magazines. They stopped me as I was walking through the parking lot and were very friendly, so I was friendly back to them. I went ahead and took their papers and didn't bother to say anything about not believing how they believed, etc.

So here is my question: If you are approached by someone of a different faith than you are, do you just say thank you if they want to give you a paper/tract of some sort, or do you make it a point to share your faith with them? Or does it depend on the circumstance what you'd say to them? For instance in my case I actually had my hands full of trash bags to put in the dumpster and then was on my way to the bus stop, so wasn't going to take the time to speak to them at any length, even if I'd normally take the time to tell them what my beliefs were.

BTW, this sect must be making a big push in my area for converts. This is actually the second time within the last month I have been stopped by someone who wanted to give me some information regarding their "church."

;

I actually have let them come to my home - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I think if I were an atheist I might respond differently, but I have absolutely no problem talking to them and allow them to come into the house (when it's clean anyway!); it used to be weekly but now it's monthly based on the clean thing. Predominantly it's bible readings, but sometimes we talk about the difference/similarities between how my faith and theirs.

I also find their literature interesting. I don't always agree with it, but it is interesting to look at things from a different perspective.

I don't know if you're talking about the JW (I am), but I will say they have never made an aggressive push to convert me. They share their magazine, gave me a large print Bible (woohoo!), discuss, and they invite me to their events. But no push or request for a donation.

I tend to thank them for their time, but I'm also the person who will thank the person handing out fliers outside the strip club as I walk by, so I suspect that's just a matter of inbred manners.

I always talk to them and we exchange ideas on the Bible. - They usually never come back.

[ In Reply To ..]
They aren't looking for people who have convictions about parts of Scripture already. I did enjoy their visits and have always invited them into my home. But they don't come back, unfortunately.

I must need more work than you- mine have been coming for 4 years. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I have it on very good authority from an ex-JW - that if they do not come back

[ In Reply To ..]
that means you got to them. :)

So consider it planting seeds.

I think the part of the 144,000 not being a literal number - gets them. sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The 144,000 in Revelation equals 12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10. Twelve is the number of governmental perfection in Biblical numerology, 10 is the number of ordinal perfection. These respectively are x2 and x3. Two is the number of the witness of Truth, and 3 is the number of God. One of their greatest illogical assumptions is that the 144,000 is a literal number of people, and that is well explained by Biblical numerology. They are conscious of the literal explanation being difficult.

It is a literal number of people, but misinterpreted - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not a JW, but I have a friend who was raised as one (and left) and I personally have had discussions with JW folks who came to the door.

They believe that only 144,000 believers enter heaven, and the rest experience the afterlife back on Earth.

I believe that Scripture points to the 144,000 as being Jews - 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes (12 x 12,000 = 144,000) who accept Christ as the Messiah and then serve as witnesses and missionaries to their own people, in the last days, during the tribulation.

That's the nutshell version...

Revelation is a spiritual book, not literal. - Scriptural Numerologist

[ In Reply To ..]
It is like when the angel took John up to show him the Lamb's wife (the church), he showed him the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is the church, not a literal gold-plated city. The numbers have spiritual meanings throughout scripture.

If it is on the street, I ignore and keep on walking - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If they continue to pursue, I will turn on them and firmly tell them to back off and leave me alone.

If they come to my door, I tell them I am not interested and don't come back. I have tried not answering but they will stand there forever knocking and ringing - it's quicker to answer and tell them to get lost.

Proselytizing is a pet peeve and I have no patience or tolerance for it in my personal space.

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