A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

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.

Similar Messages:


I Had Faith All Along.Nov 23, 2010
z ...

Faith Is Sep 05, 2016
the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light  ~Helen Keller~ ...

Where Does Faith Come From?Oct 01, 2014
I am a 60-some-year-old woman who has no faith and no belief in God. I want to, I really do, but it's just not there. I went regularly to a Methodist church as a child, but not a particularly religious upbringing. I don't really remember what if any religious thoughts I had as a child. When I married, I converted to Catholicism simply because my husband was Catholic, though really in name only. We raised our two daughters as Catholic and they went to Catholic school and we att ...

Where's The Faith Board?Nov 03, 2009
eliminated in new changes/updates to MTstars?  ...

How Do You Strengthen Your FaithDec 04, 2011
I hope this will not be long.  I just feel lost in my faith.  I grew up in a home where we gave thanks to the Lord, we were not getting on our knees every hour saying praise the Lord :-), but we said prayers at dinner, church and sunday school every week from time I could walk til graduation in high school.  Grandma was a sunday school teacher at an episcopalean church and played the organ/piano there, we went to Sunday church dinners and stuff like that.  Then around grade 5 ...

Friday's FaithSep 09, 2016
~Faith~   It's all about believing - You don't know how it will happen, but you know it will.   Your Faith can move mountains and your doubt can create them.     Happy Friday!!  :)  ...

My Faith Is Dead Again.Oct 31, 2010
I got divorced 4 years ago.  He has been nothing but a class A total jerk.  He has since gotten remarried and she has caused trouble also.  She is psycho to say the least.  He has become crazy, as well.  I divorced him because he had posted pornographic pics of himself on the internet and I found them.  He took them when the kids were home and could have seen the pics or gotten up in the middle of the night and seen him being perverted.  I got the kids in couns ...

God Is Testing Me, My Faith?Jul 06, 2011
What do you think when someone that's going through something horrible says 'God is testing me, my faith'? It's one of the many reasons I doubt there's a God....if there were, and one is a believer, why should they be tested? Sounds like torment to me, and why would someone that loves his children torment them in such a way? Would God (if there is a God) be so insecure that he'd need constant proof of one's faith? I thought God knows everything? So wouldn ...

Losing FaithJul 07, 2013
So many bad things are happening in my life right now including losing my home to foreclosure because of cuts in pay most MTs have experienced.  I feel helpless and hopeless.  I thought God would take care of his faithful children.  Ask and you shall receive.  Jesus came to earth so I might have a more abundant life.  So many people hurting I would like to help but I am unable to financially.  Just keeping my head barely above water and for the first time in my lif ...

How Can I Strengthen My Faith?Dec 16, 2014
Without going into all the devastating facts of what Nuance is doing to its domestic workforce, suffice it to say that I am a victim of the latest pay downgrade and am losing faith that something better will come my way. I am not looking to discuss ways to find another job (at this point). I am looking for ways to improve, increase and strengthen my faith in the Lord. I am a believer, but I am just struggling right now. Thank you. P.S. If you are atheist or have something negative to ...

Struggling With My FaithApr 14, 2015
I hear so often we should follow what God tells us to do in our daily life.  How do we know what is right when we are faced with very hard circumstances?  We are told that if we listen to what God says we will make the right choices.  If we pray for guidance, how do we know what to do?  ...

Holding Onto Faith For MMDec 16, 2016
  Galatians 5:22-23  "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"   1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. MM has hurt a lot of people for a long time, the treatment is wrong, the pay is a disg ...

Faith BoosterJan 27, 2016
I am always encouraged by stories of answered prayer, so I want to share one so others can be encouraged, too. A couple of weeks ago, I stopped at the supermarket on my way home from walking the dog in the park.  When I came out of the store, my car would not start.  Of course, this was one of the few days my husband was able to get work and he was at least an hour away.  When I tried to call him, I got an automated message that I did not have enough minutes on my prepaid phone t ...

A Question For Faith CommunitySep 01, 2014
I haven't been to this board in a long while.  This is not of high importance, but it bothers me (feeling less than loved) and I'd like to know if that is understandable or if my feelings are wrong. My son-in-law was in construction not long ago (changed occupation).  Was told by my daughter he didn't have time to help with installing cabinents for us.  So, okay, I accepted that, and have been struggling to find an affordable option instead.  Now I learn that ...

Jeb Bush Justifies Actions By FaithMay 18, 2015
"...the ability to act on their core beliefs. that is what faith is about. The best of our faith...all faiths... is when people act on their core beliefs..or to do whatever they think is right based on their faith."  This is problematic.  Hitler? I'm sure J. Bush means well.  He just doesn't see this is problematic.  Hitler (I hope) is extreme, but anyone, anywhere can call up faith and belief as their justification for their actions.   I suspect  ...

This Woman's Faith Is Incredibly Inspiring Sep 30, 2015
Naghmeh Abedini came to my church on Monday night for a prayer service for her husband and other persecuted Christians around the world.  Her husband, Saeed Abedini, who is an American pastor, has been imprisoned in Iran on some trumped-up charges, but he really has been locked up for his Christian faith.  He has been there for just over 3 years now.  However, it is doubtful the Iranian government has any intention of letting him leave once his 8-year sentence is up because they h ...

How Awesome Is This!! Kinda Renews My Faith In People ... For Now, Lol Mar 31, 2010
http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/oreilly-marine-funeral-protesters/2010/03/30/id/354287?s=al&promo_code=9AAC-1 ...

Partial Reply To The Faith-based Post That Was MovedSep 12, 2012
I had replied to the poster on the faith board regarding the religious part of her post.  Here is the part that pertains to the political portion of her post: It's not hard at all to understand why people will support Gov. Romney for president. He has the experience, knowledge. He understand issues the American people are facing. He has ideas on how to put people back to work. Mr. Romney will have people of all races and women in his cabinets. He will not rule the country acco ...

Nancy Pelosi Politicizes Faith To Support More GovtApr 12, 2017
The pro-abortion congresswoman from San Francisco cites Gospel of Matthew to support more government spending for children (those who are already born). Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) politicized faith at a rally in Los Angeles on Sunday. Pelosi used Christianity as her defense for Democratic proposals during a political rally about ending childhood poverty. Pelosi mentioned that it was Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, which culminates with Easter the following Sunday. “I didn ...