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Post by jonathanhulewicz on Oct 28, 2006 2:04:42 GMT -5
This morning we went door knocking and this sign was posted next to the doorbell of the house: Unfortunately when we rang the doorbell no one came out. We did however leave the tract under the door.
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Post by mahatma on Oct 28, 2006 21:53:26 GMT -5
Why would you ignore a politely worded and respectful sign asking you to not bother them? Is your goal in slipping tracts under their door anyway to make them more hostile toward street preachers, and perhaps to harden their friends hearts against your message? Being a jerk is always being a jerk, no matter what you claim your reasons are. Bragging about being a jerk afterward just casts your motives further into doubt. I mean, you took a picture to post to your friends afterward.
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Post by jonathanhulewicz on Oct 29, 2006 23:27:58 GMT -5
I left the tract there to give them an opportunity to repent and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How could I just leave knowing that they are likely on their way to hell. I at least gave them a chance, they can either accept it or reject it.
The reason I took the picture is because this is uncommon here in Australia. I wanted to share it with everyone to show how hostile people are becoming towards the gospel.
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Post by josh on Oct 29, 2006 23:37:39 GMT -5
There is a place where I deliever to every week that has a sign saying "No preachers will be allowed on this doorstep". I always grin when I read thinking "if only you knew"
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Post by mahatma on Oct 30, 2006 0:20:24 GMT -5
Jonathan, What possible way could you have to tell that they are most likely on their way to Hell? They didn't even answer the door. All you know is that these people didn't want to be bothered by door-to-door salesman and that you decided you knew better than them.
It doesn't sound to me like people being hostile toward the gospel. The sign didn't even mention Christ or the Bible. It sounds like people being tired of being harassed. That you interpreted the sign to mean that they were unsaved sinners in dire need of your help, and that you decided it was your duty to ignore their wishes and then post a picture about it afterward, says more about your motives and goals than it says about the condition of their spirits.
Josh, Why? What do you hope to gain by it?
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Post by josh on Oct 30, 2006 6:08:57 GMT -5
Josh, Why? What do you hope to gain by it? I hope to gain my wages since they ring up and order from us every week, thats why I go there ;D
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Post by tonyholland on Oct 30, 2006 10:18:01 GMT -5
Josh, Why? What do you hope to gain by it? I hope to gain my wages since they ring up and order from us every week, thats why I go there ;D LOL Jonathon, I would respectfully submit that it probably isn't the best idea to completley ignore a person's wishes at their own home. I'm completley supportive of the idea of leaving a tract at the door, but Mahatma makes a good point....It's possible that these people have Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons knocking on their door every day and don't wish to deal with them anymore. I admire the door to door witnessing that you are doing. I think it is a great method of evangelism, but if a person does not wish to have visitors, then I think I would leave some good tracts for them and move on.
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Post by mahatma on Oct 30, 2006 11:49:34 GMT -5
Josh,
rofl...I read your original post late last night, and read your response early this morning...I didn't make the job-delivery connection at first, and when I first saw "collect my wages" I was thinking to myself "man, that has got to be the most spiritually mercenary thing I have ever heard of!" Of course once I woke up and read it again, I got it. Good times
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Post by jonathanhulewicz on Nov 1, 2006 23:54:56 GMT -5
Well we can all have our own opinions about it. The church never received a hateful phone call so they either put the tract in the rubbish bin or read it.
Only eternity will tell...
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Post by mahatma on Nov 2, 2006 11:00:43 GMT -5
It sounds like they must have been very long-suffering and patient people. How lucky for you that they are so virtuous!
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Post by Doc H on Nov 5, 2006 18:46:45 GMT -5
This house had more than likely been visited by JW's and or Mormons.
The local Baptist Union church and Charismatic churches don't believe in either street preaching or door knocking.
That being the case, since the sign did not specifically address JW's or Mormons I would conclude that the householder was unsaved and had never been visited by a Bible believing Christian who would have presented the biblical gospel.
I would have done the same thing Jonathan.
Don't let mahatma and tonyholland discourage you.
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Post by mahatma on Nov 5, 2006 23:12:39 GMT -5
Or common sense, or good manners.
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Post by Doc H on Nov 6, 2006 18:37:23 GMT -5
Or common sense, or good manners. Woe is me if I don't preach Christ crucified! I can do that both with common sense and good manners.
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Post by mahatma on Nov 6, 2006 19:31:37 GMT -5
Great I'm glad to hear that you will be honoring people's politely-expressed wishes not to be disturbed in their homes, and will not be engaging in harassing or rude tactics. I feel certain this will help you bring more people to Christ than if you chose a ruder, more callous path and I'm certain you will reap many rewards for your trouble. Good on ya.
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Post by tonyholland on Nov 6, 2006 20:24:13 GMT -5
This house had more than likely been visited by JW's and or Mormons. The local Baptist Union church and Charismatic churches don't believe in either street preaching or door knocking. That being the case, since the sign did not specifically address JW's or Mormons I would conclude that the householder was unsaved and had never been visited by a Bible believing Christian who would have presented the biblical gospel. I would have done the same thing Jonathan. Don't let mahatma and tonyholland discourage you. First, I was not trying to discourage ANYONE! I was happy and encouraged to see that Jonathon was door to door witnessing as this is not something you see many people do these days. I was only offering advice as I saw it. Why don't we knock on bathroom stalls in public restrooms to preach the Gospel to people....well....doing their business? We don't do this because we know that people have a right to privacy and it would be incredibly rude. In this case, the person asked for the same right to privacy and you conclude that they are unsaved.....nice. Secondly, your logic used to determine that the household was unsaved completley fails. If JW and Mormons going door to door is regular and Christian's going door to door is not, then there would have been no reason for them to even consider a Christian may be going door to door. Now there is probably a pretty good chance that the person living in the house was unsaved. Assuming that, consider yourself in their situation. How receptive and attentive would you have been if you had opened the door to find a person that has totally ignored your sign? Wise as serpents....gentle as doves.
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Post by Doc H on Nov 6, 2006 22:09:30 GMT -5
tonyholland,
In this case, the person asked for the same right to privacy and you conclude that they are unsaved.....nice.
Come on now, do you really believe that a truly born again Christian would object to a fellow Christian knocking on their door?
I am still waiting to be door knocked by a such a person, but I can tell you if and when I am I will greet them with open arms and give them a hug (unless they are a female of course). I certainly wouldn't slam the door in their face and demand privacy.
Maybe this is what Christians do in the USA-shame on them.
Secondly, your logic used to determine that the household was unsaved completley fails. If JW and Mormons going door to door is regular and Christian's going door to door is not, then there would have been no reason for them to even consider a Christian may be going door to door.
You are not making any sense here. Most unsaved peolple make no distinction between JW's, Mormons and Bible believing Christians.
The fact they used the term "Preacher" speaks for itself.
Now there is probably a pretty good chance that the person living in the house was unsaved. Assuming that, consider yourself in their situation. How receptive and attentive would you have been if you had opened the door to find a person that has totally ignored your sign?
Well, I would have used the sign as an opportunity to engage them in a conversation.
The majority of people in the streets don't want to hear the gospel, but that's not going to stop me from preaching it-it saddens me that you would give up on someones soul so easily.
Wise as serpents....gentle as doves.
That's about the only thing I agree with you on.
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