When They Come To Your Door


.   Jesus warned his disciples not to speculate about the time of his
return (Acts 1:7) nor to believe in another gospel (Gal. 1:6-7), for
such a different gospel would lead away from God.  To be blessed one
had to believe in and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8,
Rom. 10:8-15).
.   In spite of these clear statements, Charles T. Russell set out in
1876 to preach another gospel.  With it he speculated about the future
and set 1914 as the date for the end of the word.  He developed new
doctrinal  statements:  no Trinity; no deity of Christ; and, in the
place of hope, Armageddon doom.  Three times in 90 years, Jehovah's
Witnesses (as his followers are now called) have had to change their
gospel.  They preach a tale of woe!
.   Going from door to door, they will be coming to see you very soon. 
This is their way of worship--selling books and perpetuating a
protection notion.  In their endeavor to sell you their books they are
sincere--but I must add, "sincerely wrong."
.   Whey you see the Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian, remember a few
very important DON'Ts.  Do not argue religion with the Witness, for
his doctrines are built upon a misuse of the Bible.  Texts and
passages torn out of the Bible are used like building blocks to back
up false conclusions.
.   Another DON'T is not to engage in a conversation about present
events with the Jehovah's Witness.  DON'T buy literature or accept
anything free from him.
.   With these DON'Ts clearly etched into your mind, rejoice!  You
have never had it so easy.  Here is a whole missionary field walking
right up to your door.  Make the most of it!
.   Be courteous to the JW--let him continue his presentation without
interruption on your part.  But also, as the Witness from time to time
asks you leading questions, DO NOT answer them.  These probes by the
JW are to discover whether you are a person who has fear about the
troubles in the world; or whether you are a person who is lonely; or
whether you are a person who has gripes against the establishment.  If
you so much as give a hint of such attitudes, you are immediately
categorized by the Jehovah's Witness, and he will latch onto you and
you will not be able to do him any good.
.   Wait the Witness out, therefore, without allowing him to
categorize or classify you.  Finally, when he is through.  Promptly
forget what he has said.  Begin something of your own.  Tell him what
the Lord Jesus means to you:  give him your testimony.  Make it short
and sweet, but say it with enthusiasm.
.   Then ask the JW to give you his testimony.  This will nonplus
him--he cannot speak of the grace of God in Christ Jesus.  Press on,
saying, "Surely you must have experienced common grace, for God does
let his sun shine over the just and the unjust."
.   Should you succeed in getting the Witness to give you a testimony,
you have gotten him off his track--things are looking up.  Walk into
this opportunity by sitting down with him and reading two chapters of
the Gospel according to John.  If you are able to do this, invite him
back for further readings.
.   However, most JW's will not give you a testimony and will leave. 
Do not be dismayed, but as the door closes pray to the Holy Spirit
asking him to take over.
.   Your prayer may bring the Witness back.  This time he will want to
recite for you a whole list of Bible passages.  Do not let him do
that!  Ask for him to wait as you get your Bible.
.   With your Bible in your hand ask, "Can I have the first passage?" 
Reluctantly he will give it to you.  Look it up, read it, but also
read the context--the verses surrounding it.  How that changes the
meaning of the passage!  Ask for a second, third, and perhaps fourth
passage and treat them in like manner.  That is about all you will
get.  But this way you have used the Word of God as it is.
.   You see, our two most effective weapons are the testimony of Jesus
and the Word of God.  Use them in this way and you cannot lose.

                                -----

.   The above text was from an old xerox copy I had that came from a
book written by an ex-JW.  I don't know either the author's or the
book's name.  It may be helpful to some one who might want to know
what to say to a JW, or in developing a future text file concerning
JW's.  Please bear in mind that it is from a copyrighted (c) book, and
I am only submitting it to help develop future public domain files.

Stephen Bresnahan, Crossroads BBS, Safety Harbor, FL, (813) 725-4452