Evangelism

Kindest Regards, all!

Its great to see you back, InLove, I hope things are going as well as hoped for you!

There;s really not much I can add, my view is already well covered by others here. I do think that living our life as an example does rub off on others, so overt preaching is not really necessary. Actions speak far louder than words.

When I was a teenager, a family friend made an impression on me to this subject. Her point was "why waste your breath on someone who does not want to hear?" When they are ready to hear, they will come and ask. A person asking is a person in the right frame of mind to listen and consider. A person not asking, is not in the right frame of mind at that time, and no amount of intellectual coercion will change that, and may well drive them away.

I enjoy having discussions with the travelling salespeople too. And funny, they all seem to end up having appointments to hurry off to as well by the time our conversations end. And they usually don't come back...come to think of it, haven't seen any in quite a while around here. Hmmm.

I think of CR as a kind of Evangelizing place. The parameters are different, we can't be overly aggressive or overtly proselytizing. But by simply sharing with each other, we are essentially sharing in the spirit of Evangelization. And that spirit is available to any who take the time to read over what we have written.

My two cents anyway.
 
Hi Dondi, Just want to thank you so much for sharing your perspective from 'the other side of the door.' I've never invited door-to-door evangelists in becuase I never invite anyone I don't know into my house. I've offered lemonade to some LDS elders that frequently canvassed the last neighborhood I lived in, and I always wanted to talk with them, but I felt like I'd be wasting their time since I knew enough to know I was not going to become LDS. I always try to nice however.

Just recently I was approached *in my garage!* as I was trying to unload kids and groceries by a pair of Jehovah's wintesses. I keep thinking I'd actually like to talk with some of these folks, but I don't know them and what am I going to do with my kids while we talk? Plus, again I know enough to know I am not interested. The older gentleman asked me what I had against his religion. (I'd like to make it clear that I was being ver polite and I don't know why he asked this question.) I blurted out 'talking about it!'

I was obviously flustered. :D

luna
 
lunamoth said:
Just recently I was approached *in my garage!* as I was trying to unload kids and groceries by a pair of Jehovah's wintesses.

Heh. I always hated approaching someone in their yard or in their garage. It was obvious they were just getting home or just leaving, and I thought it very rude. My "pioneer" (full time preacher) partner would never let me off, however. She was fearless. Drove me nuts. :rolleyes:
 
AletheiaRivers said:
Heh. I always hated approaching someone in their yard or in their garage. It was obvious they were just getting home or just leaving, and I thought it very rude. My "pioneer" (full time preacher) partner would never let me off, however. She was fearless. Drove me nuts. :rolleyes:

Lol. I know the feeling. I've had partners who will preach to the birds and bugs if he thought it could save them (taking the "preach the Word to every creature" a little too far. lol.) He'd show up a birthday parties he was invited to by church members, armed with tracts, and started hunting down non-member guests. He was tenacious. But he loved people.
 
Dondi said:
He'd show up a birthday parties he was invited to by church members, armed with tracts, and started hunting down non-member guests. He was tenacious. But he loved people.

Wow. That is tenacious. My friend was never quite that bad, thank goodness. Although my uncle (now DF'd) was. The family would go out to a movie and dinner on Christmas and he'd bring along a supply of tracts to hand out to the waitresses and staff. Someone would wish him a 'Merry Christmas' and in return they'd get a 30 minute dissertation on the pagan origins of Christmas.

Man am I glad to be free of the "letter of the law" attitude. :cool:
 
AletheiaRivers said:
Wow. That is tenacious. My friend was never quite that bad, thank goodness. Although my uncle (now DF'd) was. The family would go out to a movie and dinner on Christmas and he'd bring along a supply of tracts to hand out to the waitresses and staff. Someone would wish him a 'Merry Christmas' and in return they'd get a 30 minute dissertation on the pagan origins of Christmas.

Man am I glad to be free of the "letter of the law" attitude. :cool:

"Letter of the law" attitude? What do you mean by that?
 
Dondi said:
"Letter of the law" attitude? What do you mean by that?

I hate to use the term Pharasaical, but that is what I mean. Someone who sticks to the letter of the law, but misses it's spirit. My uncle was that way.
 
AletheiaRivers said:
I hate to use the term Pharasaical, but that is what I mean. Someone who sticks to the letter of the law, but misses it's spirit. My uncle was that way.

We can sometimes win the battle, but lose the war that way.
 
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