My buzzer went off at our condo at about mid morning on Saturday, which never happens. I buzzed my mystery guest in and went to the door totally curious at who might be visiting. A well-dressed gray haired man holding a magazine approached me tentatively offering it along with his scripted intro line.
This Jehovah's Witness began with some questions about faith and then he launched into his mini sermon as I listened patiently. When he then asked if I agreed, I answered nonargumentively about the the way I see things. In fact, I was so comfortable with him because I didn't feel the need to convince him otherwise which I think put him at ease, too. I truly enjoyed him as a person and felt that perhaps there was something we could learn through our conversation.
I could tell when he became uncomfortable with too much agreement or when whatever I said didn't fit with his experience as a JW because he would loop back into his presentation which included: Jesus having been created and therefore not God; the trinity being a lie; the end of the world; only 144,000 making to heaven; and a few other things.
I found it strange to be one on one with a person who insisted on going back to a monologue. Curious, I asked him if what he was doing was trying to convince me and others of his beliefs and that if I believed what he believed, then I was "in". He agreed that this was for the most part true so I thought I would frame the difference in how I understood faith.
For me it was more about following Jesus because, no one could ever really do enough good to get to heaven. I asked him if he noticed any pattern in the way Jesus spoke to people. Jesus seemed to deal with heart issues not offering a new set of beliefs or even specific rules. Instead, he was inviting people to follow him as the new way to God.
He pushed back a bit and suggested that I must have beliefs that I try to convince people to also believe. I told him that I didn't think that people had to believe the same doctrines I held or to believe them in the same way I do in order to get to heaven. For me it was, again, about following Jesus.
How does this strike you?
Why do I always seem to be ten minutes from somewhere I have to go to when I get these thought provoking, "So, what do think of what I think moments?"
ReplyDeleteMy brain is smoking! 8 minutes to go! Answer to how does this strike you: First thought, the word strike or should I say struck is appropriate. I have stopped trying to convince people that this is the way or that is the way to heaven. Do it this way and like magic your in! I am trying to emulate Jesus the best way I can. I try not to be argumentative with others of differing views. I agree that Jesus addressed issues of the heart. I am very much a heart issue person. I think people relate to heart issues that affect their lives and the lives of others. My interaction with people who knock on my door has covered a whole spectrum of results. Some wonderful and some awful. The ones that were awful were the ones in which I left Jesus ideas out and put mine in.
One encounter that went well ended with a question to ponder. If it is possible that Jesus was for real and He was who He claimed to be what would you do with him? We parted having exchanged issues of the heart and a few blocks to a once impenetrable wall had been dismantled allowing God to fill in the pieces.
I have on several occasions had visitors of faith come to my door. The most memorable being when I was 13… my father sent the dogs out after them.
ReplyDeleteThere was not much opportunity there.
I can’t claim that what follows is how these experiences usually go, but I can say that what I would desire when a visitor of faith leaves my home is that they would say to themselves something similar to the following.
“Hmm, why is it that every professed Christian that I encounter is the happiest person, most considerate, the best host, gracious listener and with such amazing faith stories?”
My experience has shown that very few people are capable of listening, truly listening, unless they are comfortable and that they first feel understood.
The last time we had such a visit, we asked (after listening) if we could share our experiences with them.
I also believe that it is very unlikely that any argument will “Win over” someone who is stepping out in their faith, particularly one who is following a script. I think that there is some value in calling people away from their script, and seeking to understand their personal experience. ‘Really? How is your life better since your new faith?’ Tell me some of your personal spiritual experiences, do you truly feel loved by ???, ect?
WOW, it also occurs to me at this very humbling moment that I have never asked a visitor (in this regard) if I could pray for them or bless them before they go!
Wow…
After all, it is not our job to be anyone’s savior, only Christ can do that. Isn’t our job first and foremost to simply be a loving people?