www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Arians Came to my Door

I was exercising this morning and I heard voices outside. I heard a knock, I went to the door and as I expected there were 2 Jehovah's Witnesses passing out their wares.

As soon as they started I told them I was Catholic and started in with the fact that their organization has predicted the end of the world about 7 times and failed. The leader shot bakc that they didn't predict the end of the world, just that we are in the end times; with which I said that they did in fact predict the end of the world.

I then said that in the Gospel According to St. John, St. Thomas falls down and proclaims in the Greek "The Lord of me and the God of me!" when he examines Our Lord's side. They side stepped the issue. In fact, I proclaimed that Jesus is God. I made sure they knew where I stand. (I'm quite proud that I proclaimed Him as Lord and God to the JWs.)

They brought up that Our Lord says the Father is greater than Him. I responded that He was speaking of His human nature which composes the hypostatic union of God and man in the person of Jesus Christ.

They asked where did God go when Jesus died. I responded that he preached to the spirits in prison until the resurrection. They said the scripture says that God cannot die. I said that the human nature of Jesus died.

Somewhere along the line I mentioned that they flip flopped again in that the JWs used to forbid blood transfusions and now they allow them. The leader agreed that they changed the teaching and tried to back it up by say that the Bible says that certain things can be seen in new light.

They started on the Sola Scriptura angle and I said that no where in the Bible does the Bible say which books belong in the Bible. They brought up the verse "All Scripture is
inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be equipped, prepared for every good work."

I shot back with the fact that no one knew what the Canon of Scripture was until the Church decided the Canon at the Councils of Rome, Carthage, etc... And that the translation that they use is no where near as reliable as what St. Jerome did as he had access to manuscripts that have since crumbled into the dust. They had no answer for that.

They kept harping on the fact that Noah preached for 80 years before the Flood came and that they were there to spread the news of the End of the World.

They then said that they could see that they were getting nowhere with me so they again said that they were going door to door preaching the End Times and we wished each other a good day.

How could I have handled this better? My heart was racing in the beginning and I was a bit flustered until half way through the conversation.

Dr. Eric,

You did fine!

However, there are few things I would have added. I will post later, what I would have said.

Dr. Eric,

You did very well. If you think about it the verse "All Scripture is
inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be equipped, prepared for every good work" does not support "Sola Scriptura". It does not say that the "Bible alone" is the rule of faith. It just says that the Bible is Divinely Inspired, and is good for all those things outlined in the verse. Just some ammo for the future.

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

Whether the Aryans are heretics or white racists - or both - tell them to go away!

Fr. Serge

What the deacon posted was what I was going to say but in more detail.

Good job. You handled their questions quite well and I will remember the ways you answered them just in case they come to my door.

BTW, I did not know that they changed their position on blood tranfusions. Perhaps, the legal consequences of their former position were too high. Peace in Christ,

Joe

Fr. Serge,

Blahoslovy!

I meant Arians as in the spiritual children of the Heresiarch Arius. As the Jehovah's Witnesses are Arians with another name... sort of.

If it was a joke, I apologize if I didn't get the Irish wit, my Irish blood is diluted.

Thanks for all the feedback and encouragement everyone!

I think that engaging them in a polite yet serious conversation as you did, instead of slamming the door in their faces and/or calling them names, was exactly the right thing to do. They probably don't get treated like human beings very often, and may be inclined to think more seriously about your arguments as a result.

I also admire what you said to them the one about how did people know what the bible was before the Church defined which are inspired is a classic apologist statement to be used by Orthodox Catholics which I have never had fail me when i told it to Sola Scriptura heretics.

I would have emphasized that I love them even though they are heretics and hope that God blesses them regardless..not bless their heresy but their works which are simple orthodox virtues. I find simple love is a good pathway to conversion, along with speaking the truth. The JW I have read is usually like a harmful cult. the Michael Jackson family are former JW and look at all there problems.

I think to some degree JW's could be treated the way harmful cult deprogrammers treat people...however that is. Perhaps speaking to former JW's who became Orthodox Catholic is the best way to get answers.

Dr. Eric,

A good response!

Most would simply choose not to speak at all and that is an opportunity lost. Knowing your faith is very important because it helps to formulate responses quickly.

I keep literature in the closet near my front door (the �Our Faith - A popular presentation of Byzantine Christianity� by Father John Matusiak). As the JWs offer to sell me their booklets I offer them a free copy of �Our Faith� and start to tell them about Jesus Christ. I keep to positive things if I can, not putting down specific JW teachings but presenting the correct teachings.

I have had more fun with Mormons. A few years back I had them in my living room five weeks running. Each time they presented a Mormon teaching I countered with a Christian one, and backed it up with Scripture, the Church Fathers and plain history.

The absolutely worst thing one can do is to slam the door. The evangelizers go away convinced in their faith. If one does not know what to say, simply say: �I have a good relationship with Jesus Christ and I know that what the Church teaches is true, so I am not interested in anything you have to say. But would you like to come to my Church on Sunday? I know people there who can explain the faith better than I.�

Admin

I don't know what it is, but every time the JW's or the Mormons knock at my door, they never want to talk!!! They hand me literature and leave very quickly. Maybe it's time to trim my beard???

Alexandr

Alexandr,

Well, since you're 6' 7" and have a beard it very well may have something to do with it!

You don't look like this do you?

[Linked Image]

Just kidding! :p

Alexandr,

I hope your look is more like this:

[Linked Image]

So you know I'm not picking on you.

I've always had that problem. Here is my 2nd grade school picture:

[Linked Image]

Alexandr

Ok, fun aside, this is a section devoted to the spreading evangelization witness of the church and not comparing school photos . I would this thread to get back on topic. If not, and it had run its course I will be forced to close it.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Administrator