A visit from some JW's!

[ignatios]

Unfortunately, my experience is the same.  JW's can be questioned about things and honestly try to defend their views, but in the end they go home with their beliefs and don't come back.  I've met only one former JW in my life, who somehow was converted to the Baptist denomination.  Any attempts to witness to the Gospel with them seem to fall on deaf ears.  Of course, there are many people who have been given the good news of Christ but have never accepted it.  May the Lord have mercy on them and us.

Edit: It might be a good idea to put an icon of Christ on a card and on the other side the verses that DavidBryan mentioned:

In the midst of the lampstands someone like a son of man... said: “Do not be fearful. I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Ha´des. - Jesus Christ, Rev. 1:13, 17-18

 

[scamandrius]

South Serb,

I would encourage you and your wife not to give them entrance to your house.  Your account that they travel in hordes (if 4 constitutes a horde) is their usual m.o.  They try to gang up on you and bombard you from multiple sides.  Allowing them entrance into your house only increases their resolve and you are made (deceptively) to feel comfortable.

I've had this situation happen to me in my apartment shortly after my conversion to Orthodoxy.  In my hubris and arrogance, I assumed that I would be impervious and be able to handle things with dignity, patience and loving kindness.  How wrong I was!  They started becoming vitriolic and almost hateful. They even started cursing my icons of Christ and the Theotokos that I have in my apartment.  I became mad and I started becoming sarcastic which led me to become mean and insulting to the point that I nearly threw them out of my apartment.  If I had sense and just said that I wasn't interested in talking to them, it would have saved me a lot of trouble and even doubt.

 

[stashko]

South Serb,

I would encourage you and your wife not to give them entrance to your house.  Your account that they travel in hordes (if 4 constitutes a horde) is their usual m.o.  They try to gang up on you and bombard you from multiple sides.  Allowing them entrance into your house only increases their resolve and you are made (deceptively) to feel comfortable.

I've had this situation happen to me in my apartment shortly after my conversion to Orthodoxy.  In my hubris and arrogance, I assumed that I would be impervious and be able to handle things with dignity, patience and loving kindness.  How wrong I was!  They started becoming vitriolic and almost hateful. They even started cursing my icons of Christ and the Theotokos that I have in my apartment.  I became mad and I started becoming sarcastic which led me to become mean and insulting to the point that I nearly threw them out of my apartment.  If I had sense and just said that I wasn't interested in talking to them, it would have saved me a lot of trouble and even doubt.

Brother this seem's very hard to believe,,we have icon's all over the House including the sacred heart pictures that a catholic charity keep's sending here non stop.. the Jehova witnesses must of noticed them they never commented on them ever..maybe your situation was different i don't know???? all in all they are good and descent people.....<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_3_15.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0">

 

[scamandrius]

all in all they are good and descent people.....

They are to be commended in that they practice what they preach. It's the same with Mormons.  But, sad to say, their theology is dangerous. I have absolutely no problem practicing whatever religion or beliefs that they hold sacred, but when they try to impose it on others by use of intimidation (and that's what my meetings with them have amounted to), that's when the line has been crossed.

 

[stashko]

They are to be commended in that they practice what they preach. It's the same with Mormons.  But, sad to say, their theology is dangerous. I have absolutely no problem practicing whatever religion or beliefs that they hold sacred, but when they try to impose it on others by use of intimidation (and that's what my meetings with them have amounted to), that's when the line has been crossed.

Im still orthodox i never converted also neather did my brother....thou we did attend a kingdom hall for quite a long time...i and my brother  never were heavy in the theoligies of there faith or orthodoxy ,,all i knew of the orthodox church , it was ancient and apostalic that's what kept me and my brother orthodox ...so i guess ignorance was a blessing for my brother and i....also it was something to do that was different.....<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_3_15.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0">

 

[Riddikulus]

Im still orthodox i never converted also neather did my brother....thou we did attend a kingdom hall for quite a long time...i and my brother  never were heavy in the theoligies of there faith or orthodoxy ,,all i knew of the orthodox church , it was ancient and apostalic that's what kept me and my brother orthodox ...so i guess ignorance was a blessing for my brother and i....also it was something to do that was different.....<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_3_15.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0">

I do believe that JWs are very sincere in their beliefs, but they are also very sincere in their endeavours to sell those beliefs to others. It is ignorance that has led many to fall for their false doctrines. From talking to those who come to the door, I get the impression that when they say that they were Catholic/Anglican/Presbyterian/whatever before becoming JWs, they actually know little or nothing of the doctrines of the denomination they claim to have left. It seems to me that it's usually that kind of believer that JWism ensnares; those who have a some degree of desire to know Christ but haven't received teaching of their own doctrines. Because there is a gapping hole in their knowledge that should have been filled with the teachings of their own faith, they are the most easily convinced by falsehoods. It's very dangerous, IMO, to rely on some kind of loyalty to "inherited" Orthodoxy to protect our children from those who would carry them off into erroneous doctrines.

 

[stashko]

I agree we need better education in religion orthodoxy ...when i was younger i and my brother were about to attend sunday school 1st day the father that was supposed to teach us and some other kid's ..He got upset some of the kid's were making noise he slamed the bible probable a king james version on the floor and stormed out..that was the end of sunday school ,,didn't even begin yet but it ended fast never to be resurrected again in my youth..i guess his heart wasn't into teaching sunday school.....that's probably why i never got interested in religion until my later yr's....<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_3_15.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0">

 

[admiralnick]

We had some JW comes come over to my parent's house last Saturday. They saw the cross sun catchers hanging from the glass on the front door and immediately turned around, walked down the stairs and over to the next door neighbor's house without even ringing the doorbell. I was quite amused since my parents, myself and my fiancee were all walking to the house at that point, they simply ignored us and moved on, never even came back.

Bwahahahhahahahah!

-Nick

 

[EofK]

^I've joked with Mr. Y that we might post up a couple of icons outside the front door and see if that stems the tide of JW and Baptist visitors we get.  It would be one thing if they were interested in honest discussion, but most I've met at the door either want to invite any kids we have to Vacation Bible School or want to convert us.  When I have a crawling 8 month old who wants to stick her hand in the VCR or I'm breaking up yet another cat fight, I don't have any inclination to stop and listen to a sales pitch.

 

[AlexanderOfBergamo]

As I generally do, I read my favorite Church Father, saint Ignatius of Antioch. I immediately thought of how our blessed third Patriarch of Antioch would have treated those who profess heresy.
After a list of common of heresies such as the refusal of Christ's existence as God in the flesh (which is also a JW doctrine), in the Epistle to the Smyrnaeans he writes such... ahem... words of "love" for those who deny the physical resurrection of the Lord (as JWs also do).

For I know that after His (=of Christ) resurrection also He was still possessed of flesh, and I believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, Lay hold, handle Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit. And immediately they touched Him, and believed, being convinced both by His flesh and spirit. For this cause also they despised death, and were found its conquerors. And after his resurrection He did eat and drink with them, as being possessed of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.
I give you these instructions, beloved, assured that you also hold the same opinions [as I do]. But I guard you beforehand from those beasts in the shape of men, whom you must not only not receive, but, if it be possible, not even meet with; only you must pray to God for them, if by any means they may be brought to repentance, which, however, will be very difficult.
(From chapters 3 and 4 of the Epistle to the Smyrnaeans)

Wow, JW's are really lucky Ignatius lived 1900 years ago... ;-)

In Christ,      Alex

 

[prodromas]

As I generally do, I read my favorite Church Father, saint Ignatius of Antioch. I immediately thought of how our blessed third Patriarch of Antioch would have treated those who profess heresy.
After a list of common of heresies such as the refusal of Christ's existence as God in the flesh (which is also a JW doctrine), in the Epistle to the Smyrnaeans he writes such... ahem... words of "love" for those who deny the physical resurrection of the Lord (as JWs also do).

For I know that after His (=of Christ) resurrection also He was still possessed of flesh, and I believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, Lay hold, handle Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit. And immediately they touched Him, and believed, being convinced both by His flesh and spirit. For this cause also they despised death, and were found its conquerors. And after his resurrection He did eat and drink with them, as being possessed of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.
I give you these instructions, beloved, assured that you also hold the same opinions [as I do]. But I guard you beforehand from those beasts in the shape of men, whom you must not only not receive, but, if it be possible, not even meet with; only you must pray to God for them, if by any means they may be brought to repentance, which, however, will be very difficult.
(From chapters 3 and 4 of the Epistle to the Smyrnaeans)

Wow, JW's are really lucky Ignatius lived 1900 years ago... ;-)

In Christ,      Alex

Well our beloved Saint Nicholas was supposedly reported to have punched Arius at the first Council of Nicaea in the face and made his nose bleed quite badly, so I see this as a precedent for their spiritual descendants.

 

[Riddikulus]

Well our beloved Saint Nicholas was supposedly reported to have punched Arius at the first Council of Nicaea in the face and made his nose bleed quite badly, so I see this as a precedent for their spiritual descendants.

Oh, resort to violence with pacifists, would you!!!  :laugh:

 

[prodromas]

Oh, resort to violence with pacifists, would you!!!  :laugh:

Hey I didn't say it was going to be a fair fight!

 

[Riddikulus]

Hey I didn't say it was going to be a fair fight!

:laugh:

 

[admiralnick]

Well our beloved Saint Nicholas was supposedly reported to have punched Arius at the first Council of Nicaea in the face and made his nose bleed quite badly, so I see this as a precedent for their spiritual descendants.

Agreed

 

[Pedro]

Well our beloved Saint Nicholas was supposedly reported to have punched Arius at the first Council of Nicaea in the face and made his nose bleed quite badly, so I see this as a precedent for their spiritual descendants.

Just be ready for the church discipline in response...

 

[AlexanderOfBergamo]

Ok, I'll think saints Ignatius and Nicholas could have been good friends if they lived in the same century... 

 

[_Seraphim_]

What? I would LOVE for them to come, but they never do! Grrrrr, maybe they know to watch out for me. haha

That's how I always feel when I see them pass my house.  They don't come by anymore because:

A couple years ago I had a very brief but very in-depth conversation with some of them.  They were pretty much at a loss for words... to such a degree that they flat out said: "Well, we don't really know what else to say... so... have a good day."  Of course I studied JW-ism long before I even knew about Orthodoxy... so I knew what their basic responses would be and was able to have a counter-argument ready before they even had time to think.  But, unlike the Serbian JWs mentioned in the original post, the JWs I interacted with didn't know ANYthing about Orthodoxy... (they just assumed it was Roman Catholicism)... so they didn't have any real counter-arguments prepared.  All things considered, they seemed to take it pretty well... almost as if they were humorously re-evaluating their awareness of "ancient Christianity"... like they were inwardly saying: "So... how in the world did we miss this 'Orthodox' thing?"

 

[Andrea]

We've been getting regular visits from some JW ladies for the last several months and it's been bothering me. I'm not a very confrontational person so I haven't been able to tell them to get lost, or debate them. I generally take their materials and then put them directly into the recycle bin. But my DH and I have been feeling like we must do something...so we thought if we had a selection of pamphlets by the front door we could say something like, "we will take your literature if you take ours."  Now, we're Catholic (though I'm interested in the Orthodox Church) but perhaps something from here might work?  http://conciliarpress.com/catalog/Booklets_and_Brochures-17-1.html  Also, I know they make them for Catholics, but maybe you can find (or make) a sign to hang by your front door that says "This is an Orthodox home".  These are the 2 things we're thinking of trying. We'll see if they work.

 

[Anastasios]

JW's are forbidden to take other people's literature so they will probably leave at that point.