sara ann
Well-Known Member
me too!
I blew it. How to do better?
- Thread starter pixelpusher
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Ghoti Ichthus
Pray so they do not serve alone. Ephesians 6:10-20
Ghoti Ichthus
Pray so they do not serve alone. Ephesians 6:10-20
Brother Albert R.
Jesus loved us and said we should Love our enemies
Adrian,
Have you ever talked to the JW's before in depth? I realize that you know the scriptures very well so that won't be a problem for you. One thing I ask of them at the beginning is that we have a dialog and not just have them monolog. It works. When we talked I would often have both my greek interlinear version and my TANAKH by the door with me so that I can quickly reference it with them. They only know what they are told by their organization, so it throws them for a loop when you show them the greek translation word for word as well as the TANAKH in English (which is the bible the Jewish publication society puts out), so if any one would know how to translate the old testament into English, the Jewish people would...for the most part. I cannot help but to complement them by saying "I like the way you reference the bible so much because I love the bible myself". They are people in need of a Savior just as we do. I will be praying for you, Adrian, and encourage you to keep up the good work. Remember God sent them to you and so you have a message to share with them, Rom.9....
"Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
God Bless you Adrian,
Brother Albert
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mattfivefour
Well-Known Member
Thank you, brother. Please stay in prayer for their souls. They came today but were not prepared to stay today beyond an initial chat in the foyer. So we made an appointment for 14:15 Eastern next Thursday, March 1 , at which time they will be prepared to stay and talk.
Hol
Worships Him
Do you think 2 John 1:10-11 relates to this situation? I heard a pastor give a message on this as it relates to asking people such as Jw's into your home.
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." 2 John 10-11
Question: Should we allow false teachers into our home?
Answer: The short letter of 2 John is written in part to warn believers against the influence of false teachers. John identifies them as those “who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” and describes them as deceivers and antichrists (2 John 1:7). He goes on to say in verse 10 that, if anyone comes teaching a falsehood about Jesus Christ, “do not take them into your house or welcome them.” Does this prohibition refer to those who knock on our doors today, such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are we to deny members of these sects access to our homes?
It is important to understand the doctrine that John was defending. In saying, “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh,” John affirms that Jesus is both fully God and truly man. He also addressed this issue in 1 John 4:2, telling his readers how to identify false teachers and the spirits who drive them. The first test of a true teacher/prophet of God is that he proclaims that Jesus is God incarnate (see John 1:14). A godly teacher will teach both the full deity and true humanity of Christ. The Holy Spirit testifies to the true nature of Christ, while Satan and his demonic host deny that true nature. The Gnostics of John’s day denied the true humanity of Christ. Today, there are many who deny the full deity of Christ—such as the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses—and John identifies them as deceivers and antichrists.
It is also important to understand the context of John’s epistle. John is writing to “the elect lady and her children” (2 John 1:1). This lady was engaged in a ministry of hospitality. In the name of Christian love (verse 6), this kind-hearted woman was receiving itinerant preachers into her home, providing room and board for them, and sending them on their way with her blessing. John writes this quick note to her to warn her about the many false teachers who would gladly take advantage of her generosity. Her love needed to be tempered by truth. Boundaries had to be drawn. Hospitality should not be extended to charlatans, hucksters, and the devil’s own emissaries. That’s why John tells her, “Do not take them into your house or welcome them” (verse 10). And he tells her why: “Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work” (verse 11).
John gives the hospitable lady a litmus test: what does the traveling preacher teach about Jesus Christ? If he is presenting the full deity and full humanity of Christ, then he can be welcomed into her home as a guest. However, if the teacher mitigates, obscures, or equivocates on the fact that Jesus is fully man and fully God, then the lady is to have nothing to do with him. Such false teachers are not to receive help from believers, not even so much as a greeting. To give material aid or spiritual encouragement to the purveyors of false doctrine is to partake in their wickedness (verse 11).
What should be our response, then, when cultists or false teachers come knocking at the door? It is not wrong to share the truth with them or to relate our testimony. We are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). However, we must be careful not to do anything that would give the appearance that we approve of their message. We should never invite them into our home for an extended stay, donate money to their cause, or allow them to conduct a “Bible study” with us.
Here are some things to remember: First, cultists are master deceivers who are well trained in techniques that will confuse those whose knowledge of Scripture is limited. Well-meaning and compassionate souls (like the elect lady in 2 John) can be coaxed to dialog with cultists and then be fooled by them. Second, Christians are of Christ; cultists are anti-Christ (2 John 1:7), no matter how kind, sincere, and charming they may appear. Third, believers should not to give the cultists or anyone else the impression that the cult has legitimate claims, doctrines, or opinions. Fourth, Jesus tells us to “watch out” for false teachers (Matthew 7:15), and Paul tells us to “avoid them” (Romans 16:17) and declares them to be “accursed” (Galatians 1:8). Therefore, we should build no close associations with those who teach a false gospel. Fifth, John tells the lady in 2 John not to “welcome” a false teacher (or “bid him God speed” in the KJV). This phrase in the Greek means “to cheerfully or joyfully hail someone.” In other words, we are not to bless false teachers or wish them well.
We are to be always ready with an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15), but we must do so in the Holy Spirit’s power, following His lead. When cultists or false teachers knock at the door, it could be an opportunity to relate the truth about Jesus to them, or it could be an opportunity to “leave them; they are blind guides” (Matthew 15:14). In any case, we must rely the Lord’s wisdom (James 1:5) and be cautious not to cast our pearls before pigs (Matthew 7:6)
https://www.gotquestions.org/allow-false-teachers-home.html
I think there is some wisdom in the commentary from Warren Wiersbe on the 2 John passage.
He states:
"If I entertain a cultist, for example, he will only say to the neighbors, "There's no reason why you shouldn't let me in. After all, Pastor Weirsbe let me in and we had a wonderful talk!" My disobedience could very well lead to somebody else's destruction."
He states:
"If I entertain a cultist, for example, he will only say to the neighbors, "There's no reason why you shouldn't let me in. After all, Pastor Weirsbe let me in and we had a wonderful talk!" My disobedience could very well lead to somebody else's destruction."
mattfivefour
Well-Known Member
Amen.
mattfivefour
Well-Known Member
Respectfully, in this case no, brother.
I highly respect Pastor Wiersbe, though I may not always agree with him on every single application of doctrine. I think we have to follow the leading of the Lord and I believe that God wold have me witness to these two "witnesses". Hopefully the Holy Spirit can use what I share to create some questions in their minds regarding the false teaching they have been given. It is worth any effort to do so: Jesus died for their souls. May He reap the reward of His suffering for them.
I agree 100% that when people come knocking at our door, it's a golden opportunity and our duty to share the truth of God's Word with them. Their eternal lives are at stake. I also know I have missed - neglected several of these opportunities.
I'm not sure I would ever invite them into my home - I'll have to pray about this.
pixelpusher
Well-Known Member
My goodness, I didn't see this topic come back up all week, so figured no one else had seen it or replied! Thanks to all for their answers and feedback. Adrian, praying your meeting goes well and your seeds find root and thrive.
Belle of Grace
Longing for Home
Brother Albert R.
Jesus loved us and said we should Love our enemies
Adrian,
Now that is what I like to see, a man who is willing to obey the Lords' leading. God bless you Adrian. I have not invited any of them into my house but I have built a special patio in my front yard that I call "my JW patio". I did this so that we can sit and talk for as long as the Lord leads. I know most Christians are intimidated to engage, but we only have one life to live and one life to share with the lost...so let's be bold enough to share, concerned enough to care and wise enough to always trust the Lord with the seeds He has given us, but always remembering that it is He that gives the increase.
Brother Albert
BarbT
Well-Known Member
This is such a great discussion -- one that will serve as a valuable resource for all of us who struggle with these situations. 
Brother Albert R.
Jesus loved us and said we should Love our enemies
Adrian...How did it go with the JWs? Did they come back?
God bless,
Brother Albert
mattfivefour
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I should have updated y'all. They did come back. But instead of two younger women, one younger woman showed up with a much older man (clearly an elder.) I took control of the conversation from the beginning, forcing them to deal from Scripture and not from their printed materials. They tried to argue against the Word of God for an hour. And then they expressed that they were confused because they could not answer the questions I posed from Scripture: as you know, brother, Scripture contradicts their own statements and interpretations of the Word. I even allowed them to use their own NWT and it still contradicted them! Not in the obvious places (eg: John 1:1) of course, since the Watchtower Society altered God's Word to support their own views; but God's Word is so divinely interwoven that it is impossible to change it all, and I was able to use the deeper things of Scripture to confound their views. The man kept trying to find points in his printed material with which to argue with me, but the younger woman seemed to be genuinely taken by the Scriptures I was offering. After an hour the elder said that they had to leave but that he wanted to come back and continue the discussion. I extended the invitation and he said he would be in touch. That was 3 weeks ago and that's the last I heard from him.
borrowedtime
Well-Known Member
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