What if they came to your house?

Comment by Nik P. on November 23, 2008 at 9:29pm

This is a good example of how the visitor knew that it was a Christian group and respected the gathering rather than trying to teach his own faith. I have befriended many people this way. However, if he began to disrupt the group and try to teach instead, I would remind him it was a Christian group and ask him to leave if he continued.

Comment by RacquelG on November 24, 2008 at 12:03am

Amen....what an encouraging post. Thanks.

Comment by Linden on November 24, 2008 at 2:15am

Exactly Nik. If they come for 2 or 3 weeks and want to just disrupt the group we would privately say to them this might not be the group for them. We would still meet with them one on one.

Comment by Katie Mather on November 27, 2008 at 5:58am

I visited a group and a fellow came who was sharing some pretty wacko thoughts. He assumed because this was an "open church" meeting that folks could come and share any religious thoughts on their minds. People were soon jumping in his face about contradicting the Word. It wasn't very pretty. Although his common law wife was really hungry, they never came back. It was just another display of Christians getting all worked up over thumping some one with the Bible and not exercising love and grace to see past the "heresy."

I think that talking to and more importantly listening to unbelievers is a much lacking skill in the Body. Many Christians are so threatened by another's world view that they are unable to exercise the patience and grace needed to win them to Father. It's kind of like a horse wisperer. You have to show yourself as non-threatening before you win them over. This is where that meeting with them one on one is crucial. Perhaps meeting one on one should take place first. That is being salt and light in a dark place. Being too eager to bring someone into "the group" is so much like the IC where all are compelled to bring the heathen into church on Sunday, like that is the only place and time where they could find Jesus. The right timing though, to have them experince a gathering of believers all sharing Jesus is crucial. Thank you Linden for sharing this with us.

Comment by Linden on September 9, 2009 at 2:50pm

Hi Katie,
I am sorry you had a bad experience but mine has not been so. I encourage people to utilize discussion Bible studies that way they know the Word and when the "wackos" come they can be straightened out.

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