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Think On These Things Newsletter>
Jehovah's Witness Encounter
August 25, 2008
Saturday is the only day when Cyndy and I have a chance to sleep late. We are usually not successful, but it is the only day with the possibility. By sleeping late, I mean actually getting the eight hours of sleep we continually strive for as a general rule. One particular Saturday morning I actually slept for eight hours. Cyndy goes to bed before I do, so she was up before I was.
I moseyed downstairs and sat for a while in the blessed silence. It would not be long before our three teenage boys woke - much like bears following hibernation. Enjoying the brief respite from the onslaught of teenage ramblings, I went to the kitchen and began fixing bacon. I was getting ready to return to the kitchen and turn the bacon, a knock on the door disturbed the conversation Cyndy and I had been having.
Cyndy answered the door and walked outside, closing the door behind her. We do not want our dog, Misty, to get out the front door. I went to turn the bacon. As I was doing so, Cyndy walked into the room.
“Your Jehovah’s witness friend is here. And she brought her husband to meet you.”
I was still half-asleep, having had been purposefully taking my time waking up. I was physically tired from too much exercise the day before and was moving slowly. I was wishing she had told them I was not home. I started walking slowly toward the front door.
About two weeks before, this same woman had visited with a fellow Jehovah’s witness. I was not home, but Cameron - our middle son - went out and talked to them. They gave him a Watch Tower tract and talked to him about the Bible. He told her that we were very active in church, I was a Christian writer, and we talk about the Bible all the time. Then she handed him the tract and asked him to read it. She said she would stop back buy the next week to talk to him about a story in the pamphlet and meet me. I was not elated when he told me.
They did return, of course. When she asked me about a particular theological point or a Bible story, I returned with chapter and verse. I thought if she saw that I was a practicing Christian and had a working knowledge of the Bible, she might move along to others she might be able to save. The man just stood and smiled as if he was not sure what I was talking about, but it sounded nice so he smiled. I thought that they might have gotten the point.
As I shuffled to the front door, I realized that they most assuredly did not get the point. I opened the door - watching for Misty - walked out and shut the door behind me. I was hoping she would pity my drooping eyelids and make it short. But - once again - I was mistaken.
“Hi, good morning, this is my husband -------!” I have a hard time with names when I do not think I need to record it for future reference. I do not even remember her name.
I nodded slowly with as much of a smile as I could manage - which was not much.
“What do you think about the end times?”
Now there is a question to wake up to! Part of me wanted to believe I missunderstood. But the bigger part of me realized I heard her right.
“I’m not sure I understand the question,” I said, groggily stalling for time, “what exactly do you mean what do I think about the end times?”
“With all of the things happening in the world today, what do you think about the end times?”
“Do you mean do I think the end times are now? No. But we’re certainly being sent a message. It will be a long time before the end times actually come.”
“Well, yes, but as it says in 1st Timothy...and she proceeded to read Timothy’s reference to the end times. I followed along in my mind, but got the wording wrong since she was reading from the King James Version. Then she read a familiar verse from John. Something told me she was in training. It seemed too automatic. I got the impression that she had somewhat of a script and she was trying to get through it as fast as she could. And whatever I said was of no consequence to what she said next. She kept plugging away.
I was trying to tell her I was in the middle of fixing breakfast.
“I know, I can smell it.” But she kept going.
I began to act irritated. Which is hard for me. I do not like to be rude. But I was tired, hungry, and I had not had my coffee.
“Well, maybe next time we can talk about...”
I told her that I really did not have time and I was at the church most of the time. She said they could stop by and if I was here fine and if I was not it was fine, too. I was thinking “fine for who?,” but I did not have it in me to just say “don’t come back.”
They finally said their good-byes and left. I went back in the house to retrieve my coffee and - literally - save my bacon. I was contemplating their visit, and wondering about their next visit. I do not have any objections to Jehovah’s Witnesses except for their insistence on intrusion into people’s daily lives. One of the worst times I have found to witness is when someone least expects it. Interrupting a person’s routine is not the way to make them receptive to listening.
My show of knowledge of the Bible had the opposite effect. She may think that there is something she can learn from me. Despite her false bravado, maybe there is something she is looking for and I can help her find it. I do not mind discussing the Bible at all, although I find the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ fascination with the end times a little short-sighted and depressing. But I like to pick the times I discuss the Bible - not have it thrust upon me.
Who knows, maybe there is something I can learn from her. At the very least have a experience I can use to further my theological musing. Perhaps I’ll start by remembering her name next time.
Peace be with you.
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