At The Door

Two Jehovah's Witnesses just came to my door. I listened. I tried to ask some thoughtful questions. I was understanding and compassionate. I think I made one or two good points. But I feel like I failed. Not because they left unchanged (that's up to the Holy Spirit, not me!), but because I felt inadequate. Here I am on the verge of receiving my bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies, but I felt insufficient for the task of talking about the gospel with two ladies on my front step. They didn't really throw anything my way (this time) that I couldn't counter or at least make some kind of insight about, but I knew they could have. If they'd decided to stay longer, I'm sure I would have floundered a time or two...or more. And certainly some of the comments I did make could have been much more discerning, persuasive and backed up with Scripture.

1 Peter 3:15 exhorts us to, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have..." I don't think this means just whipping out the "Four Spiritual Laws" or even simply giving your personal testimony (although these can be good things). On the other extreme, I also don't think we are expected to be able to recite every verse in the Bible or expound on every sub-point on every doctrine. So how do we prepare? Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2 to "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." Now, I am not a leader of a church like Timothy with an official capacity to preach, but I believe that all Christians have some degree of responsibility to preach the Word. Certainly, mothers teach their children daily, friends share Biblical insights with each other, etc. As I ponder that verse, I'm not really sure what Paul originally meant about being prepared "in season and out of season," but when I think about my own life I realize there are seasons of time when I'm at my peak (i.e. when I'm saturated in the Word at Bible college) and seasons when things are pretty barren (i.e. when I realize I've already forgotten much of what I learned at college and have a hard time just keeping up with a basic daily reading of the Bible). I guess I've realized that you can't just prepare once and then think you're set for life. Being prepared is a continual process, one that I have to keep working at and one that will never be fully done.

On a lighter note, at least I can say that I followed the latter part of 1 Peter 3:15, which states, "...But do this with gentleness and respect." I can remember a prior encounter with some Jehovah's Witness missionaries when I was a kid staying at my cousin's farm, in which we cousins hollered after them as they left, "You'll go to hell if you don't repent!" or something of that nature (my aunt and uncle were not home =). Yes, my tactfulness in witnessing has definitely improved over the years. But I hope that since childhood I have learned more than respect for others or the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses don't even believe in a literal hell. I hope that each time the Jehovah's Witnesses (or Mormons or whoever) show up at my door, I will be found more prepared and more thoroughly equipped to answer for my faith no matter what "season" I'm in.