Why do some religions feel door-to-door "selling" of religion is alright?

Question

Why is it that every saturday when I'm relaxing on my day off some Jehovah's come knocking on my door trying to "sell" me religion? I equate this to telemarketers calling me. Is there a "Do Not Visit" list I can sign up on somewhere like the "Do Not Call" list I'm on? Isn't there something better these people could be doing with their time? Aren't there sick children in hospitals they could pray for instead of bugging me on my day off? Why do these people think that just because they come to MY house I'm going to convert to their religion? If I wanted info on their religion wouldn't I stop by their church? Just curious if this irritates anyone else.

They want me to have a better relationship with God?! Who said the relationship I have with Him now is bad? And I am not "too busy to talk with other human beings." I just prefer to talk to people I like.

Answer 1

As a Jehovah's Witness myself I can tell you that our intentions are to follow Jesus example and because we love others. In the Bible he encouraged his followers to preach to others door to door and to share what the future holds for us. However, if you don't want us at your door, simply tell the witness at your door that you are not interested and that you specifically don't want to be visited. You don't have to be rude about it, just be honest and polite. We understand.

As far as having other things to do. Yes! We are busy people. In my case I work a 40 hour job and have responsibilities of keeping up a home and a family. But I do it out of love for others and respect for what the Bible mandates in Matthew 28:19, 20.

Answer 2

The name "Jehovah" belongs the Almighty God. Using that name in the plural to refer to adherents of the Jehovah's Witness religion is ignorant and blasphemous.

The door-to-door work may not be the personal preference of householders, or even of individual Witnesses. However, the Scriptures are quite clear that Christians are directed and even commanded to perform this house-to-house preaching work.

As true Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses work to please God and Christ rather than man or selves. It does not even matter if anyone listens to their message, since the bible foretold that many (such as the questioner) would not "put up with the healthful teaching". The Witnesses continue to preach because they value the bible's direction even more highly than a silly window slogan!

(Acts 5:42) Every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.

(Acts 20:20) I did not hold back ...from teaching you publicly and from house to house

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Incidentally, each local congregation does maintain a "do not visit" list. Just ask the next Jehovah's Witness minister who comes to your door.

Learn more from their official website:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1998/10/1/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/2/15/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2005/7/15/article_01.htm

Answer 3

They believe in selling that Bible by any means necessary.

The Gideons leave free Bibles in hotel rooms, the Salvation Army plays tambourines on street corners, Hare Krishna hangs out in airports, Jehovah's Witnesses knocks on doors, the Church of the Latter Day Saints Delivers free Bibles, the Bahia's invite you to a Fireside Dinner and there are several that mail you more literature than you could ever read.

Why do they all do this? Because the Bible tells them that they should, out of love, share the gospel with their neighbors. Why does the Bible tell them this? To spread the faith around the world. Even during the days when the bible was written, the writers understood the power of spiral marketing And, it works.

lonely people are sucked into a ready-made extended family. Soon they're out knocking on doors just like all the other green flies wondering why they can't erect crosses on the lawn in front of city hall; or, teach Christianity to Jewish and Muslim children in public schools.

All of this proselytizing is personally very irritating to me, and I find it no less irritating than the commercial advertising that I can't get away from either.

Answer 4

We're not trying to sell you anything-lol. We just do it because Jesus said so and you might be interested in whatever the literature is about. A common belief people have about us is that we are trying to convert or change you. That isn't the case. We are just trying to give you an encouraging Bible message, something you may not have known before, a message of hope. Jesus said to "go" and make disciples not build a church and have everyone come to you. I'm sorry if we disturbed your rest-lol- but you may learn something life-saving. If you feel that we are just oh so terrible then yes you can be put on our Do Not Call list but the only way you can do that is if you come to the door :)

Answer 5

As hard as it is for the world to believe, Jehovah's Witnesses are the only true Christians who serve the only true god Jehovah (Psalms 83:18, Acts 15:14). The reason that you don't understand is because Satan is the ruler of this world and he has "blinded the minds of the unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 4:4). You ever read that scripture in which Jesus says "broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life." He doesn't say that for nothing. The world has come up with so many philosophies, but one individual is leading them all, and that is Satan. YOU MUST HUMBLE YOURSELF to recieve God's blessing of being free from this world of spiritual darkness (2 Thessalonians 2:6-11, Isaiah 61:1, James 4:6). That is why you have so many questions such as "Why do Jehovah's Witnesses knock on my door all the time?" Every time we knock it's like Jehovah putting out his hand for you and you slapping it away. I know it's hard to believe because false religion has given vague or false answers. But it all comes back to being humble. Whether you reject the message or not, bible prophecy is being fulfilled and this is the only organization that is in harmony with Jesus' prayer in which he says "Our Father in the heavens, let your NAME be sanctified." (Matthew 6:9). Also read John 17:26. I will continue to keep you in my prayers and thank Jehovah for being a god of patience. Please read the cited scriptures if nothing else. For more information go to www.watchtower.org.

Answer 6

They are the worst morons on this planet. I cant really understand why so many people waste time propagating and "practicing " religion. I believe in God ,and i think, all he wants from us is honesty and love for others.he doesnt even care if you go to church or anyting! He doesnt even want us to pray!
But we thank him through prayers coz we are humans and know how to thank! But Im sure s/he doesnt really care about it.
The biggest morons are the so called Muslim extremists or whatever..Di you see tht protest they showed up against Allah cartoons?? Till that day, i had respect for the word Allah. But now, after that incident, its equivalent to dysentery and pain in the as88.
I am a christian, and i think the church is just a fuc;in business. There are some good people out there, but majority are a88holes.
And the so called Jehovah..i would highly recommend you to show a dickk or two.

Answer 7

It is sometimes effective. If it wasn't they wouldn't do it. Just tell them you aren't interested and let them go on their way. Someone else might be interested.

There are actually many people converted by door-to-door visiting.

If you aren't busy, it doesn't hurt to chat with them a little. You act as if your life is so busy that you don't have time to talk with other human beings. You don't have to agree with them. If you are comfortable with your own faith than you likely won't.

Try to be nice to them. They are trying to help people. They are not being paid for what they are doing. They are being yelled at and mocked and laughed at constantly. Some people even try to hurt them.

In the Bible, Jesus commands his disciples to go out 2 by 2 and teach the people. They are trying to follow what they believe God wants them to do. Just because you don't care about your fellow man doesn't mean others don't.

Answer 8

In response I have a question for you. What would you say to someone who accepted those messengers into their house one day and eventually made life changing decisions that made their life better than it was before? Suppose this person had never heard about this church before, or very little, or didn't know enough to really make a decision either way. Suppose you were to stand in front of this person whose life is now 100% better because of those messengers, would you feel alright in telling them that missionaries shouldn't go door-to-door? Sounds pretty selfish to me, after all it's just an inconvenience to you, but it may be life changing to someone else, and there's no way to tell who is who unless you try them all.

Answer 9

Depends on their 'selling' method I would say.

I will have a discussion with any religion coming to my door, and if they can show mutual respect for my beliefs without knocking or insulting my beliefs then I don't have a problem.

Incidentally not one Jehovah witness has come to my door and maintained mutual respect for either mine or my wife's beliefs. If I started a conversation with them by attacking they would not like it and would (rightly) suggest I was being rude. But it has never occurred to the one's who have visited my doorstep that insulted the houseowners' faith my not be considered a good way to start a mutual discussion.

Some on this site was suggest that people harbour hatred towards them but I would say that simply put, people do not like someone at their door insulting them over their beliefs, and if done often enough would cause people to not want them to knock on their door.

Answer 10

it does seem a bit invasive.

i value my privacy and time as well.
i dont believe in mormanism or JW's beliefs, but i ask myself, if someone has the motivation to go out and pound the pavement on a hot sunny or miserable rainy day when they could be home with their family, i should at least give them credit for being strong enough in their faith to want to share it.
im a bit torn.
so im kind, and i give them credit in a sense, but its so uncomfortable to say well, no, and be put on the spot in MY OWN sanctuary. I know i wouldnt do it, not my style, and im not feeling Jesus breathing down my Christian neck...yes juli, this is the right thing to do, spread the word to the masses, no. hasnt happened. but i have invited people to my church on occasion, if the vibe is right.

i say stay home, save paper.

but the two answerers above me make good points.

Answer 11

The reason they stop by is out of love for fellow man. Its not to anoy you. Jesus commisioned christians to go out and make disciples.So thats why they do it. Believe me there is other things that they could be doing. But because they want you to have a better relationship with God (Jehovah) Ps 83:18 .They put up with doors being slammed,cussed out ,and people posting ?s like this out of LOVE.