For the CHRISTIANS here...?

Question

The Washington State Constitution, under the Declaration of Rights, Article 1, Section 7: "INVASION OF PRIVATE AFFAIRS OR HOME PROHIBITED. No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs, or his home invaded, without authority of law."

It would be logical to assume that most (if not all) states have a similar (if not identical) right listed in their own Constitutions; in a nutshell, a legal "Right to Privacy".

So, how do you justify coming onto a person's property every Sunday (and sometimes weekdays), pounding on their front doors (and generally disturbing their peace), and shoving your own personal religious beliefs down their throats???

As an agnostic, I do have beliefs and theories; but you will NEVER find me imposing them onto other people -- because I know that each and every person on this planet has every right to their own beliefs, FREE from the condemnation by others.

I'm NOT looking for attacks here; I'm just curious...

Peter - No, I didn't realize I was "handing them out"; I apologize.

Vini - Personally, I don't care WHERE Christians pray -- just as long as you all afford people of all other faiths that same courtesy and freedom. And speaking of freedom, always remember that the "Freedom of Religion" door swings both ways. Lastly, as someone once said: "There can be no Freedom of Religion without freedom FROM religion."

Child - Sorry, but I don't believe everything I read; especially not from a millennia-old book...

Barry - I DID put up a sign on my door: it's the symbols for a man and a woman, the man is holding a Bible, and they're inside a red circle with a slash through it. The meaning should be crystal-clear; apparently, it's not, cuz they still come a-knockin'.

Mim and Word - While some are JW's, not all are. Others are Christians: Fundamentalists, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, etc.

Jabber - To me, personally, Heaven and Hell don't exist; they're fabrications. And I can't very well go to a place that doesn't exist, can I??

Child - Oh, and one more thing: I assure you, I did not "choose a path of unrighteous and agnostic" (by the way, the proper terms there would be "unrighteousness" and "agnosticism"). Unrighteousness is a judgment call; and you don't know me well enough to MAKE that call. And agnosticism chose ME - and very nearly went into atheism. See, I used to be a Christian. But almost 15 and a half years ago, in the space of about 2 hours, Christianity completely stopped making any sense to me. And it has never started back up again... *smiles*

Answer 1

First, let me apologize for ANYONE that has done such an act. Yes, I know that there are people who go door to door. Their intention mean will but a lot of time its their delivery that falls short. The only thing that I can suggest is that you place a sign on you door/lawn stating that you appreciate their desire but do not want to discuss this subject with them. John Micheal Montgomery wrote a song, "Politics, Religion and her," in which a grieving window did not discuss certain things unless he brought them to the surface. I believe that as Christians we need to employee some of the same principles towards the spread of the Gospel. How does it further the kingdom if the person I am speaking with does not wish to hear what I have to say. You know what we are about. If you desire to know God, like I know him, then you will come before him yourself and ask that he reveal himself to your (through belief, acceptance and repentance). Thank you for your question and God Bless.

Answer 2

I personally have never been in a church that practices door to door evangelism. I know in the LDS and Jehovah Witness religious beliefs it is an important part, but I have yet to meet any Christian churches that practice it, although I am sure some do. And even if I did belong to a church that did that, I wouldn't take part in it, because I don't really think that that is how Jesus wants us to spread the word. So I guess I agree with you in a lot of ways.
I don't particularly like people knocking on my door and disturbing me when there is no chance I am converting unless they can give me some excellent reason to do so (which I highly doubt), but I have yet to encounter anyone who has been rude about it. Actually the Mormon boys that wander my neighborhood have been well pushy, but extremely kind other than that.
Also to the people who have answered and said something like "at least those people are obeying Jesus' commandment to spread their faith"... there are a lot of ways to spread the faith. Door-knocking doesn't have to be one of them, although some people choose that method. Out of the conversions I have seen, the ones that I feel are "most-Christian" are the people who aren't out there trying to win souls. They are just trying to be a good neighbor. For example, what is better: Knocking on an elderly womans door every day and sharing the good news by words, or doing her yard work on a regular basis because you know it is difficult for her to do on her own? Personally, I think the latter.

Answer 3

The justification is to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. As far as your privacy and having your home invaded, there are more than just Christians visiting your door. Meter readers, utility workers, salesmen and the like are bound to visit too. Simply put up a sign that says no soliciting or no trespassing.

Answer 4

Although I am not Christian, I'm Jewish, no one has a right to go to someone's door and try to change their religious beliefs. Maybe a sign on your door saying, "No religious solicitors welcome", would help. I don't get this in Canada, but I know from personal experiences in New York way back when, it can get to a person. I never answered a ring at my door on Sunday, unless I was due a visitor. People doing so, can be rude, BY doing so and it used to bother me to no end.

Answer 5

Well, I'm not one of those that tries to sell my religion door-to-door. However, the way you're making it sound, the "Right to Privacy" law would also cover Girl Scouts, teens selling magazine subscriptions, the local newspaper trying to get people to subscribe, political groups, grassroots organizations that go door-to-door (I used to work for one, so I can testify that they exist)... the list goes on and on.

I had religious people come to my door when I wasn't a Christian. I survived. They didn't condemn me, even when I told them I was into witchcraft. They were just trying to tell me about their religion. I understand that they meant well.

Answer 6

So long as a gate is open, a door doesn't have a sign, and the law allows egress directly from the roadway to the door and back again, well none.

Then again any christian can turn up to school and be told not to pray even though the constitution allows freedom of religion.

Answer 7

I am a Christian (now, at age 25; was not before this year).

I would NEVER go door pounding. How utterly annoying! Invasion of privacy.

I am disappointed that a few people choose to do this and make people think that all Christians do this. Not to say that spreading faith is wrong, but not my personal style to go about it this way.

Answer 8

I agree with your feelings about invasion.
And enough with the vague quotes that make the rest of you feel entitle to harass someone.
Did Jesus go knocking on doors?!?!
People came to him, they were drawn to him.
If you want to spread the gospel, actions speak louder than words.
Being condescending to people on their front door step won't help you get your point across by saying that they're doomed.

So if you want to convert people, behave more like Jesus and people will come to you asking questions.

Leave the atheist alone and respect that he is more respectful to people than you.

Answer 9

I am sorry you choose a Path of unrighteous and agnostic. However, Us Christians are here to just plant the seeds. If anyone is battling you with anything strongly that makes you feel comfortable and beating the Bible over your head. That is not how they will win your Soul over to the Savior.
Now, Jesus died on the cross for our Sins that we all can everlasting life. Those that don't come to him will not come to the Father for anything. It says in the Bible.

Answer 10

A messianic Jew is a Jew that believes that Jesus is the Messiah. Christians and Messianic Jews feel that Jesus is the Messiah. They are Jews. The factor of view of the anti Messianice Jews is fine summed up by way of Mark JPAS while he mentioned "it's appropriate to mixture a few measure of overseas non secular factors with Judaism. The one exception is Christianity, that is seemed to be incompatible with any style of Jewishness. This is the double normal that's implemented to Christianity although Jesus is regarded the Jewish Messiah in Christianity. Messianic Jews are checked out with even higher disdain. Why? its a canopy for there possess deviations from Judaism. Some Jews must preserve a connection to Jewish loved ones due to the fact they've deviated such a lot from conventional Judaism that many Orthodox query their Jewishness. They want discover a few option to distract concentration due to the fact of there deviation from the Torah. This is completed by way of pointing their finger at others to direct concentration clear of their possess movements. You can not provide your self a identify and assume that it makes you anything. This is the argument that has been used in opposition to Jews that make a decision that Jesus is the Messiah. We are advised that the mere perception of one other nature of God instantly invalidated a Jews Jewishness. At the identical time Jews that grow to be atheists, pantheists or quit working towards any detail in their faith we're advised are nonetheless Jews. They say that you'll be able to feel in whatever however Jesus. Jews name conversion "becoming a member of the tribe". Things that could certainly not fly in Orthodox or for that topic Messianic Judaism can also be observed within the Reform and Reconstructionist activities. A well instance of this can be a prior query requested right here. The character asking worshiped the God Ferris however didn't feel in him or the Jewish God. The consciousness of the query was once" ...could you PERSONALLY suppose secure welcoming me no longer simply as a fellow congregant at your Synagogue, however as a member of the Tribe?" (so he was once certainly asking approximately changing to Judaism). The reaction was once "Reform Judaism covers a broad swath of ideals and practices and I am definite you are going to be fully permitted. ... I in my opinion could take delivery of you complete heartily as a fellow Jew." So a few Jews will take delivery of a wide variety of deviations from the Torah however no longer perception in "Jesus". Let's no longer put out of your mind the Reform motion desired to difference the sabbath to Sunday to be extra like Christianity. Most Messianic Jews are Torah observant but you'll be able to grow to be an atheist, quit working towards their religion, grow to be a Buddhist, become a member of a Unitarian Church and nonetheless be a Jew within the eyes of Reform/Reconstructionist Jews. Most Orthodox while requested approximately different Jews will say they do not know what non Orthodox Jews are. The identical applies to the opposite sects. Speaking of sects Jews will inform you there are not any sects however its no longer precise. Rabbinical Jews comply with an knowledge in their religion that was once founded one million,900 years in the past. They have their possess canon of Scripture. There also are non Rabbinical Jews such because the Ethiopian Jews that follows the sample of the Christian Old Testament and they've many further books that they take into account to be scripture. A institution known as the Karaites is the reverse of the Ethiopian and best feel within the five Books of Moses. Rabbinical Jews name Karaites "a sect of Judaism". You can goggle it and notice for your self. Don't permit anybody inform you that there are not any sects in Judaism. They say the the lessons of Jesus are very extraordinary from Judaism. They additionally declare that Jesus taught not anything new from the rabbis earlier than him. Then they we inform you that there have been no rabbis till 100 years after the time of Jesus. Its all approximately successful the argument to them no longer approximately what is precise. The trouble isn't variations however similarities. You must recognize ALL the writers of the Christian Bible had been Jews however one. Much of our Scriptures are shared. The big majority of early believers in Jesus had been Jews. So whilst you listen the distinctive reverse you must preserve that during brain. A Jew can feel in Jesus and nonetheless be a Jew. Edit: those who make individual accusations must comprise hyperlinks or close up.