I heard the mail truck go by and so went out to get the mail. Junk. However, at that moment I noticed two ladies walking toward me–here’s how they looked–

• Dresses
• “Bibles” and colorful literature in hand
• Some sort of large purse or bag

Any guesses?

I’ve done my share of door-to-door work to know what it’s like–the individuals are usually “Oh no, not one of them,” so even though I thought, “Oh no, not Jehovah’s Witnesses” I quickly prayed “Lord, this could be an opportunity to clearly give the gospel to two individuals whose eyes are blinded by Satan. Please help!”

Sure enough, it was a mother-daughter team from the Kingdom Hall in Greene.

I let the daughter go through her initial presentation, and then she asked “the question” designed to elicit a response from me–“Do you know that the Bible has the answers to life’s problems?”

I’ve had lots of conversations with JW’s, from knock-down drag-out discussions with my Greek NT open to John 1:1, to long discussions with the novice (usually the one doing the talking).

So, I decided to implement 1 Peter 3:15 this time:

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence

Thus, I cut to the chase after her probing question thus–

ME: To be upfront and honest with you, I serve as pastor of Orwell Bible Church.

HER: Oh, great! Do you teach that the only hope for humanity is the Kingdom?

ME: The Bible clearly says that our only hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, relying fully and exclusively in who He is, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead.

HER: Oh, great! Have a nice day!

They obviously didn’t want to continue the conversation. I prayed then for their salvation, and for God to protect my neighbors from their false teaching.

Are we “always ready to make a defense”? To “everyone”? With “gentleness and reverence”?