www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Witnessing to a 7th day Adventist

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Brother, Alex

In my seminary classes that I have taken relating to witnessing to non-orthodox sects (i.e. Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesss, Seventh Day Adventists, etc) we were specifically taught that the Holy Fathers have already answered the challenges of these sects and heterodox errors. My instructors made great efforts to note that Satan has not changed his tactics and really does not bring new ideas, only old ones that have been warmed up in modern language.

We were instructed to know the Holy Fathers, research their responses, and use those responses when we witness the Orthodox Way to these sects. One does not have to state that Saint so and so said but rather use their apolegetics to defend the Faith. While Seventh Day Adventists and members of other such sects are very difficult to change their belief systems(it usually takes years of careful presentation). I know this a a former of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon). It took me 10 years before the Holy Spirit finally hit me over the head and I got out of the Mormon Church. I entered into the Holy Orthodox and Catholic Church and have been here the last 16 years. It was the gently feeding of what,I now know, was the voice of the Church Fathers that brought me out of the sect and into orthodox belief. [By the way, I highly recommend St Anthansius' Paschal Letters to anyone witnessing to Mormons.]

Otherwise I am in full agreement with your statement above.

Your brother in Christ,
Thomas

[ 02-01-2002: Message edited by: Thomas ]

Dear Brother Thomas,

Yes, I am not advocating going out and looking for trouble in witnessing to the Witnesses and others.

When I was teaching religion in a "cooperative" school (whatever that means - I still don't know), a woman teacher from Ukraine approached me and asked me to speak to her sister who was being hit on by Jehovah Witnesses and her family was very upset etc.

I said I wasn't qualified, what if I screw up etc.

She insisted, so I called my pastor who encouraged me to go ahead and meet her. When I told him I wasn't qualified, he generously told me if I wasn't, nobody was . . .

But then the principal found out about this, called me and told me to "stay out of it." (Her sister-in-law was a Witness, it turned out.

I was berated mercilessly. The teacher came and hugged me and told me she was sorry for the trouble she caused.

Out of fear and timidity, I did not meet with her sister who became a Witness anyway.

To this day, I feel bad about it, about my cowardice and the fact that I allowed myself to be bullied in this way. I resigned my position as religion teacher, since I felt completely compromised.

I'm not saying that my meeting with the woman would have prevented her from joining that cult.

I'm saying that I failed in my duty and charity to try.

And I won't do that again, God helping me.

Alex