www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Arians Came to my Door

My wife and I got a big kick out of that one Alexandr!!!



All kidding aside, thanks for the support and help everyone.

What other advice does anyone have?

Admin,

Thanks for the idea on Fr. John's pamphlets. I just ordered a bunch to keep them on hand.

In Christ,

John

We had some JW's move in diagonal from us. They walked passed us, and one visably noticed the cross I wear around my neck. Now I think they're bent on 'saving' us. What to do to get out of under the spying eyes of the watchtower?

I was going to make a sign to place on the front door that said something like 'No soliciting or evangelizing'. (We have a lot of sales people too). Is that rude or okay? Do you think that will only make them hound us more?

I do not want to talk to them or invite them in. They have hounded us to the point of harassment. How to get them to go away? I know I am being uncharitable, but I don't want to deal with them.

You could try putting blessed salt on the threshold (no, I am not joking). Failing that, you could simply ask them politely to go away.

Fr. Serge

Fr. Serge,

You've peaked my interest. I've never heard of blessed salt. Can you give me more details on this?

I guess I could just politely tell them to go away. But, I think they really are bent on converting us. Do you think hanging a big crucifix on the door is too much? (I am joking on that one).

I don't know in the Byzantine tradition, but in the Latin Church salt is (was ?) used for many purposes, especially to make holy water:

Salt [newadvent.org]

The blessing in the Rituale Romanum says "that all delusion and wickedness, or crafty deceit of the devil, and every unclean spirit, may flee and depart from the place in which thou art sprinkled,"
Blessing of Water from the Rituale Romanum [traditio.com]
English Translation [anglicanhistory.org]

Last month the priest blessed the water at our Indult Latin Mass chapel and now I have a gallon of holy water and a can of blessed salt.

I have to say that I am extremely disappointed in some of the posts on this thread. Instead of discussing the evangelism efforts of the Church, we have made light of things and tell faithful to send someone packing. This is shameful for anyone to suggest that this is not a missionary effort on the part of the Church.

Closing doors, asking people to leave, performing acts to expel demons, give these people very little to even look at the Church for in any sort of light. In most cases, some of these people are not as bed rock in thier faith as one would believe. This is an opportunity to witness our faith, and to proclaim the real Good News of the Church.

If you are that insecure in your faith, maybe then you should close the door, etc. Then you need to look at why you are so insecure in your faith that you can not even bring yourself to bear witness to others. You need to arm yourself with prayer, study your faith, and receive the sacraments, especially the Eucharist regularly. This all builds confidence and security. Remember if the apostles took to the practice of shutting doors, etc., none of us would be able to call ourselves Christians. Conversion begins with you, and instead of falling for their heresy, you can be a witness and evangelist to the truth.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Fr. Anthony,

You are absolutely right. I apologize for my behavior, and for my post. I ordinarily go out of my way to evangelize. I have been very uncharitable.

I will say that I do pray for their souls, for their conversion. But, I have behaved very shamefully. I am very happy for your much needed correction.

I pray my post has not lead anyone astray, or to feel uncharitable to others. Charity and understanding toward others is always a holy and virtuous path.

Again, I am sorry. I will try to remember what a great saint used to say: "I talk, and talk, but I don't say anything". There is a very good lesson in this for me, but making this mistake. Holy Charity.

Thank you, Father, for your charity in correction, and giving the example of a true Christian.

Peace,
a very unworthy sinner

Dear Unworthy Sinner from Kansas,

Don't feel bad. Some of us do not have the gift of gab...I'm one. I speak too much and no one understands me. That's why I prefer writing to express my opinions. :rolleyes:

The previous threads were all very humorous, and really made my day. I thank all the contributors...especially Dr. Eric and Alexandre. As for the JW, I always found myself simply telling them I'm not interested. I know that face to face I would not be able to think of the right things to say.

Dr. Eric on the other hand....

Zenovia

Dear Bedwere,

I find what you posted on blessed salt interesting. I'm curious though, can a person step on something that is blessed? In other words, if the salt was placed in the doorway, it would be stepped on. Is that allowed? Or must it be placed in a protected area.

I know that we Orthodox are careful with our holy water. The water is usually poured into plants, etc. rather than into something that would be considered contaminated...such as a drain.

I had a rather humorous thought on that. I wonder if anyone would come to my door if I placed blessed salt on it. I live in the sinful Northeast.

Sorry Father Anthony, I know I'm not supposed to write this on this forum, but I am curious.

Zenovia

I was once told the when the JW's come to the door it will usually be an experienced person paired with an apprentice. My friend who told me this found it best to aim her discussion at the inexperienced partner who was less knowlegeable and possibly more likely to be influenced by the truths of Christianity. I don't know if this is true, but it might be helpful when trying to speak the truth in love.
Michele

Blessed salt and its uses:

The Eastern Churches do not put salt in water that is to be blessed, probably because we usually drink newly-blessed Holy Water, or simply because no such custom of adding salt ever arose among us. There is an exception of sorts: in suitable climates (such as Tarpon Springs, Florida) the Blessing of Waters is held at the seashore and the Cross is thrown into the sea and retrieved by young men who dive after it. You may have seen this on the news - the assembly in Tarpon Springs is large and normally a Metropolitan, or even the Archbishop, is the main celebrant.

A different sort of exception can occur informally: I've known priests to add rose-water to the Holy Water used for blessing the foods on Pascha. That's not required; it's just an additional touch for the Paschal joy.

Salt is blessed quite simply, with a prayer found in the Agiasmatarion or Trebnik - I'll hunt it up and post the text later today. The blessing of salt does not normally include sprinkling the salt with Holy Water, since that would not do the salt much good.

The uses of blessed salt are not specified in the Canons, so far as I know, so it really depends upon good sense. One would certainly not throw the salt at anyone, since this could do serious damage (especially if the salt landed in the victim's eyes). One might conceivably use the blessed salt in preparing certain special foods associated with feast days; since these vary from one ethnic group to another I won't specify anything in particular.

In cold climates rock salt is often sprinkled on pavements against ice, which can cause serious accidents (the ice, not the salt). In that instance, one could well sprinkle some blessed salt on the pavement with a prayer that those who pass may be kept safe from accidents and other harm.

Sprinkling a bit of blessed salt on the the threshold is symbolic of the prayer to keep the house and all who dwell there under God's protection and keep out evil spirits who seek to do us spiritual harm. If we are going to use the salt in that way, we should sprinkle it very sparingly while offering (quietly) an appropriate prayer - these practices are not magic; they reinforce our prayers.

The need to dispose of blessed salt does not often arise: it's almost unheard-of for salt to "go bad". One would not put the blessed salt in gardens, potted plants, or anyplace else used to grow things, since the salt would discourage the plants from growing.

The often-mentioned reluctance to step on something which has been blessed is correct, but again requires good sense. The Church is consecrated, but that does not prevent us from walking on the floor (or washing the floor, for that matter). The house is blessed, but we also walk on the floor of the house and clean the floors in various ways. Farms are blessed, but we still walk in the fields. And so on. In other words, we would not deliberately walk on what is blessed unless that is part of its proper purpose: we bless the fields to bring forth food, which requires tending the fields, sowing the seed, tending the plants, and harvesting. But we would certainly not purchase a carpet for the floor if the carpet had some semblance of iconography on it, nor would we consider it proper to work iconography into a marble or mosaic flooring in the church.

So, as with everything the Church blesses, we make use of blessed salt according to the teaching of the Church.

Fr. Serge

well done! you know what time it is!
Much Love,
Jonn

One more thing the original poster could have mentioned is that Russell himself was a fraud. He was taken to court for trying to sell "Miracle Wheat" or some odd thing, and lied under oath, if I remember right. I think he did something else illegal but can't remember.

Joseph Smith was likewise a phony. The booklet from Conciliar Press "Cultist at My Door" talks more about these cult founders' shady backgrounds.

Whether or not JWs or other cultists will even believe these facts out of blind loyalty and delusion is another thing.

Would love for an Orthodox author to take up the subjects of cults. Lots of Protestant books, but the views expressed in them (by the authors) are not always in agreement with catholic belief.

Those who do not care for a bit of mirth should read no further.

One way of being open-handed and hospitable without either losing much time or spending any money is to welcome the JWs enthusiastically with a big smile and the words "Come in! I'm so glad to see you! I've just brewed a fresh pot of coffee and the roast is almost ready - I like it rare. We'll say a little prayer together and have a nice lunch while we chat!"

Since they won't pray with you, won't drink your coffee and won't eat rare roast meat, you have just put the intruders in the position of declining your hospitality and beating a hasty retreat. All this by being courteous, pleasant and welcoming! What could be nicer?

Fr. Serge