Me and the Mormons...

If you spend any time at all with me you know that I'm pretty outspoken about my faith. I'm not ashamed of it at all and I don't mind telling you about it. I won't push it on anyone, but if the opportunity arises to bring it up, I will. It's too important to remain silent about it and so I won't. 

But there is another side to the coin as well. I'm not afraid of the challenges of other faiths or the attacks by atheists and their attempts at degrading us Christians through their lame jokes and sarcastic comments. I don't feel the need to debate them or mock them. I did at one point and realized the absurdity of it all, so I've quit, and instead employed some new tactics. Here's what I do with...

Mormon Missionaries

In my early days of ministry I saw the two young men at my door as an opportunity to sharpen my debate skills. I'd invite them in and hash it out over two hours until they just got tired of me or I got bored with them, and they would leave without anything being accomplished. I had an opportunity in college that opened up to where I spent some time with two missionaries and eventually led them to the Lord and they left the Mormon church and are now pastors in Utah reaching out to members of the Mormon faith. But that is rare, and now when the baby faced, white collared, name badge wearing guys show up with their bags full of The Book of Mormon (which I gladly accept every time so there is one less book on the streets being peddled) I employ a new strategy which works quite well.

Part of their training is to immediately begin the conversation without really giving you much of a chance to say anything in return. They'll set you up with a few introductory questions trying to appear cordial then they'll faith rape you. They'll get their book in your hands and lambast you with their doctrine. If you bring up your faith they will converse as though they are right there with you, and for those not familiar with their teachings it sounds as if they are one of our kindred brothers in the faith, but that is not so. They won't stop either, and if they think they have you at least a little interested they'll be back.

And that is where I had to stop them before they got started. 

This past Sunday night I got home from our Bible study time at church and was relaxing with my children at home when there was a knock on the door. At first I thought it was my wife needing help with the groceries, but when I opened the door I saw the two missionaries with big grins and an eagerness to convert me. I asked them to wait just a second and put my plan in motion. 

I grabbed gift Bibles from my stash and my church business card with my info and immediately opened the door and pulled one over on them. 

Me: What's up guys? Thanks for stopping by and not forcing me to chase you down on your bikes. I know you guys thought you were hear to speak to me, but I believe God brought you here to hear me speak to you. I want you to have this Bible on behalf of First Baptist Church here in Portales. I know you have a Bible, but seriously, it is huge and heavy and with those extra books like the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price and The Doctrine and Covenants, which are huge books they add weight to your already packed out backpacks and aren't needed. Also, here's my card, I'm a pastor at First Baptist Church and would love for you to join us on Sunday morning.

Them: Uh?

Me: We have a traditional service at 9AM and Bible Study at 10AM, which you should bring this snazzy Bible with you to and then we have a contemporary service at 11AM. You don't have to wear those uniforms either, just come in some jeans and a t-shirt. We also serve Coffee..oh, wait..we got orange juice and stuff for you to snack on. My name's Chris by the way. Reaching out my hand

Them:........they shake it but say nothing...

Me: You guys got any questions?

Them: (Both nod their heads indicating "NO"!)

Me: Cool. Hey, can I have one of those copies of the Book of Mormon?

They get one out and hand it to me.

Me: You guys rock, see you on Sunday!

They walk away without really saying a word.

I know they won't show up on Sunday. In fact, we rarely have many missionaries stop by the house. At one time they were instructed to leave us alone because we were cursed (aka I led two to Christ and so I was considered a danger), and then we bought a house and moved and I guess they didn't get an updated address because they started coming around again. But those who live in our old apartment don't have to worry about them.

I've been doing this for the last several years. I pull their own tactics on them, but I don't feel bad about it. I'm not mean spirited with them and they are the ones ringing the doorbell on my house, right? I've thought about coming to the door with a steaming cup of coffee in my hands, but thought that might be pushing the limit.

In three years, our conversation has lasted about a minute each time they show up. After I give them the Bible, my business card and promote our church, they stand there dumbfounded and speechless. If they are interested they will return or possibly show up at church on Sunday. But most feel sad for me as I am a lost cause.

Those two missionaries I mentioned earlier, you know the ones that walked away from Mormonism, they came back and we started meeting weekly for pizza and basketball. I invested a year of my life with them and we didn't debate as much as we discussed our beliefs. It was respectful, conversational and over time they realized they weren't Christians and they were comforted in the gift Bibles I gave them and the truth of God's word. They taught me a ton about the Mormon church and for that I am grateful. They are two guys I still pray for to this day! They were excommunicated by the Mormon church and their families, but they have thriving ministries today reaching out to Mormons in Utah. I have never given their names out and they don't mention mine as a way to protect each other.

I find most of these young men to be extremely polite and friendly, but I just don't have time to sit and listen to their advertising of the Mormon church. I'm not changing my mind and so I'm upfront with them about who I am and what I believe. And not once has a pair countered that with an argument or wanted to stick around and talk. They are there for one purpose only and if that is taken away they move on to the next house.

So, if you don't know what to say when those two guys show up knocking at your door, buy yourself some gift Bibles, get some cards from your church with service times and such, and invite them to come with you. What's the worst thing that could happen? They walk away without wasting your time. What's the best thing that could happen? They come to your church and find the freedom they are seeking in Jesus Christ. Just because they use his name, doesn't mean they belong to Him!