Knock, Knock. Who's There? Jehovah's Witnesses...

I guess you're thinking, "Jehovah's Witnesses who?", right?

First of all, let me tell you that I'm a good Suuthun girl. I learned at my momma's knee that you shouldn't discuss religion or politics in polite company. But, since I know most of y'all aren't all that polite, I'm making an exception.

Today, while I was cleaning my house (supposed to be working, but my home is my office, so I rationalized that I was cleaning my office), I heard the door bell ring. Usually it's FedEx or UPS, so I just went about my biness. But, then I heard knocking, so I went to see who it was. It was a man and a woman with big smiles. I talked through the glass door at first and then opened the door to take their tract. I only talked to the woman. Here's the convo:

Me: Hello.
JW: Hi. We're just talking to the people in your neighborhood about Jesus today.
Me: Thanks. We're Christians.
JW: Yes, most people in this neighborhood are (this should be assuring to me, but she says it in a way that makes me a little uncomfortable), but we've got some more information that could be of interest to you.
Me: What church are you with?
JW: JW
Me: Oh, well we're Methodists and pretty active, strong and confident in our faith.
JW: Well take a look at this and look up some of these verses listed. I think you'll find some great information in the Bible.
Me: Thanks.

Door close.

OK, so here are my issues.
I've never known what to say to people who knock at your door trying to tell you about their religion. Most of the time, I know that I don't agree with them. Not because they are going door to door (can anybody say Great Commission?), but because religions that do this are different than mine. I wish I had some apologetic training. I've taken a couple of courses about different religions, but I don't have that info committed to memory (I've had 2 kids in the past 3 years and have traded show-and-tell guidelines, shoe sizes and bottle schedules in my memory for the subtle differences in the Buddism and Taoism religions). Maybe I should have actually gone to Campus Outreach in college instead of making fun of it. Maybe that would have drilled some info in me about how to defend Jesus. One of my many college regrets...

Next, in the "What Would Jesus Do" thought process, He would probably invite them in and talk extensively about God, Himself, etc. I have always, ALWAYS closed the door. I had a friend who said her husband talked with them and asked them to come back later and they did and had a long conversation. He listened politely and then explained his position. I think they just agreed to disagree. My gut reaction is to be offended (Can't they SEE my church magnet on my car in the driveway?? They've got no business here! I'm taken!). Why is that? It's totally not what Jesus would do.

Finally, as I referred to earlier, should I be doing what they're doing? It always makes me question what I'm doing daily to further God's kingdom. This lady is going door to door. Now, I don't agree with what she's selling (I really like Christmas- even if Jesus was born around 5 A.D.), but at least she's out there getting after it. And if she's the only one out there, then that means she might get more people on her side than I will on my side. Hmph. I know that your life is your witness, but my witness today was scrubbing tubs and toilets. Do it all to the glory of God, right?

So, all you preachers out there (I know you're out there- Kim, Sherill), what should us nice, house- cleaning Methodists say?

And, everybody else, what do you do when folks are knocking on your door selling a way to God that you don't agree with (I hate ending a sentence with a preposition)?

Did I mention that I had just taken off my sweater to scrub and only had on a cami, jeans and a dripping sponge in my hand? I think the JWs might have gotten a new idea or two about us crazy Methodists...
And then after she saw this:

She called child protection services. They pulled my poison control center records, so I'm history.