Yesterday afternoon (Friday) these two ladies walked in our gate area with their son. I was talking to my neighbor friend Annie and I asked Annie, “Are those the Jehovah Witness’ ?” and she was said yes. They had come several time into our gated area and Annie does not like them at all; so, she went over to tell them we didn’t want to talk. But I was thinking to myself this is a great opportunity; I can share Christianity with them! So I walked over to them with Annie and after Annie talked with them they asked me my name and I said Lydia. And they said oh ok where did your parents get your name. So you guys are Christians? And I told them yeah I think it was a family name and part of it was after Lydia in the Bible. So the lady started drilling me with questions. She first said, so since you’re a Christian tell me about the Bible. And I didn’t know where to begin ( I am not good at answering questions on the spot) but the presence of God was definitely with me because I was able to say some things I would have never been able to say if the Holy Spirit wasn’t with me. I said, “Well I know that Jesus Christ died for my sins and you can become a christian only by faith alone.” And they responded, oh thats good but can you show me some verses in the Bible where it says that. And I kind of froze and was like no I don’t really have many verses memorized so it may take me some time to find it. And she was like well you should start memorizing some. And at that point I was already irritated with them because I knew what they believed was not what I believe and was very different then my belief so I was trying to not get to smartalic. haha… So I just didn’t say anything and then she asked me have you heard of terrorism? do you know what it is? and I said yes I know what it is. And she said then what is it? And I said umm well its when two or more groups are attacking each other. And she said ok well who is behind all of that. And I had no clue what to say so I didn’t say anything and then Virginia (who was standing by me) thankfully said Satan. And she was like ok yes and do you think it will ever end. And I was like I mean Satan is going to constantly try to fight against us because he doesn’t like to see God win but if its God’s will to stop then it will. And she said what is God’s will? And I didn’t answer because I was thinking to myself its different in different cases. And so by then Berkley had walked in the gate from going somewhere so I told him to stand there. And so they asked us to show where it says we are saved by faith alone and not works in their bible so Berkley pulled up Ephesians 2:8 and I ran inside and got my bible because their bibles are manipulated a little. So we were trying to say that we are saved by faith alone and they understood that but they also said by works. And somehow they said that Jehovah Witness is a type of Christianity just like Baptist is a type. And I was thinking to myself no its not. So I asked them what exactly it was that they believed and what are the differences of Jehovah Witness and Christianity. And after I listened to them somehow we got on the subject about the trinity. And I said I believe God the father, God the son, and God the holy spirit is one person. And they did not believe that. They were trying to show us vs. in the Bible where it said they were two different people and Berkley and I would read on where they would stop and show them they are one. And finally I just said Listen. Our minds are finite. So this concept of the trinity is hard for us to understand but they are the same person. Just like my dad is father to me, but a son to his mother, and a brother to his sisters but he is still one person. That is how Christ is. He is the father, he is the Son, and he is the Holy spirit but he is just one person. And they told me no you need to be open minded and listen to us…..And I wanted to say your the one that’s not being open minded but I kept that comment to myself haha. And then thankfully my dad came out because it was good talking to them but I was getting tired of it because they were stubborn and I was going to be stubborn with my faith. But my dad handled it really well and they talked for about an hour. And he basically told them that they had been deceived and that you can trace Catholicism all the way back to the Roman Church and Christianity to the cross but Jehovah witness just started in the past one hundred years or so. And every time they would try and share a verse with my dad they would come to a dead end because they would stop reading the verse that was the most important and talked about the trinity or believing in faith alone.
Today, as I look back at my conversation yesterday, I realize that at the time I was just tired of talking to them and didn’t want to have anything to do with them again. But now I am so grateful God gave me that opportunity because it really challenged me and my faith and I was able to see I am able to share more about my faith then I thought I could. So overall I am encouraged by my encounter yesterday with the Jehovah Witness ladies.
I love and miss you guys
Lydia