What’s Wrong With This Picture?

I was sitting in my office today next to a large window that overlooks a small garden and the gated entrance to my property. I heard the bell ring and looked out to see a very well dressed attractive woman somewhere in her mid twenties, wearing a hooded jacket. It was raining and it was apparent that she had been out in the rain for some time. She caught my eye and smiled.

I nodded and went to the intercom which connects to our gate. I greeted her with, “Yes?”

“I’m from a local community group and I would like to invite you to an event we are planning.” she responded.

I had noticed she had some literature in a folder she was carrying. “Can you leave the information in my mailbox?” I asked.

“No worries.” And she left.

In spite of that quaint Aussie phrase, I did worry. Was I being too cold, too defensive, too suspicious? I thought to myself, there is something incongruous with a large brick and iron fence with a locked gate and the “Who is my neighbour?” question of Luke 10. So I quickly went to the mailbox to see what she left. Perhaps it would be an invitation to attend a local church – I’ve never received one before – perhaps this time.

“The local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses invites you to attend a convention…”

I suppose that I wasn’t surprised. But I was disappointed. How I had wanted her to be a Christian who was sharing the gospel, the good news about Jesus, with her neighbours. Come to think about it, that has never happened to me, either in a door knocking situation or in a one-on-one.

Why is it that we Christians who have the greatest story ever told are so reluctant to share it with others? Here is this zealous young woman, so sadly mislead by a heresy that will keep her from knowing the Jehovah she claims to serve, braving inclement weather to share what she has with others – with neighbours – with strangers.

What’s wrong with this picture?

I was sitting in my office today next to a large window that overlooks a small garden and the gated entrance to our property. I heard the bell ring and looked out to see a very well dressed attractive woman somewhere in her mid twenties, carrying an umbrella. It was raining and it was apparent that she had been out in the rain for some time. She caught my eye and smiled.

I nodded and went to the intercom which connects to our gate. I greeted her with a cool, “Yes?”

“I’m from a local community group and I would like to invite you to an event we are planning.” she responded.

I had noticed she had some literature in a folder she was carrying. “Can you leave the information in my mailbox?” I asked.

“No worries.” And she left.

In spite of that quaint Aussie phrase, I did worry. Was I being too cold, too defensive, too suspicious? I thought to myself, there is something incongruous with a large brick and iron fence with a locked gate and the “Who is my neighbour?” question of Luke 10. So I quickly went to the mailbox to see what she left. Perhaps it would be an invitation to attend a local church – I’ve never received one before – perhaps this time.

“The local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses invites you to attend a convention…”

I suppose that I wasn’t surprised. But I was disappointed. How I had wanted her to be a Christian who was sharing the gospel, the good news about Jesus, with her neighbours. Come to think about it, that has never happened to me, either in a door knocking situation or in a one-on-one.

Why is it that we Christians, who have the greatest story ever told, are so reluctant to share it with others? Here is this zealous young woman, so sadly misled by a heresy that will keep her from knowing the Jehovah she claims to serve, braving inclement weather to share what she has with others – with neighbours – with strangers.

What’s wrong with this picture?