Intro: Over the years as I've spoken to members of Reformed churches, I've noticed that far too many don't know what to do when the door-bell rings and they find themselves face to face with Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons. In most cases they simply try their hardest to get them to go away as quickly as possible, and a few have admitted to me that they will pretend they aren't home instead of opening the door.

In doing this we are missing an opportunity to witness for Christ to people who are in the most pitiable of situations; they think they have entered via the narrow gate and are on their way to salvation, but are in fact following blind guides down the broad path that leads to destruction. Witnessing to cultists is far from easy, but I would argue that it falls under the calling of all Christians to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15)

Accordingly, I've put together this brief guide designed for laymen and those with no prior experience on how to begin the process of "witnessing to the (false) witnesses." Rather than reinventing the wheel, I've also included links to the profiles and beliefs of the JWs and Mormons provided online by CARM (Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry).

Also OSP pastors and planters take note, if your congregation members can't/won't defend or present their faith to cultists, chances are very poor that they will be willing to do so with friends, relatives, and coworkers as those confrontations are actually in many respects more difficult because those confrontations are far more personal. It's one thing to tell someone you've never met before and quite possibly never will again that you think they are going to hell, but it's another thing entirely to say that to grandma or the coworker they see every day.

Cultists on Your Doorstep

A Brief and Untechnical guide to interacting with cultists going Door-to-Door

Your doorbell rings, you open the door and there stand two well-dressed young men who want to give you a small blue bible and talk to you for a moment. What should you do?

I) Pray! Even as you begin to interact with them, lift up a silent "arrow" prayer for God's help and defense as you speak with them.

II) Figure out which organization they are with. Most cult organizations will travel in groups of at least two when doorknocking. Some giveaways that will allow you to figure out which one they are with:

1) Two young men (around 17), both wearing "Elder" name badges and white shirts and ties: Mormons. They will identify themselves as being with "The Church of Jesus Christ" and less commonly "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints."

2) Two individuals (male or female), well dressed with copies of "Awake!" or "The Watchtower": Jehovah's Witnesses (hereafter JWs). The will identify themselves as being with some permutation of "The Watchtower."

If you can't tell immediately, just ask them, "Are you Mormons?" or simply "What organization are you with?" They will tell you. You may have to translate the name however, as they like to fly under the radar.

Why is it important? So you will have some idea of who they are and thus what they really believe, and how to speak to them. This is especially important as Mormons are now marketing themselves as a Christian organization in their witnessing and want you to think of them as your brothers in Christ.

III) If you aren't yet comfortable enough in your own understanding of the Christian faith, then don't invite them in, politely tell them you aren't interested in talking or taking their literature. This is the less preferable option however, for a number of reasons.

If you are comfortable in your understanding of Christianity, invite them in. (The exception being if it is a single member of the opposite sex and you are alone.) You may be used in their conversion, and at the very worst, you will slow down their progression through the neighborhood. Invite them to sit down. They usually will.

Some basic ground rules: Neither will generally accept refreshments beyond water. JWs are specifically told not to take any "apostate literature." Mormons will generally be willing to listen more and talk less than JWs, keep in mind you only have about an hour to talk with them at most. With JWs, one will be the leader, and the other the learner. The one doing the most talking is usually the leader. Use either a KJV or an NKJV in witnessing to them. Both groups will generally accept quotes only from the KJV, the JW's however have their own Bible, called the New World Translation. As a translation, it's hopeless, its primary purpose is to transmit faulty JW theology. For instance "1 In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." (John 1:1 NWT) Neither will generally accept tracts or other materials from you unless you've really made headway with them.

Basic Presuppositions: JWs will generally be local people. Mormon visitors generally will not be local. You are just another potential notch in their belt, their objective is to get you to come to a meeting, they want to get you interested in their organization. Your objective is to teach the truth about Christ, refute their teaching from the bible and somehow be used of God in leading them to a saving knowledge of the Gospel. Remember the consequences to them of leaving false religion. They will lose their friends, their "base," and oftentimes alienate their family. Conversion for them is socially a VERY BIG DEAL - bigger even in some cases than non-cultists.

Plan Your Interaction: Part of your time will inevitably be spent listening to them, it has to be or you won't gain the right to talk to them. Remember not to venture much into history, stick to the Bible as much as possible. A good tack is to ask them a question about an unbiblical doctrine they teach, and after they explain it, adopting the Columbo routine: "There's just one thing I don't understand..." and then going to texts that unequivocally refute what they teach. As you interact, be doing all you can to show them, gently and respectfully, that their feet are planted in thin air and that the word doesn't actually teach the doctrines they have been taught.