Christian Living
{The following story was first published on suite101.com.}
While sitting at my kitchen table planning the remainder of my weekend, the doorbell suddenly rang. I began to quiver with a fearful excitement. I knew it was them. They always come about the same time on Saturday mornings. Although it had been months since our last confrontation, there was no doubt in my mind that there would be another. They always come back. It doesn't matter that our last battle left them battered beyond measure; they refuse to quit. It may not be the very same ones as before. They send others of their kind. Stronger, more skilled, and more notorious warriors are often sent whenever they suffer a defeat.
My hands began to sweat as I stared at the closed front door, gazing through its translucent glass window at the silhouette of my next opponent. As I prepared my thoughts and emotions for that inevitable confrontation with evil, I snatched my Bible from the shelf with the same swift motion that a crusader of old would have used to grab his sword. I then resolutely headed for the door.
With my right hand clutching my Bible, I seized the doorknob with my left and threw the door open. There stood a tall, slender man with a posture that displayed extreme confidence. His face was beaming with the type of excitement you see on an insurance salesman's face when he's about to sell a policy. I could sense he was going to be a formidable adversary.
At his side stood two women; one appeared to be his wife, and the other could have been his mother. Behind the younger woman stood a small boy who must have been six or seven years of age. All of them, including the young boy, were dressed as if they were going to some semi-formal affair. The man carried a brief case, and the older woman had several magazines in her hand.
The man began to speak. "Hello. My name is Derrick Seaver. This is my wife Elaine, our son Chad, and our close friend Sister Sylvia Channley. We are from the …"
I snapped back, "Oh, I know where you are from. Might I tell you where you will go? You will surely go to hell unless you repent of your lies and false teachings. And let me answer your first question even before it is asked. No, I don't want one of your magazines or pamphlets of deception. I am a Christian. I love God and believe in his word."
I drew first blood, but I knew there would be a counter attack. The man's smile grew larger, and then he said, "I am sorry you feel that way. We also love God. If you are so sure of your own beliefs, why are you afraid to take a magazine or some pamphlets? Do you think that your faith is so weak it could be shaken by a pamphlet?"
I then became aware of how good this guy really was. He wasn't troubled at all by my assault. Knowing that a real battle was about to occur, I lifted my Bible and shouted, "THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD. I BELIEVE EVERY WORD OF IT. YOU DO NOT." I then mentioned a central doctrine of my faith, and said, "You do not believe that doctrine, do you?"
He countered with, "That word you used to describe your doctrine isn't even in the Bible. Look it up."
But I was ready for that move. In fact, I baited him to use it. "The word isn't in the Bible," I said, "but the concept is most definitely there."
I unzipped the cover and drew my Bible from its leather case. Flinging it open I pointed to a passage that would support my position. "Do you see that? Go ahead and read it." I continued to flip pages, pointing to verse after verse, quoting original Greek definitions of translated words and reciting memorized commentaries from respected sources. Not allowing him to speak at all, I continued to display the resolve of my heart with the volume of my voice.
Seeing victory at hand, I went for the deathblow. "So, Mr. Derrick Seaver, should I call you by your initial --- D. Seaver? Do you wish to remain a deceiver, or would you like to know the truth?" I then offered him some of the salvation tracts I kept in my Bible case, but he refused.
Totally humiliated in front of his wife and son, Derrick Seaver walked away from my front door, dejected and confused. His once bright expression was now one of hurt and confusion. I knew I had been victorious, so I slid me Bible back into its leather sheath.
I continued to watch as Mr. Seaver led his group of four to my neighbor's door. Since she was an elderly Christian lady, recently widowed. I feared that this evil foursome would take advantage of my neighbor, so I watched intently. She came to the door and greeted them warmly. Just as I feared, she took one of their magazines. She then went back inside, but the group did not leave.
To my surprise, my neighbor came back out with some cookies and milk. She then sat down with her four visitors, ate cookies, talked, and laughed with them for almost an hour. When they were finished, she offered them the same salvation tracts I had offered them. Unbelievably, each person took one. The young boy even asked for an extra one for his sister at home. Before they left my neighbor's door, she gave each one of them a big hug, and asked them to visit again.
I could not believe my eyes. How did my neighbor get these heretics to take salvation pamphlets from her after refusing to take the same ones from me? I had to know.
I approached my elderly Christian sister and asked, "How is it that you were so successful in giving salvation tracts to that cult group when I was not? I know the Bible like the back of my hand. What is it that you know regarding the Bible that I don't?" She looked up at me with a big smile and simply said, "Maybe the author."
What did she mean by that? I guess I may never know. In any case, I'll keep studying so that I'll be ready for next time. There will be a next time. They always come back.
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