Why don't you door knock evangelise?

[SilkenBast]

Going from house to house to evangelise in your neighbourhood with friends from your church (for safety's sake and according to the example of the disciples that Jesus sent) seems like a Christian way to do evangelism. Jesus sent out disciples out two by two to all the towns and cities in Judah as part of their training and work for the gospel so why don't you do that?

To head off any complaint that I ought to do it myself I'll say that I do, and I have, for a long time now, though I am no where near as systematic about it as, say, Jehovah's witnesses are or as Mormon Missionaries are.

Because I have nothing to sell and the door knockers are not, in my opinion,
really trying to sell you on their particular brand of religion as
they are trying to sell you on becoming part of their group, sharing
in their community and other needs that humans have for human
company, support, etc.

Their religion (whatever it is), is the theme that binds the group
together with a namesake (Christian, Mormon, JW, Muslim etc) and a
set of agreed upon morals and beliefs...all of which do not need to
be communicated in person for those living in modern societies. A library
and more recently the internet are good repositories for those seeking
religious truth if it's done with an open mind, discernment
and intellectual integrity.

In short, door knockers are largely in the business of offering
community and serving base human needs through that community,
though through a religion and as such serve the people looking to
fulfill these needs while also growing their group which makes the
people who profit from these needs (pastors, popes, imams, churches
in general) happy.

Is that such a bad thing? No, not unless you don't mind leaving your
mind at the door of the church to have it filled with whatever is
tickling the preacher's mind and ignore all the difficulties that
can be presented within a particular set of religious dogma.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Because I have nothing to sell

The gospel is good news that is not sold but given away because it is not property owned by somebody it is a gift from God given to all human kind.

and the door knockers are not, in my opinion,
really trying to sell you on their particular brand of religion as
they are trying to sell you on becoming part of their group, sharing
in their community and other needs that humans have for human
company, support, etc.

Their religion (whatever it is), is the theme that binds the group
together with a namesake (Christian, Mormon, JW, Muslim etc) and a
set of agreed upon morals and beliefs...all of which do not need to
be communicated in person for those living in modern societies. A library
and more recently the internet are good repositories for those seeking
religious truth if it's done with an open mind, discernment
and intellectual integrity.

In short, door knockers are largely in the business of offering
community and serving base human needs through that community,
though through a religion and as such serve the people looking to
fulfill these needs while also growing their group which makes the
people who profit from these needs (pastors, popes, imams, churches
in general) happy.

Is that such a bad thing? No, not unless you don't mind leaving your
mind at the door of the church to have it filled with whatever is
tickling the preacher's mind and ignore all the difficulties that
can be presented within a particular set of religious dogma.

 

[SilkenBast]

The gospel is good news that is not sold but given away because it is not property owned by somebody it is a gift from God given to all human kind.

Door knockers aren't selling the gospel (Christian denominations), they are trying to sell you on their particular take on the Gospel/Bible, so as to get you to join their particular religious organization. The payments don't have to take a monetary form: you pay with your time, your efforts in the organization and with your mind by subjecting yourself to the teachings of the organization and primarily that of the pastor/deacon etc.

In exchange, you get the assurance you're saved and the benefit of friends, possible dating prospects, esteem among your peers, etc. Often what one also gets is a rather nasty spiritual pride that sees all other denominations as either lesser than or heretical. In my experience it sort of comes with the territory as believing one's group is the sole bastion of all wisdom, humanity and charity.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Door knockers aren't selling the gospel (Christian denominations), they are trying to sell you on their particular take on the Gospel/Bible, so as to get you to join their particular religious organization.

I don't see preaching the gospel as a matter of selling wares of any kind including church association and theology. An evangelist will tell the gospel according to the teaching they have received themselves and believe themselves but that doesn't turn the gospel that they preach into merchandise.

The payments don't have to take a monetary form: you pay with your time, your efforts in the organization and with your mind by subjecting yourself to the teachings of the organization and primarily that of the pastor/deacon etc.

In exchange, you get the assurance you're saved and the benefit of friends, possible dating prospects, esteem among your peers, etc. Often what one also gets is a rather nasty spiritual pride that sees all other denominations as either lesser than or heretical. In my experience it sort of comes with the territory as believing one's group is the sole bastion of all wisdom, humanity and charity.