This mornings walk was littered with God Botherers

[Crackle]

I espied the first lot as I rounded the corned onto the path. I could tell immediately by the cut of their jib these were not regular pathites and they all began to look furtive as I approached. The tallest one, now hiding behind the other two, thrust a pamphlet straight at me with the words, "something for you to read when you get back".

I took it at arms length as I went past, held it there as I picked out some key words about God and sinners and repentance and then slowly screwed it up before thrusting it in my pocket.

I saw the other two just ahead, with matching folders. "Hello, I wonder.....", "No thanks" I said, "I've already got one" and held up the screwed up pamphlet.

I couldn't see anymore, so at last, peace on walk. The dog was looking at me, ears up, tongue lolling and a keen eye on the pamphlet. I'd have given it to him but I knew he'd just litter the place after he read it. It also probably didn't contain the parable about fish, so he wouldn't be interested anyway.

"Why can't you learn to recognise them and bark fiercely?"
"The boys are all tall, with a bad complexion and have never been exposed to the word excercise and the girls are short and dowdy with glasses, apart from the Dutch ones who are tall and dowdy" He was looking at me keenly but fierce was many evolutionary tail wags away and I could see he was only willing to help out with the pamphlets. "all right, you can have the tennis ball, even though you haven't delivered that self analysis on why you need to carry something in your mouth continuously"

 

[XmisterIS]

Next time you see them, as you approach just start saying, "Allahu Akbar!", over and over ...

 

[snapper_37]

The dog was looking at me, ears up, tongue lolling and a keen eye on the pamphlet.

Ellie prefers Awake or Watchtower. The piccies are nicer.

Welcome back Cracks btw.

 

[Mr Pig]

I know you obviously don't believe that Jesus is who he says he is and the whole thing about facing God one day etc is true but just for a second, what if it is?

Are you really totally sure that it's wrong? Have to really looked at it that closely? Because if the gospel is true and you reject God's gift of rescue then the price is higher than you could imagine.

I'm very thankful that years ago some people decided to 'bother' me with the gospel. It wasn't easy to admit but I was wrong, they were right.

 

[thelurker]

i think you've summed it up nicely in your thread title, using the collective noun:

a litter of god botherers

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I used to get annoyed but I suppose they're only trying to help, even if it is in a rather irritating way. The only time I get a little miffed is when I have firmly but politely said I'm not interested and they persist in attempting to waylay me. An equally firm and polite assertion that this is not helping to change my mind tends to do the trick.

I am always polite though.

 

[Davidc]

Mr Pig, you have an absolute right to your beliefs, and I for one would always support you in that. So does everyone else have that right. What I, and presumably Crackle, object to is people who wish to thrust their beliefs down my throat.

FWIW

Are you really totally sure that it's wrong?

Yes. At much the same level of certainty as death and taxes.

Have to really looked at it that closely?

Yes.

 

[swee'pea99]

I was proud of my youngest t'other day - all of 10 - quizzed by a friend from a family of hard core GBs - 'don't you believe in God?' 'No,' says she with just a hint of a sneer (tho' not unkindly), '...I don't believe in the tooth fairy either.'

 

[goo_mason]

I was delighted to hear the believers recently trying to explain why God would let so many children die (as in the Haiti quake amongst other things). They came out with the usual lines about either God giving mankind freewill, and the classic "it's because He has a purpose for them".

Now, imagine if God was real and came out with the "I let the child die because I have a purpose for him/her", he'd be arrested and locked up before his feet could touch the ground.

It's weird, he won't interfere when someone's being killed, but seems to regularly get involved in things like curing old Mrs Buffty's terminal cancer and suchlike. Perhaps you need to be a believer to understand that kind of thing.

 

[thomas]

I know you obviously don't believe that Jesus is who he says he is and the whole thing about facing God one day etc is true but just for a second, what if it is?

Are you really totally sure that it's wrong? Have to really looked at it that closely? Because if the gospel is true and you reject God's gift of rescue then the price is higher than you could imagine.

I'm very thankful that years ago some people decided to 'bother' me with the gospel. It wasn't easy to admit but I was wrong, they were right.

Doesn't the Bible say that you shouldn't openly show you religion on the street as to make it so you look better than others? Something about the man who made a big song and dance about praying in the street? That seems to be what most of these God preachers do.

 

[Crackle]

Its not the God Botherers that Bother me, its the people who are Bothered by God Botherers.....

I tried saying "Get Smeggers!" to the dog but he just wagged his tail, so you're in the clear. When I said get Mr.Pig, however....

(Sorry Mr.Pig it's an old joke of mine I know)

 

[bonk man]

praying in public .. see Matthew 6:5-8 ...

There are some who believe that Jesus is the antichrist or at least a false prophet and John the Baptist is the Messiah.. try that one next time you get bothered

I really can't take this faith business seriously though, people ought to find their own way and not follow stuff they are told or read in a book.
It is cheating in the same way as taking drugs to get to some sort of Nirvana place.

 

[snapper_37]

My neighbour gives me his JW literature every month. It doesn't bother me and it usually makes for a good discussion on certain points.

 

[Mr Pig]

When I said get Mr.Pig, however....

I am now very careful when I see a black dog! ;0)

That seems to be what most of these God preachers do.

Some of them I think. maybe not most. There are good and bad Christians just the same as in every other sphere of life.

Perhaps you need to be a believer to understand that kind of thing.

Well I guess you need to want to actually know the answer for a start. Lots of people seem to be perfectly capable of figuring out how God can be loving despite the world being in the mess it's in. I'm sure you're not an idiot so could too, if you wanted to.

But God is the way he is. He has no need to justify Himself to us. He just gives you the freedom to accept Him or turn away.

An equally firm and polite assertion that this is not helping to change my mind tends to do the trick.

I agree with you. Zeal without tact. Often such evangelical endeavours are largely counter-productive but when 'would' you like to hear about the gospel?

There are many who will never respond to the gospel but the Christians who give out tracts etc know that. They do it for the ones who will.

 

[CharlesF]

I admire anyone who can retain their faith in this day and age. My problem is that if God is all knowing, as he should be, why did he send Jesus to die a horrible death when God would know most of humanity wouldn’t care less. Looking at the main faiths, Judaism seem the most logical in that they are still waiting for the Messiah