Cults run amok in our society...most of them claiming to be Christian. However, when you look a bit deeper, you realize their doctrines and Christian beliefs are quite different. More about this later...My oldest daughter and I drove up to a local pizzeria to pick up our call-in order a few moments ago. I paid for the order and slipped the cashier a "Million Dollar Bill" tract and told her to make sure and check out the important message on the back. She grabbed the tract, thanked me for it and began to walk in the back while reading it. I didn't necessarily mean right now, but I'm glad she did! My daughter and I sat down and waited on our order.
Another worker brought out the order ahead of us and called the customer's name. He came up to pick up his order and stated that he wanted some pepperoncinis. I stood up, walked over to him and told him that every customer also got a free "Million Dollar Bill", while grinning. He chuckled, thanked me and commented that he had seen something like this before. I sat back down while he leaned against the counter looking the tract over. I told him that I didn't even realize that they had pepperoncinis here and I was going to request some with my order. I explained that what I had given him was a Gospel tract and had a very important message on the back. I asked him if he had a Christian background. (Meanwhile, the employee who brought the man's order out was looking at me like I was crazy! I think my daughter may have had the same sentiment!! She should know by now!!!)
He said that he had went to a fairly large local church for about a year, but had decided that all the pastor wanted was money. His family had left that church and hadn't landed anywhere else yet. I introduced myself and found out his name was Jeff.
Jeff said, "You know, it's funny that you should hand me this and talk to me about this. Just today the Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) were at my house today talking to me about God." I asked him what he thought about them. He said that after they left, he prayed and didn't have a good "feeling" (some might say 'discernment') about them. I went on to bluntly explain that he should have gotten a bad 'feeling' because they were a cult. (At that moment I was hoping that the employee was not a JW and would call the police!) He seemed to be surprised by my statement, but then asked what I meant. I quickly give him three or four JW beliefs that were contrary to Christianity. When I mentioned the version of the Bible they used, his eyes lit up. He said, "YES! They told me that I could use whatever version I wanted (while they were talking to him at his house), but they would use their "New World Translation" (NWT)." I shook my head in affirmation and explained that it was a distortion of the Bible.
He solemnly looked at me and said, "Today when I was talking with the JWs I got a bad feeling, but after talking to you I sense that you are the 'real deal' and this is a sign from God. Thanks for giving me this!" I gave him my contact info and encouraged him to read the back. By this time, my order was ready and we both walked out of the store together. He was grinning from ear-to-ear and seemed to really be encouraged.
My daughter and I got into my car and I began to back out when I heard a tapping on the passenger side window. I rolled down the window and as I did, a bag of pepperoncinis landed on the pizza box on my daughter's lap. Jeff said, "Hey, you forgot to get your pepperoncinis in there. I had an extra!" I thanked him and drove home praying for Jeff and thanking God for the opportunity to share the Gospel with the lost.
There are sooooo many "Jeffs" out there being influenced by cults. As Christians, we must simply, but bodly share our faith with people. We must let love, compassion and concern for the lost swallow our fear and tell them.
If you don't, the JW's will be happy to tell them about their god.
For more information about Jehovah's Witnesses and their beliefs, please click here.
