City Considering "Do Not Knock List" to Keep Away Unwanted Solicitors

[ALAYMAN]

Perhaps you should see it more positively, Alayman. Such a "Do Not Knock List" would effective eliminate all the people who do not want to see you on their doorstep.

And it would disallow me from knocking ANY of the doors of those who might not feel the same way you do.

The "Do Not Knock List" is just another tool homeowners can use to keep unwanted people off their property. Only those wishing to restrict access to their private property will sign up for it.

Are you saying that within the area where such measures are active that some people may elect not to enact such restrictions? If so, how would the No-Knock homes be differentiated from those who permit it, and how would the person knocking doors know which is which?

And how does such a legal measure differ from simply putting up No Trespassing signs to accomplish the same purpose?  Just like Brother Blue, all the soulwinners I know would not violate the wishes of people who put up No Trespassing signs.

 

[Izdaari]

At my door, I've had many JW's, some Mormons, and one Korean "Church of God" that believes their founder is Jesus returned and his wife is God the Mother. And I've had Christians once, the local IFB, and they invited me to their church. Since they were pleasant and I was curious, I went. It sucked, though Frag would probably have liked it. I never went back.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=rsc2a]
The problem is that, too many times, evangelism comes across a lot like people trying to sell you something.[/quote]

What you present is a false dichotomy.  Merely because people abuse the gospel is no  cause to eliminate the proper proclamation of it.

The vast majority of converts are the result of relational communication, not drive-by evangelism.

So Matthew 28:18-19 should have read...

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations if you can first establish a personal friendship, baptizing them after you get to know if they prove for a sufficient time that they are producing enough fruit to satisfy your demands,  in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching only those who you know will join your church  to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, modeling it by lifestyle evangelism of course: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

[FSSL]

Where did I say that going door to door was a command?  You can't pull that bait and switch cappola and get away with it.  I said that we are commanded to preach the gospel to every creature, and going to where people are, whether in the public square as Paul did on Mars Hill, or confronting them in their places of worship, getting into their houses via TV and radio, or host of other ways and means, we are to preach the gospel to people.  I'm all for the free flow of the gospel, whereas it appears that others on this forum who name the name of Christ would like to impose laws and regulation that makes it more difficult or restrict the number of ways that is possible. 
The rest of your post is nothing more than a continuation of the strawman claim that erroneously assumes my position to be that it is only acceptable to get the gospel to people via door-knocking.

YOU claimed it was A biblical method. You still have no biblical evidence.... oh well. You are not the first or last Christian to proclaim a method is biblical with zero biblical support.

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

I must admit that I have often marveled at the people that claim Christ that want no part in a conversation about Him.

???

Who are you referring to?

I love talking about Jesus, and do so frequently.

I am just seriously tired of weird people knocking on my door - and so are my neighbors.

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

Perhaps you should see it more positively, Alayman. Such a "Do Not Knock List" would effective eliminate all the people who do not want to see you on their doorstep.

And it would disallow me from knocking ANY of the doors of those who might not feel the same way you do.

No. The "Do Not Knock List" would only contain the addresses of those who prefer not to be bothered. Again, it is a win-win since you can focus your attention of those who welcome your door-knocking.

The "Do Not Knock List" is just another tool homeowners can use to keep unwanted people off their property. Only those wishing to restrict access to their private property will sign up for it.

Are you saying that within the area where such measures are active that some people may elect not to enact such restrictions? If so, how would the No-Knock homes be differentiated from those who permit it, and how would the person knocking doors know which is which?

And how does such a legal measure differ from simply putting up No Trespassing signs to accomplish the same purpose?  Just like Brother Blue, all the soulwinners I know would not violate the wishes of people who put up No Trespassing signs.

  Have you never heard of the national "Do Not Call List"?

Participation is voluntary - completely optional. Only people who want to eliminate soliciting phone calls have put their names on the list. I love being on the "Do Not Call Registry" - no more sales calls interrupting dinner. The "Do Not Knock List" would be similar.

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

National Do Not Call Registry:

https://www.donotcall.gov/

^^^
Love this!!!

157 million phone numbers are registered, so many agree with me and do not want to be disturbed by solicitors.

 

[rsc2a]

The vast majority of converts are the result of relational communication, not drive-by evangelism.

So Matthew 28:18-19 should have read...

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations if you can first establish a personal friendship, baptizing them after you get to know if they prove for a sufficient time that they are producing enough fruit to satisfy your demands,  in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching only those who you know will join your church  to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, modeling it by lifestyle evangelism of course: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

You really should look up the verb tense of "disciple" before you say things like this...

 

[JrChurch]

Context is your friend....

"In every house" and "from house to house" takes on a completely different meaning when you consider the fact that the Church actually met in houses at this time. Consider:

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house... Philemon 1:1-2

Apparently, context IS my friend.  The apostles were busy evangelizing all over Jerusalem: in the streets, in the temple and in every house:

Acts 5:15  Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 
Acts 5:16  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Acts 5:20  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Acts 5:21  And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Acts 5:25  Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Acts 5:28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Acts 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

It would be quite a stretch to claim that there was a church in every house in Jerusalem. It clearly says in verse 42 that they taught and preached in every house. 

 

[Bro Blue]

Amazedbygrace, I am referencing the people who have answered their door and affirmed that they are saved and go to such and such church, but have no interest whatsoever in sharing how they got saved or even express thanks for someone being interested enough to call upon a stranger to share the gospel that saved them too. In my door knocking experiences I have seen more rudeness from church goers than the lost people.

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

They might feel uncomfortable speaking with a stranger at their door.  I have a family member who wouldn't want to continue a conversation with you simply because they are incredibly shy (This person does not like ordering food from a waiter at a restaurant either). These people also do not know what you really believe - are you a cultist or a Christian? Or are you a criminal casing the house? Maybe they are just too busy to have an unscheduled discussion at their doorstep.

In our society there is a general sense of mistrust of people who arrive unannounced on ones doorstep.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=AmazedbyGrace]
The "Do Not Knock List" is just another tool homeowners can use to keep unwanted people off their property. Only those wishing to restrict access to their private property will sign up for it. [/quote]

How will the soulwinner be aware of which house is amongst the "Do Not Knock" list?

And again, how are such measures more effective than simply putting up No Trespassing signs?

Like I said, it would help a Christian door knocker focus their attention on the most receptive people. Win-win.

There is some truth to this, assuming that the soulwinner knows which house is on the list prior to approaching each home.  It still doesn't make any sense to me that this is a helpful tool and necessary given the option of the homeowner to utilize existing methods that are already on the books.

And for the record, these anti-solicitation (specifically as they regard evangelization) measures have already been ruled as unconstitutional at the highest courts in the land.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=FSSL]
YOU claimed it was A biblical method. You still have no biblical evidence.... oh well. You are not the first or last Christian to proclaim a method is biblical with zero biblical support.
[/quote]

Oh, I have given evidence that public ministry is a valid model and command for Christians, but like a typical babbler and one who likes to obtusely cling to his foolish arguments you just continue to prattle on and ignore the great commission imperative with its implications.  Paul went to synagogues, meeting places, before kings, and numerous places where his life was placed into mortal danger all for the sake of spreading the gospel (to every creature) but somehow you think that in his zeal he stopped at contacting people in their homes.  And you hold to that ignorant argument despite the reasonability that the "door to door" or "house to house" passages speak to evangelization in homes.

 

[Izdaari]

[quote author=AmazedbyGrace]
The "Do Not Knock List" is just another tool homeowners can use to keep unwanted people off their property. Only those wishing to restrict access to their private property will sign up for it.

How will the soulwinner be aware of which house is amongst the "Do Not Knock" list?

And again, how are such measures more effective than simply putting up No Trespassing signs?

Like I said, it would help a Christian door knocker focus their attention on the most receptive people. Win-win.

There is some truth to this, assuming that the soulwinner knows which house is on the list prior to approaching each home.  It still doesn't make any sense to me that this is a helpful tool and necessary given the option of the homeowner to utilize existing methods that are already on the books.[/quote]

Download the list, print it out or put it on your smartphone, and take it with you.

But agreed, a simple No Trespassing sign might do just as well.

And for the record, these anti-solicitation (specifically as they regard evangelization) measures have already been ruled as unconstitutional at the highest courts in the land.

That doesn't surprise me.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=rsc2a]
You really should look up the verb tense of "disciple" before you say things like this...
[/quote]


As usual, you make no sense, and ignore salient points of conversation where your argument is nonsensical or illogical.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=Izdaari]Download the list, print it out or put it on your smartphone, and take it with you.
[/quote]

That MIGHT work, ASSUMING the soulwinner has a smartphone.  And the impracticality of carrying around a stack of papers with a list of people who don't want to hear the gospel, well, sounds like more of an inconvenience than their having to hear my shpiel. 

 

[ALAYMAN]

They might feel uncomfortable speaking with a stranger at their door.  I have a family member who wouldn't want to continue a conversation with you simply because they are incredibly shy (This person does not like ordering food from a waiter at a restaurant either). These people also do not know what you really believe - are you a cultist or a Christian? Or are you a criminal casing the house? Maybe they are just too busy to have an unscheduled discussion at their doorstep.

In our society there is a general sense of mistrust of people who arrive unannounced on ones doorstep.

They already have simple legal recourse to settle the problem.  Either put the signs up, or tell the person (without opening the door) that they are not welcome/trespassing and not to return else they'll be prosecuted.

 

[ALAYMAN]

Amazedbygrace, I am referencing the people who have answered their door and affirmed that they are saved and go to such and such church, but have no interest whatsoever in sharing how they got saved or even express thanks for someone being interested enough to call upon a stranger to share the gospel that saved them too. In my door knocking experiences I have seen more rudeness from church goers than the lost people.

Well, I don't know that I'd say "worse than", but given the fact as you've stated it, that we'd expect fellow Christians to be joyous that the gospel was being spread (goodness knows that most of them aren't doing it themselves ) I'd say their unexpected rudeness/harshness is more than a bit disappointing. 

The most recent example I have of that sort of thing just happened about a week ago.  I was at the door of a young girl whose grandma professed to be saved already, but the grandaughter was lost.  As the presentation progressed with her she seemed like she was going to get saved.  Just before we got to the point of praying with her the grandpa ordered her to leave our discussion/presentation and shut the door.  She didn't comply, and seemed embarrassed at her grandpa's rudeness.  He wasn't having any of it though, and came to the door, forcibly removed her from our presence, and slammed the door.  How sad is that?  A grandpa who kept his adult grandaughter from hearing that she might receive forgiveness for her sins and a home in heaven.  Pitiful.

"There's a sweet, sweet, Spirit in this place....."

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

And for the record, these anti-solicitation (specifically as they regard evangelization) measures have already been ruled as unconstitutional at the highest courts in the land.

But this law is different as it is not a blanket prohibition for the entire town - it is specifically for homeowners who elect not to have people come on their property. I think the national Do Not Call Registry might set a precedent on this. It made it illegal for solicitors to call certain numbers and there are fines involved for those who break the rules. Just as phone solicitors now have to obtain a list of phone numbers to avoid (by area code),  door-to-door solicitors would have to obtain a list of addresses to avoid (probably by zip code - the church could obtain a master list and hand out the page relevant to each door knocker, assuming the church uses an organized map system).

In the end, I still think it is a win-win.

I might just make this recommendation to our City Council due to the increase residential property crimes and questionable solicitors we have been seeing. My entire street is on the defense right now IYKWIM.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=AmazedbyGrace]

But this law is different as it is not a blanket prohibition for the entire town - it is specifically for homeowners who elect not to have people come on their property. [/quote]

Such activities have already been ruled as free speech, so I don't think that it will fly. And at the risk of sounding like we're going in circles, if people don't want folk coming on their property, they already have the legal tools to prevent it.  The training I received, and the soulwinners I know all understand that NO TRESPASSING signs mean that you simply go on to the next house.

The scariest part of this is that with all the massively increased and intrusive government regulation into our lives, the last thing I want is the potential for greater gummit control, particularly regarding restricting religious liberty.  Next thing ya know we'll be expected to not say sodomy is a sin from the pulpit.  Might have to allow gays into employment situations at church.  Wouldn't it be something if Big Brother made us provide Plan B for our church staff?  Oh, wait.......