Saturday, July 25, 2009

Why I read Apostate or Oppositional Literature

4 comments:

jimfisher007 said...

Hey Mike,
Hope you are doing fine. Have not heard from you in awhile. Anyway, most Jehovah's Witnesses have come out from another religion and the literature that they use in their ministry has Bible Based Text about Bible Truths.

Everytime I read a book that talked about Mormons, it has always been slanted against their religion and most of the time written by someone who is no longer a Mormon or got mad about something that happened to them by imperfect men in their religion. Besides, they make money doing it.

I have learned more about Mormonism by letting them talk to me and going over Bible text with them. I did this with my former Presbyterian Minister, as well with the Dean of Religion at USC in Columbia, SC at his home, who was a retired Baptist Minister and Author. And in my ministry I have done the same with other faiths' preachers like, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic Priest, Episcopals, Buddist, Shinto, Hindi, even an American Chief, ect.

I find that these are the ones I can trust to tell me the truth of what they really beleive since they have nothing against their religion. In other words, "Getting it staight from the horses mouth."

Besides, You don't have to read Jehovah's Witnesses' literature to learn what they believe, they would be glad to show you straight from God's Word the Bible. That is were it counts anyway.

I don't think I'm hypocritcal like you say in the video when I take my own free time and expense to go to someones home and share them with some of our Bible Based Literature and they offer me some of their own church literature. I did not go to their home to pick up their literature but to share ours. I just tell them kindly: "I found you, now it is your time to find me." I only give out literature to people who show a true interest in learning the Bible and offer them a Bible Study using their own Bible. I don't have to use Watchtower literature to conduct a Bible Study, just a Bible.

Besides: (Ecclesiastes 12:12) 12 As regards anything besides these, my son, take a warning: To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion [to them] is wearisome to the flesh.

(Colossians 2:8) 8 Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ;

The apostle Paul expressed this concern: “I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent seduced Eve by its cunning, your minds might be corrupted away from the sincerity and the chastity that are due the Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 11:3) Paul found it necessary to write regarding some erroneous teachings that were circulating in his day. In his second letter to the congregation at Thessalonica, he wrote: “We request of you not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here. Let no one seduce you in any manner.”—2Thessalonians 2:1-3.


Sincerely,
Jim

jimfisher007 said...

(Romans 16:17-18) 17 Now I exhort YOU, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that YOU have learned, and avoid them. 18 For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own bellies; and by smooth talk and complimentary speech they seduce the hearts of guileless ones.

(1 Corinthians 5:11) 11 But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.

(2 John 9-11) 9 Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to YOU and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into YOUR homes or say a greeting to him. 11 For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.

Sincerely, Jim

Mike Felker said...

Thanks for your comment, Jim. I hope you understand that my intent of the video was not necessarily to persuade anyone to read apostate literature. Rather, it was designed to explain why I choose to read apostate literature.

In other words, you have your reasons for not reading apostate literature, and I have my reasons for reading it.

However, I can say from having both spoken to others about their own faith as well as chosen to read oppositional material about my own faith, that I have benefited greatly.

Mark Hunter said...

"Besides: (Ecclesiastes 12:12) 12 As regards anything besides these, my son, take a warning: To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion [to them] is wearisome to the flesh."

With all due respect, the religion you belong to is 'controlled' by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Incorporated. A publishing company. That publishes....lots of books.