Reader Questions- Dealing with the Neighbors

Hey Pastor Dan! As a fellow believer in Christ, I find myself having a difficult time figuring out how to deal with my neighbors and could use your help. My neighbors change routinely as the unit next door is rented out by the LDS Church. Every few weeks to few months new missionaries come to live there and serve their mission. Every time new ones arrive they immediately ask us as their neighbors to discuss why we should become a part of their church. Every time we tell them how we also are saved and have a church of our own. We both agree that God's gifts are alive and continually blessed upon his people (gifts of prophecy, visions, etc) and have many of the same opinions. We just disagree that the bible should be added to. That's really it.

So my concern is that although they know we are committed to Christ, actively pursuing what he has for us, and have accepted Him in our lives, that's not enough for our neighbors and they constantly push to have us meet more with them until we say yes. When accepting and pursuing Christ is not enough for someone, it is extremely concerning for me. Maybe you could help me understand why they keep doing this? Also, how can I tell them that now it's just disrespectful and that their time is better served sharing God's love to those who haven't experienced it for themselves and not on my wife and I who already are saved? Thanks!!!!

Regards,
Zachary Thomas
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Ooh, tough one. I like it! Thanks for writing in.

As I read your situation, I was cringing internally, because here is the bad news... this problem probably is never going to just go away, short of moving. That house will always be full of young, excited Missionaries who are gonna get out there and change the world and by golly look! Nice neighbors! Let's help THEM, first! And even if they do get the hint, it'll all start over again a few months later, every...single...time. 

It gives me a headache just thinking about it.

To your second concern, the reason they do what they do is that they don't know better. These are young people who are scared to death at the enormity of what they have to do, and so now that they are actually doing it, they're all gung ho and not really thinking it through. Plus, you're nice, kind, and so hours they spend talking to you are not hours spent going door to door with who knows who answering. I'd probably spend a lot of time on you as well, never thinking that A) You'd been through this a million times before and B) I'm actually being pretty insulting at the same time. Their intent is probably not to insult your faith. 

That said, it's perfectly reasonable to want the constant doorbell ringing to stop.  

There are a plethora of solutions on how to get rid of door to door missionaries out there on the internet, but most lean far closer to the Worldsuck side of the Awesome/Worldsuck meter. There has to be a way to get these folks off of your case without having to be really mean to new neighbors every few months. 

My first bit of advice is to contact the local elder of the LDS community in your area and let them know about the situation. Ask if, as a neighborly favor, he could point out that you get visited by a new group of missionaries every few months and so maybe could he remind the missionaries themselves of that, and maybe buy you a bit of peace and quiet? He may or may not be receptive to this, but its worth a try. 

Even if the Elder doesn't seem to take your request seriously, another approach is to go on the offensive by greeting them first. When a new group arrives at the house go over and visit them, say hi, maybe bring them cookies or something. Introduce yourselves and welcome them to the neighborhood. Give them advice on good places to eat, good places to avoid (dangerous neighborhoods, etc) and invite them to knock if they need something.  

What this does is it moves you, in their minds, from the position of mission field to caretaker. They don't need to worry about you... you're worried about them! By doing this, you change how they perceive you and so how they behave towards you. It won't always work, but when it does, you'll find that, for that cycle anyway, you have some very nice neighbors.

Hopefully.