Sticky Question

If the Baptists have any "stick to it", you might have a freedom of speech issue on your hands. I am sorry to say most freedom of speech court cases(regarding religious material) I believe have been brought about by the Watchtower Slaves. Personally if the possibility exists, I would move to the sidewalk and do all the passin' that was possible. No harm there and no foul either. In fact I might just show up one day and streetpreach when they were there too. Just to let them know whose territory they were encroaching.

Thanks ------Bart

 

I don't think the problem is with the passing out of the tracts. The problem is when people, try to prevent our freedom of speech and religion and call it legal. I would suggest that you think about how the Lord will deal with you on judgement day for trying to stop or hinder the great commission. Don't worry abhout the JW's He will deal with them also.

 

Jeff, it's right to obey the law. There are plenty of ways to encourage those you wish to encourage and discourage those you wish to discourage after you have asked them to obey the laws of your state. For instance, while you will tell the JW's to please not pass out any tracts on government property and do not break the law by doing so, you can ask the Baptists to simply move a little further off so that they will not be breaking the law.

No lives are at stake with this, no immorality being condoned by keeping this law, so it must be kept. We are told to obey the authorities, and the Bible does not say "if we agree with them." Get out and vote and work for a change in the laws you don't agree with! That is our privilege in the United States.

It should also be mentioned that passing out tracts is the LEAST effective way to reach people. People are reached by us personally -- the lives we live, the help we give, the words we say. Personally, and I may get flamed for this, I think that passing out tracts is the lazy man's way of witnessing. Once you are done you can go home and live however you like.

But it's how you live that is going to make a difference to the people who know you, either attracting them to the Christ you say you follow or repelling them.

And NNE can stop you from living the Christian life from the inside out no matter where you are!

 

I would just hand them a written policy that the library maintains in regard to any group soliciting anything. Any group can go on public property outside of the library in public domain. But to be on the library property may be another thing.

 

Helen, I would never flame you (too much likelihood that I would be wrong).

I agree with your advocating lifestyle evangelism as the most effective way but tracks can be an effective tool when used as PART of your arsenal. A good soldier has more than one weapon. A sword is best but a couple of little daggers can be quite handy at times.

 

I can see it now, God getting all steamed because those baptists have to stop passing out tracts, which would likely get a cursory glance at best, and instead maybe do something meaningful with their time.

I would inform both groups as nicely and as calmly as possible that what they were doing was against the law and insist that they cease. If they do not cease, I would call the proper authority (your boss or whoever you answer to). If the B's or JW's don't like it, that is not your problem. There are ten thousand other places where they can pass out their tracts, and I imagine that many if not most of those places would be more populated (thus more effective) than a small community library.