Is Door-to-Door Evangelism Soliciting?

[ktn4eg]

I know that in these days, cold door knocking as a means of evangelism seems to be out of vogue, but what I'd like to know if it's considered to be soliciting?

Most apartment/condo complexes have a "No Soliciting" policy, but I'm not sure that cold door knocking falls under the category of soliciting.

Thoughts?

 

[Salty]

I know that in these days, cold door knocking as a means of evangelism seems to be out of vogue, but what I'd like to know if it's considered to be soliciting?

Most apartment/condo complexes have a "No Soliciting" policy, but I'm not sure that cold door knocking falls under the category of soliciting.

Thoughts?

With a sign like that, dont be surprised it the person slams the door in your face.

As far as the definition - it doesnt really matter what the dictionary says - but how the homeowner defines it.

Solicit - from the dictionary

 

[Sapper Woody]

I know that in these days, cold door knocking as a means of evangelism seems to be out of vogue, but what I'd like to know if it's considered to be soliciting?

Most apartment/condo complexes have a "No Soliciting" policy, but I'm not sure that cold door knocking falls under the category of soliciting.

Thoughts?

In the world's eyes, yes. I've been asked to leave places with those signs.

 

[preachinjesus]

Yes it is. Where signs are posted asking us not to do so, we cannot do so.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Under the common interpretation of the law, it is.

I used to do door-to-door evangelism back in college and we had to deal with the issue. Most people do not want sales people, religious cultists (JWs and Mormons), etc. knocking on their doors.

I'm actually considering putting a no soliciting sign on my porch because we have had a lot of sales people come to our door well after dark lately and I'm getting really tired of the JWs beating down my door at least once a month.

Added to that, we have Southwestern Seminary students who like to come by and ring the doorbell in the mid-afternoon and then hurry off to the next house so they won't have to talk to me, but they can say they have canvased the neighborhood so they can complete their required evangelism assignment. The first time that happened, I called out to them while they are walking to the next house and they were either deaf or ignoring me because they wouldn't even acknowledge me.

 

[Yeshua1]

I know that in these days, cold door knocking as a means of evangelism seems to be out of vogue, but what I'd like to know if it's considered to be soliciting?

Most apartment/condo complexes have a "No Soliciting" policy, but I'm not sure that cold door knocking falls under the category of soliciting.

Thoughts?

no, not as long as your offer is jesus and eternal life, no money required!

 

[Havensdad]

Under the common interpretation of the law, it is.

This is not true. The legal definition of soliciting requires that you are "soliciting" for something tangible....money, donations, etc. It does not include evangelism.

That is why, for instance, I can go to the Post Office and stand outside and share the gospel. Soliciting and loitering are forbidden, but not evangelism.

 

[Havensdad]

FYI: A Helpful page from The American Center of Law and Justice...

http://www.sohmer.net/aclj-streets.php

Quoting: "When I have handed out Gospel literature in the past, police have stopped me and told me that soliciting is not allowed. Am I soliciting when I share the Gospel?

No! Giving away free Gospel tracts and talking to people about salvation are not the same thing as soliciting."

 

[clark thompson]

I think door to door can be soliciting can be if you try to convince people the need to go to your church or something. I do door to door and we simply pass out tracks and allow people to talk to us first and if they don't than we move on.

 

[evangelist6589]

I know that in these days, cold door knocking as a means of evangelism seems to be out of vogue, but what I'd like to know if it's considered to be soliciting?

Most apartment/condo complexes have a "No Soliciting" policy, but I'm not sure that cold door knocking falls under the category of soliciting.

Thoughts?

Do not go door to door, but instead hit people on the streets and at other places. Door to door is a bad way to do evangelism.

 

[Inspector Javert]

Do not go door to door, but instead hit people on the streets and at other places. Door to door is a bad way to do evangelism.

Wish you had been around to inform Jesus of that fact, since he instructed his disciples to use it.

Mat 10:11
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Mat 10:12
And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Mat 10:13
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Mat 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
I have seen it be very effective MANY times. It often depends on demographics and where you are, and it may be more effective in certain areas than in others; but absolutely do not condemn the practice wholesale. You are grossly out of line and un-Biblical with that advice.

 

[evangelist6589]

Wish you had been around to inform Jesus of that fact, since he instructed his disciples to use it.

Mat 10:11
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Mat 10:12
And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Mat 10:13
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Mat 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
I have seen it be very effective MANY times. It often depends on demographics and where you are, and it may be more effective in certain areas than in others; but absolutely do not condemn the practice wholesale. You are grossly out of line and un-Biblical with that advice.

I personally do not prefer door to door, but then again in some areas there are no cities and street evangelism impossible so door to door is the only way. So I apologize I did not think about that before I posted.

 

[Inspector Javert]

I personally do not prefer door to door, but then again in some areas there are no cities and street evangelism impossible so door to door is the only way. So I apologize I did not think about that before I posted.

:thumbs:Never let anyone advise against your use of street-preaching either. :thumbs: I don't think God decreed a particular methodology....Just that it's preached.

If showing 20-minute Jesus videos works in foreign countries which have never heard the gospel, then so be it! If you are distributing gospel tracts in shoe-boxes to kids at Christmas a-la Franklin Graham, so be it as well! :thumbs: Preach on the street, on someone's front porch, in the churches, at public parks etc. etc..

 

[evangelist6589]

:thumbs:Never let anyone advise against your use of street-preaching either. :thumbs: I don't think God decreed a particular methodology....Just that it's preached.

If showing 20-minute Jesus videos works in foreign countries which have never heard the gospel, then so be it! If you are distributing gospel tracts in shoe-boxes to kids at Christmas a-la Franklin Graham, so be it as well! :thumbs: Preach on the street, on someone's front porch, in the churches, at public parks etc. etc..

Thanks brother. Many are advising against Street preaching because they never endorse it in their churches, nor encourage anyone to do it. They only endorse methods that bring results.

 

[Revmitchell]

Or methods that involve actual discipleship which is the biblical mandate.

 

[evangelist6589]

Or methods that involve actual discipleship which is the biblical mandate.

For once we agree.

 

[Rippon]

Attention 6589 : You are newly married. Spend some quality time with your bride.

 

[evangelist6589]

Attention 6589 : You are newly married. Spend some quality time with your bride.

I do everyday. Today we plan to hit the gymn together and then read. She has her books and I am trying to catch up on reading The Way of the Master, and a Paul Washer book.


Next weekend we plan to hit downtown Denver for some street evangelism.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Yes, I think it is.

 

[prophet]

No, it is not. LEO has informed two churches, in two different States, that I have ministered in, that securing the head of household' s, or a rep. of said head' s permission to talk, by simply asking "may we visit with you?", or a reasonable facsimile, is all that is needed. Once they say: "yes", the law is on your side.
If they say"no", go away.