Thursday, August 28, 2008

Are Christians Scriptually Obligated To Preach From Door To Door?

Jehovah's Witnesses have long taught that one of the identifying marks of true worship is the proclaiming of the kingdom message by door to door witnessing. This makes them different from all other religions, and is something they are famous for. They are very proud of this preaching work and always loudly proclaim "we are the only ones doing the preaching work."
The Watchtower call this a PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY. They use scriptures such as Acts 20:20 and Acts 5:42 to back this up.
Acts 5:42 And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus"
Acts 20:20: "While I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from telling you publicly and from house to house"
The Greek expression kat oikous literally means "according to houses" and not house-to-house. The American Standard Version of the scriptures renders Acts 5:42 "And every day, in the temple and at home they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ".
This scripture shows that the apostles taught, not only in the temple, but also in private homes where small groups could congregate.
The private home was the home base or central location of where 1st century Christians has their meetings. They always met in private chambers, upper rooms etc (Luke 22:8-13; Acts 1:13-15). Group meetings for Christians could also be arranged in public facilities such as schools, auditoriums (Acts 19:9,10)
The fact Paul said in Acts 20:20 'I have taught you publicly AND from house-to-house' shows there were two different ministries. One public, that is among the people in marketplaces, the temple, and other places people congregated, and one was private, in the homes of the friends where personal attention could be given.
If this greek expression (kat oikous) was taken the way the Watchtower says, then the 'house-to-house' ministry would ALSO be PUBLIC. There would have been no need for Paul to say "Publicly" and "house to house", since both would have been public.
Quite simply, this ministry was one that Paul conducted in "private homes". Simple! Think about it.
Acts 2:46 "and day after day they were in constant attendance at the temple with one accord, and they took their meals in private homes* and partook of food with great rejoicing and sincerity of heart"* Greek kat oikou
New World Translation Reference Bible footnote says, this can also be rendered "house-to-house".
What modern translator would render the above as "house-to-house", as does the King James Version? It just doesnt make sense. They wouldnt be going around from house-to-house to get their meals, surely not!
The greek rendering for kat oikous should be the same in all three verses.
The WTS chose to use the correct and most reasonable rendering of this Greek expression in Acts 2:46 of the New World Translation, they DID NOT however, choose to render it the same way in Acts 5:42 or Acts 20:20. WHY? Simple... their doctrine of preaching from house-to-house would not stand! People would see the scriptures they use to back this up actually refer to personal instruction being done in private homes!
But, what about Matthew 10:12,13 and Luke 15:5,6?
Did Jesus not specificially outline the procedure in engaging house-to-house ministry? Was he not establishing the rules of conduct when one recieves a negative response in his door-to-door service? The answer is NO!
Verse 11 of Matthew chapter 10:"Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving, and STAY THERE until you leave"
Now if we took this scripture literally as specific instructions pertaining to the door-to-door ministry, that would mean that when the disciples found ONLY ONE 'deserving person' in their so-called house-to-house ministry, they would CEASE in this work since they were told to "stay there until you leave". How ridiculous! See also Luke 9:4
Luke 10:7 reads: "So stay in that house, eating and drinking the thing they provide, for the worker is worthy of his wages. DO NOT BE TRANSFERRING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE"
The thought being, not to search out throughout the village or city for the best possible accomodations, just accept whatever Jehovah provides. This makes more sense does it not?
Obviously, Jesus was giving them instructions in establishing a HOME BASE for launching their ministry in that particular town. This would thus provide them with a place to confidentially give personal instruction to those who would listen - yes in the privacy and relaxed atmosphere of a home belonging to a "friend of peace" (Luke 10:6). However, if by chance in "searching out" the town or village, they encountered an unappreciative person, or even an inhospitable village or city, Jesus said to "shake the dust off your feet for a witness against them" - Luke 9:5; 10:8-13
Therefore this particular form of proselytizing does not serve in any way, shape or form as being a distinctive, identifying mark of true religion today. Regretably, it only serves to highlight the weighty burden placed upon the enslaved Jehovah's Witnesses to a lifetime career of book and magazine selling and for the sole enrichment of the WTS. - Matthew 23:4, Ezekiel 34:27; 2 Corinthians 2:17
At Acts 5:42 and 20:20 the NWT renders the Greek phrase as "from house to house". If you have a 'Kingdom Interlinear Translation', compare the rendering of the same Greek phrase at Acts 2:46 as "in private homes". If you have a copy of the large edition NWT look also at the footnote for Acts 20:20. The footnote for Acts 5:42 would seem to give weight to the phrase "from house to house". One thing is clear, the apostles and early Christians visited people in their private homes. That they engaged in door to door activity as done by JW's today is not clear. Of the 150 separate incidents of witnessing recorded in the Gospel accounts and Acts only 34 include any reference to house or home. Of these, 21 refer to homes where Jesus or the Apostles lodged or were invited to have a meal, 7 refer to lodging or a place for gathering such as congregations in homes, and 2 relate to Jesus sending healed persons to their homes. The other 4 are texts the Society uses to establish precendent for door to door activity.Other uses of the Greek phrase are:Romans 16:51 Corinthians 16:19Colossians 4:15Philemon vs 2

Do I believe that Jehovah's Witnesses preach a different gospel that the one that Jesus said to preach? Yes I do.
The basic message of the Witnesses is "put faith in our Governing Body as Jehovah's spokesman". This message is based on their demonstrably false "Bible chronology" which has Christ returning invisibly to the earth in 1914, being put on an invisible throne then, and appointing Rutherford and his cronies "over all his earthly belongings" in 1919. Since there is no evidence for the latter, and a great deal of evidence that disproves their claim that their leaders comprise a divinely appointed "faithful slave", their basic message is false.
Therefore the preaching that Jehovah's Witnesses do is worse than valueless -- it is anti-christian.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

GBL:

I finally realized you are fullfillment of Matt 24:48-51.

Does that make you feel better Judas?

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised you had no mention at all of the most obvious one, Matthew 28:19, 20. JWs do not just go from house to house, they just "GO ... AND MAKE DISCIPLES". Streets, businesses, buses, parking lots, whenever an opportunity arises, etc. They DO NOT just go from house to house; that is just a part of the list and apparantly the most effective, that is why it is done more frequently and given further attention.

Seriously, how much personal time do you spend bashing JWs, they're good people.

Would an evil organization look out for its members when natural disasters arise?
Would an evil organization warn you from bad associations?
Would an evil organization ask you not to get drunk?
Would an evil organization tell you what is best to keep you out of trouble?
Would an evil organization save lives because of all the warnings it has provided about dangers in life?

Anonymous said...

Carl, since you know the does and don'ts, what are you doing here!

Every organisation has its goods and bads. This guy is pin pointing some of the wrong stuff and showing us what he thinks or views.

BTW: it is vital for us to be in house-to-house, aka door-to-door. Try not to go in this mode for 1 month or 2 and tell us if no elder will approach you and ask you why you are not doing so.

Anonymous said...

making disciples is not going from door to door. a lot of religions make disciples. how comes that other christian religions grow in number if noone would spread the word?

additionally in a lot of countries the jws are declining. dont they make disciples?

the problem is not that jws make disciples. its that the society *forces* them to go actively into preaching every month and punish them for not doing so. and they use it as a sign of the true religion. this is false. they arent the only ones following jesus footsteps in that matter.

and what would be the outcome? a jw who never converted a new one in his whole life doesnt gain everlasting life?

its about sharing your believe in christ with others, not doing a ritual like going from door to door.

but it was foretold that ppl will rise who beat their fellow slaves.

N/A said...

I've never seen GBL bash innocent brothers and sisters, in fact, he has a lot of empathy for them. His criticism is directed towards the leadership.

House-to-house witnessing is not effective in neighborhoods where 95% of the residences end up being not-at-homes. Obviously, if you can't find people at home, you'll have no one to talk to. I've spent years going door-to-door and most of that time was wasted effort. When I changed to informal witnessing only, I no longer had any wasted effort. People need to learn how to work smarter, not harder.

My informal ministry is joyful and rewarding to me, but very much looked down upon by the local congregation for two reasons. I only use the Bible, and I don't place the Society's literature with people I talk to.

GBL is right when he criticizes the message being preached. The whole point of the brothers and sisters going door-to-door today is to bring in new recruits that will be loyal to the Governing Body and fill their contribution boxes. Until people can wrap their minds around that, they are still going to be loyal to this earthly organization.

The real good news is so much better than what the Society is preaching. Holy Spirit is operating at this time to help people learn how to worship in "spirit and truth." GBL is doing his part to educate people, and I appreciate his efforts.

For all the detractors:

(Mark 9:38-42) . . .John said to him: “Teacher, we saw a certain man expelling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he was not accompanying us.” 39 But Jesus said: “Do not try to prevent him, for there is no one that will do a powerful work on the basis of my name that will quickly be able to revile me; 40 for he that is not against us is for us. 41 For whoever gives YOU a cup of water to drink on the ground that YOU belong to Christ, I truly tell YOU, he will by no means lose his reward. 42 But whoever stumbles one of these little ones that believe, it would be finer for him if a millstone such as is turned by an ass were put around his neck and he were actually pitched into the sea.

(Luke 11:17-23) . . .“Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and a house [divided] against itself falls. 18 So if Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because YOU say I expel the demons by means of Be‧el′ze‧bub. 19 If it is by means of Be‧el′ze‧bub I expel the demons, by whom do YOUR sons expel them? Because of this they will be judges of YOU. 20 But if it is by means of God’s finger I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU. 21 When a strong man, well armed, guards his palace, his belongings continue in peace. 22 But when someone stronger than he is comes against him and conquers him, he takes away his full armament in which he was trusting, and he divides out the things he despoiled him of. 23 He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters.

Anonymous said...

It is HILARIOUS to interpret the words of Christ 2000 years before, when NO CHRISTIANITY TERM EXISTED, as if they have any importance today!

Get a life and stop following the Washtowel or the Filthful and Disgrace Slave...

i-am-an-apostate.blogspot.com

Theocratic Joker said...

"Would an evil organization look out for its members when natural disasters arise?
Would an evil organization warn you from bad associations?
Would an evil organization ask you not to get drunk?
Would an evil organization tell you what is best to keep you out of trouble?
Would an evil organization save lives because of all the warnings it has provided about dangers in life?"
---------------------------------
Carl, how old are you? Don't you or didn't you have parents to teach you these things? Do you really need the Watchtower to teach you to act like a christian or even a nice guy? Read your Bible and it will teach you all the things you listed above. Or just talk to other people, for goodness sakes.
Yes, an evil organization would teach you all of that. Because people like you will be amazed that they are teaching that and will go on to believe anything they say.

Theocratic Joker said...

Yes, chocolatepudding, I agree. People should not be forced to go from door to door. It is not a requirement for everlasting life. Informal witnessing or preaching when you are in the mood or you meet someone receptive is much more effective. Marching around blocks for two or three hours and no one is at home or no one is interested in insanity. Yet millions of witnesses do it because they are told that this is what Jehovah wants.
The scripture at Matthew 24:14 was just a statement. It was not a rule. It was not a command.

Theocratic Joker said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

That's probably why the JW apologist like coming to this blog... they "know" someone is home - LOL.

Anonymous said...

GBL:

Your Mother arrives home from a long day at work to find her home in total disarray. She looks around at her six children in the middle of this mess and say, "THIS HOUSE WILL BE CLEAN WHEN I COME BACK FROM THE STORE!"

The kids all look at each other. Do you think someone else is going to come in and clean up? Do they understand the statement their mother just made? Do they know who it applies to, what was her intent?

Christians are blessed with the responsibility to preach the Good News and warn of the coming judgement. We cannot just do it when we feel like it, as the mood moves us! Ezekiel 33: 7-9

S said...

Obligated to preach door to door? Whereever would you get that idea?

What about parking lots, streets, phone, letter?

How one preaches is not important.

I serve where the need is greater, that is on the internet. The need is great on the internet.

S said...

Anon:

"Carl, since you know the does and don'ts, what are you doing here!"

Why did you ask this?

Maybe he is like me and preaching where the need is great.

Jesus was around sinners because they need a doctor.

"Blogger: Letters From The Governing Body Of Jehovah's Witnesses - Post a Comment"

Why would we be interested in his views?

S said...

anon:
"making disciples is not going from door to door."

It is a start. One has to go to where the people are and where they are comfortable.

" a lot of religions make disciples."

Who? Where?

" how comes that other christian religions grow in number if noone wuld spread the word?"

But they don't know the Bible.

"additionally in a lot of countries the jws are declining. dont they make disciples?"

Not our fault that the soil is rocky.

"the problem is not that jws make disciples. its that the society *forces* them to go actively into preaching every month and punish them for not doing so. "

What a bunch of hoey. The Society has nothing to do with this. No one is forced to do anything. And there is no punishment. If one does not turn in a field service report, one is not an active publisher, that is all, not a punishment. One should be proud to be counted as a publisher.

S said...

Joepub
"That's probably why the JW apologist like coming to this blog... they "know" someone is home - LOL."

Not a laughing matter, but the need is great on the internet. And you all are the ones in need of a physician, not the healthy ones.

S said...

chocolate:

"House-to-house witnessing is not effective in neighborhoods where 95% of the residences end up being not-at-homes. Obviously, if you can't find people at home, you'll have no one to talk to. I've spent years going door-to-door and most of that time was wasted effort. When I changed to informal witnessing only, I no longer had any wasted effort. People need to learn how to work smarter, not harder."

Exactly. There is no requirement for door to door. That is just the congregational way of covering its assigned territory.

"but very much looked down upon by the local congregation for two reasons. I only use the Bible, and I don't place the Society's literature with people I talk to."

Good for you. Tell them to go... to go... well, you know.

In the door to door, I use the Bible and not books.

I disagree with you here:"
GBL is right when he criticizes the message being preached."

But he does not criticize the message.

" The whole point of the brothers and sisters going door-to-door today is to bring in new recruits that will be loyal to the Governing Body and fill their contribution boxes. "

Anything wrong with that?

S said...

GBLetters said:

"The scripture at Matthew 24:14 was just a statement. It was not a rule. It was not a command."

It was a prophesy.

And to fulfill that prophesy, we have to do it.

Theocratic Joker said...

"And to fulfill that prophesy, we have to do it."
----------------------------------
I just realized why ronde is here. Ronde, you are counting the time you spend here, aren't you?

Jehovah's Witnesses can preach all they want, where they want and who they want to preach to. However, if there message is different from the one that Jesus and the apostles preached, all their work is in vain.

Theocratic Joker said...

" The whole point of the brothers and sisters going door-to-door today is to bring in new recruits that will be loyal to the Governing Body and fill their contribution boxes. "

Anything wrong with that?
===================================
Yes, there is something wrong with that! The preaching work was to be a life saving message. The witnessing work of Jehovah's Witnesses is a recruitment message. It is vastly different and certainly not approved by Jehovah.
Therefore, the billions of hours that Jehovah's Witnesses preach is all in vain and in fact is disproved by Jehovah.

S said...

GBLetters said:
"I just realized why ronde is here. Ronde, you are counting the time you spend here, aren't you?"

Count time for individual deeds?
Nah. I just get a pair of dice and roll them.

"Jehovah's Witnesses can preach all they want, where they want and who they want to preach to. However, if there message is different from the one that Jesus and the apostles preached, all their work is in vain."

WE have the message of the kingdom with Jesus as king.

S said...

GBLetters said:
"Anything wrong with that?"
===================================
"Yes, there is something wrong with that!"

What?

" The preaching work was to be a life saving message. The witnessing work of Jehovah's Witnesses is a recruitment message."

Same thing in my book. When people study, get baptized and become publishers and are loyal to the brotherhood, their lives are saved.

" It is vastly different and certainly not approved by Jehovah."

Wrong. He loves us for that.

"Therefore, the billions of hours that Jehovah's Witnesses preach is all in vain and in fact is disproved by Jehovah."

You have no basis for that statement.

N/A said...

" The whole point of the brothers and sisters going door-to-door today is to bring in new recruits that will be loyal to the Governing Body and fill their contribution boxes. "

Ronde: Anything wrong with that?

My reply: In my opinion, yes. I will not try to persuade someone that they need to be baptized by the WTS in order to gain everlasting life.

I don't think I could make you understand my point of view, so I'm not even going to try. Just the fact that you see nothing wrong with being loyal to men who knowingly publish things that are not true tells me that I would be throwing my pearls away.

I don't see how you can separate the published literature and the actions of the Governing Body from the religion and say that someone can be an active JW and not be affected by those two things. I see it as one package deal, somehow you don't.

Anonymous said...

Many JW think the end is iminent, and they fear therefore to think logicaly. They think also that it is no use to deepen their accurate knowledge, because the end is near. They think they will have 1000 years in the new world to become perfect. Therefore it is no use to make any big effort now. But just to do what some brothers in the Govering body have decided. They say they represent the slave-class. But they do not ask what the anointed slaves think personaly. But a change may come. May be they will split the organization between willing anointed brothers. And they will serve instead of circuit overees.
That would be right. Then the question in Matthew 24:45 Who is faithful and discreet slave? would make sence.

S said...

chocolate said
"n my opinion, yes. I will not try to persuade someone that they need to be baptized by the WTS in order to gain everlasting life."

No one is baptized by the WTS.

Baptism is done by Christian brothers.

"Just the fact that you see nothing wrong with being loyal to men who knowingly publish things that are not true tells me that I would be throwing my pearls away. "

If you have read anything that I have written, you would know that I do not defend the Watchtower. I just am against those who are against JWs. There is a difference.

S said...

chocolate said:

"I don't see how you can separate the published literature and the actions of the Governing Body from the religion and say that someone can be an active JW and not be affected by those two things. I see it as one package deal, somehow you don't. "

The governing Body is not relevant to anything. The average individual does not have dealings with them.

The GB is like the supreme court in that the average individual does not have dealings with the supreme court but deals with local judges.

I don't see the GB or the literature as something that you put it. Jehovah's Witnesses are much more than the GB and the literature. There are 7 million of us and we are individuals.

I don't see how either of those things affect me.

S said...

anon:

"Many JW think the end is iminent, and they fear therefore to think logicaly. "

You are very wrong. JWs think very logically. That is why we are of this religion.

Theocratic Joker said...

"I don't see the GB or the literature as something that you put it. Jehovah's Witnesses are much more than the GB and the literature. There are 7 million of us and we are individuals.'
----------------------------------
Well, no, this is not true. You might have started as individulas but all 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses are unified as pawns of the Watchtower organization and individuality is not allowed.

Theocratic Joker said...

"Christians are blessed with the responsibility to preach the Good News and warn of the coming judgement. We cannot just do it when we feel like it, as the mood moves us! Ezekiel 33: 7-9"
----------------------------------
Just what is the Good News that you are preaching. It is the same Good News preached by Jesus. Go read your Bible and then come back and post an answer.
Preaching does not even have to be orally. We can preach by our behavior, how we treat people. how we carry ourselves. The hope in our heart should be evident for all to see. Our faith should be manifest.
If we feel like preaching orally, then we should do it when we feel like it. The only steadfast rules about this are in the Watchtower magazine.

Anonymous said...

GBBS:

Yes, you are right about Jehovah's Witnesses being united...

"Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought." 1 Cor 1:10

"Finally, brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, TO THINK IN AGREEMENT, to live peaceably..." 2 Cor 13:11

"And it must occur in the final part of the days [that] the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills, and to it all the Nations must stream. And many peoples will certainly go and say, "Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instructs us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Zion law will go forth, and the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem." Isaiah 2: 2-4

Yes 7 million of Jehovah's Witnesses are united in our worship of Jehovah as the Bible instructs.

Anonymous said...

Nice bible verses about unified worship in Jerusalem. Russell also believed that Jerusalem on earth will have a big importance. Unfortunately the brothers got unpatient and dismissed the belief on Jerusalem. But do you have faith in Bible-prophecy even though you have to wait for its fulfillment? We may even dye before it fullfills.

Anonymous said...

hey!

I got a great idea.

lets transpose this to:

"Are Marines required by the UCMJ to fight from door to door?"

No, they can fight whenever an enemy comes by casually.

They can fight by calling in air support.

They can fight by setting up booby traps.

They can fight by having snipers in the trees.

They can fight by just standing on the wall in the middle of the night, ready TO fight.

But the philosophy of "boots on the ground" acknowledges that ONLY boots on the ground ( as the analogy goes ) will result in the pacification of an enemy controlled area.

Now, in preaching the Truth of God's word, there are about about 7 billion people and about seven million Jehovah's Witnesses.

It's a BIG planet, and willy, nilly, most people live in houses.

In the absence of weapons of mass destruction, or "tools of mass instruction"...oh wait...we do have "tools of mass instruction".

Hmmmmmm...all the stuff the Watchtower BIBLE AND TRACT Society puts out.

In temporal warfare sometimes machine guns work, or flame throwers, or grenades, or artillery, or mortars, or barbed wire, or rifle, pistol and bayonet.

Sometimes they don't.

Same is true when the Good News is published....some tools work better at different times....

BUT

You have to get it to the people, in every nation, geography and circumstance, PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN HOUSES, AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HOUSES WITH DOORS, the simple fact of practical necessity means that Witnesses who are scripturally obligated to preach the Good News are obligated by reason, logic, and practical necessity to preach from door to door.

Sheesh ... what could be more intrinsically obvious?

The fact that JWs are organized with individual skills, group skills, and the tools with which to launch a worldwide rescue mission by the WTB&TS shows common sense.

If a Marine rescue team hovered over the middle of New Orleans in a helicopter, and sent out notice of their availability to save the folks lives over the radio, how many would be rescued?

Not many.

However, if this rescue team lowered soldiers, and they did a door to door, house to house search as the flood waters rose even higher and higher, how many more people would potentially be rescued?

Only the disabled, the deaf, those who can't swim, the old, the young, the terrified, the ONES WITHOUT A RADIO, etc., etc.

OF COURSE it is twenty times the work for the rescuers.

OF COURSE many of the homes will be empty.

OF COURSE they will be ridiculed and rejected....the people in New Orleans even shot at their rescuers!

If money was the reason for preaching..I would MUCH rather slip the Society a twenty, and get an indulgence, like how the Catholics financed the Construction of St. Peter's Basilica.

Fortunately, it's not.

and Fortunately for those who are praying for rescue, JWS are looking for them where they live.

Of course this will make no sense to dishonest people ... those who pretend to be the rescuers, but are only interested in their thirty pieces of silver, selling souvenirs of their dishonesty and double lives.

Tom.Rook @Technik-SA.US

Anonymous said...

Tom:

Well said...thanks.

Theocratic Joker said...

"You have to get it to the people, in every nation, geography and circumstance, PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN HOUSES, AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HOUSES WITH DOORS, the simple fact of practical necessity means that Witnesses who are scripturally obligated to preach the Good News are obligated by reason, logic, and practical necessity to preach from door to door.
Sheesh ... what could be more intrinsically obvious?"
-----------------------------------
One of the least effective ways of preaching is door to door. In this age of mass communication, it would be far more effective to preach via television, or by radio, or even by internet.
Sheesh ... what could be more intrinsically obvious?

The day of the door to door salesman is long gone. However, the Watchtower has learned that they are identified by the door to door work. Their members expect to go from door to door. It is their logo, as it were. They don't want to give that up.

Theocratic Joker said...

"The fact that JWs are organized with individual skills, group skills, and the tools with which to launch a worldwide rescue mission by the WTB&TS shows common sense."
-----------------------------------
Jesus has already rescued mankind. He gave his life to save us from the effects of sin. He said that we only have to place our belief in him to be saved. No human organization need to undertake the work already done by our savior. To do so in presumptuous. That, Tom, is common sense.

Anonymous said...

it would be far more effective to preach via television, or by radio, or even by internet.

all those ways cost money, why spend money when you can get people to do your door to door recruitmen for free. just tell them they are serving god.

Anonymous said...

No! Please! Don't give them any ideas. The non-religious among the world's population could sure do without even more talk of some divine-yet-dreadfully-impotent skydaddy...

S said...

GBLetters said:
"Well, no, this is not true. You might have started as individulas but all 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses are unified as pawns of the Watchtower organization and individuality is not allowed."

Well, this proves that you are so biased that nothing on your site can be believed.

S said...

GBLetters said:

"Just what is the Good News that you are preaching. It is the same Good News preached by Jesus."

The Good news of the kingdom.
Duh, just like the song.


" Go read your Bible and then come back and post an answer."

We did that long ago.

"Preaching does not even have to be orally. We can preach by our behavior, how we treat people. how we carry ourselves. The hope in our heart should be evident for all to see. Our faith should be manifest."

We do that.


"If we feel like preaching orally, then we should do it when we feel like it. The only steadfast rules about this are in the Watchtower magazine. "

That makes no sense.

S said...

Anon said:
"Yes 7 million of Jehovah's Witnesses are united in our worship of Jehovah as the Bible instructs. "

Don't confuse him with the facts. Since the service report is not in the Watchtower, he knows nothing of it.

S said...

GBLetters said:
"In this age of mass communication, it would be far more effective to preach via television, or by radio, or even by internet.
Sheesh ... what could be more intrinsically obvious?"

You don't get it.
Megachurches have 1000s of people that attend and they use TV. But does the pastor ever know these people? The point of preaching is to talk face to face with people. Communication is a two way street.
You wouldn't know about either of those prior to sentences.

S said...

GBLetters said:
"Jesus has already rescued mankind. He gave his life to save us from the effects of sin. He said that we only have to place our belief in him to be saved. No human organization need to undertake the work already done by our savior. To do so in presumptuous. That, Tom, is common sense. "

Yeah but how would people know that if we didn't preach? People think that Jesus is God. That believe will not save anyone.

Theocratic Joker said...

"Yeah but how would people know that if we didn't preach? People think that Jesus is God. That believe will not save anyone."

That is why the Bible and Holy Spirit was left for us to be our teachers. Jehovah's Witnesses do not ring doorbells and tell people that Jesus is not God. They tell people that in order to be saved they must become Jehovah's Witnesses.
Jehovah's Witnesses are not preaching they are recruiting.

Theocratic Joker said...

"You don't get it."

Oh, I get it Ronde. I get it.

Televisions ads and print advertisements cost lot of money. Sending our volunteers who think that by doing your recuitment work is serving Jehovah, IS FREE!

By the way, those mega churches bring in millions of followers. I would not be surprised if the Watchtower followed suit one day.

Theocratic Joker said...

"Well, this proves that you are so biased that nothing on your site can be believed."

Really? Biased? Me?

ronde, ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black?

So, ronde, I guess you won''t be posting here anymore.

'Bye

Theocratic Joker said...

"Same thing in my book. When people study, get baptized and become publishers and are loyal to the brotherhood, their lives are saved."

You really need to get another book!

N/A said...

They are making a better effort to advertise their presence on the internet:

www.jwgift.org

Anonymous said...

According to jw's not everyone will get a witness before armageddon, Jehovah will read the hearts of these ones and judge accordingly. So if a witness knocks on someones door and that person says no thanks they are condemned to eternal destruction, but if the witness hadn't called it would be the persons heart that Jehovah would judge. Witnesses are killing people by knocking on their doors. How would you like to be judged? By your heart? Or by your reaction to a couple of dufus jw's on your door on a saturday morning?

S said...

"How would you like to be judged? By your heart? Or by your reaction to a couple of dufus jw's on your door on a saturday morning?"

What's the difference?

But then what did Jesus said in Rich man and Lazarus? They had Moses and the prophets but did not listen to them, how would they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.

That means that if they don't follow the simple things, how would they follow the spectacular?