For Jehovah's Witnesses...?

Question

OK, it's not really a question, but I just want all of you who go around knocking on doors to know that although I'm a Christian, and don't agree 100% with your beliefs, I really admire what you do. I think it really takes a lot of love and devotion to put that much time and energy into bringing as many people to God/Jehovah as you can and I really respect you for that.

Yikes, Wester, I had no idea. I don't believe that it's God's intention for us to be slaves to any man or organtization. In fact, the conerstone of Christinity is our freedom. God gave us free will, and sent Jesus to free us from sin. Wow. I really had no idea. What an oppressive way to live. That's a prime example of another belief that I just don't agree with.

Answer 1

Ashley, although I am no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I have spent many hours knocking on doors. As you say, it really does take a lot of love and devotion. But from my own experience and observation, I can tell you that it's more than that. It's driven by a sense of obligation, duty and fear because Witnesses are made to believe it's the only way they can earn salvation. It's the only way to avoid being destroyed at Armageddon. Relentlessly, the Watchtower publishing company urges them to constantly "do more". They can just never do enough.

Another compelling reason is because Witnesses are required to "turn in their hours" each month. If you have no or very few hours, you are embarrassed....others will regard you as spiritually weak. If you've ever had Witnesses call on you on a frigid or rainy day, you may think it's because of their devotion. And it is to an extent; but more than likely it's near the end of the month and they need more 'hours' so they can turn in a respectable report.

The Bible says that when you present yourselves to do someone's will, you become his slave. Jehovah's Witnesses are slaves doing the will of a few powerful men who have appointed themselves as God's representative, but their devotion stems from the fact that they BELIEVE they're slaving for the Lord.

Answer 2

Wow! What a nice commendation! Thank you, Ashley.

You are right; it's not an easy thing to do, but it is so rewarding to be doing the work which was commissioned by our King, Jesus Christ, and that which so pleases our Almighty Creator, Jehovah God.

It's also rewarding because there are many people out there who are sighing and groaning about the detestable things going on in false religions today, as well as in this wicked world full of violence, and these ones are so grateful to be shown in their own Bibles the wonderful hope to be realized in the near future under God's Kingdom arrangement.

It is indeed a privilege to be called a witness of Jehovah.

Answer 3

Have you wondered what message Jehovah's Witnesses hope to share with their neighbors?

Jehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that God's Kingdom will soon replace all earthly governments.
(Daniel 2:44) God of heaven will set up a kingdom... It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite

That Kingdom will rule over the vast majority of mankind, most of whom will have been raised from the dead after Armageddon.
(John 11:23,24) Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Until that resurrection, there is no suffering in "hell", or the grave. Sometime after the resurrection, death and "hell" will themselves be destroyed.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all
(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]
(Revelation 20:14) And death and Hades ["hell"] were hurled into the lake of fire

While a limitted number of humans will be resurrected to heaven to share in ruling over mankind, the vast majority (literally more than 99.9%) of Jehovah's Witnesses expect an EARTHLY hope, the same hope given to Adam and Eve.
(Genesis 1:28) God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill THE EARTH and subdue it [caps added]
(Genesis 2:17) You must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die [so never eating from that tree means never dying]

Interestingly, the Scriptures are full of references to this earthly hope.
(Psalms 37:11) 'the meek will possess the earth'
(Proverbs 2:21) 'upright will reside in the earth'
(Isaiah 45:18) 'God formed the earth to be inhabited'
(Matthew 5:5) 'the mild will inherit the earth'
(Revelation 21:3) The tent of God is with mankind

Jehovah's Witnesses' official website:
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm

Answer 4

I have to agree.