When someone comes to offer you monthly publications, share a Bible verse and invite you to their Kingdom Hall, is it preferred that someone "fake" an interest, or to simply tell the person that they are not interested? There has been a lady visiting me for several months, she is a customer of my business, and I have tried to be as agreeable as possible in the past, but now I'm feeling that I may be "leading her on" to an interest that I do not feel. I am beginning to feel badly that she is wasting her time on me, when I have no intention of pursuing the religion, I do not agree with the religious beliefs.
SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY, PLEASE!
2007-02-07 03:48:48 · 11 answers · asked by JenV 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is an interesting question, primarily because so many current Jehovah's Witnesses originally studied with the religion with ulterior motives.
(Jeremiah 20:7) You have fooled me, O Jehovah, so that I was fooled. You used your strength against me, so that you prevailed.
Perhaps the largest single group of these is formerly unbelieving spouses. Time and again, a reasonable husband quietly tolerates his wife's newfound association with Jehovah's Witnesses until it becomes clear that this is no passing distraction; whereupon the intelligent, sophisticated husband takes it upon himself to "expose" what he condescendingly assumes is a series of naive and unscriptural teachings. If he is a fair-minded person, the passing weeks or months of study will bring surprise after surprise, and a growing respect for the bible scholarship of Jehovah's Witnesses.
(1 Corinthians 1:20) Where is the wise man? Where the scribe? Where the debater of this system of things? Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish?
Admittedly, not all unbelieving spouses who study with Witnesses quickly become Jehovah's Witnesses themselves. But an extraordinary number who study openmindedly do 'bear fruit and produce'.
(Matthew 13:3-23) [Jesus] told them many things by illustrations, saying: “Look! A sower went out to sow; and as he was sowing, some seeds fell ...upon the fine soil and they began to yield fruit... As for the one sown upon the fine soil, this is the one hearing the word and getting the sense of it, who really does bear fruit and produces
In general, each Jehovah's Witness is expected to perform a conscientious personal ministry. An individual Witness tries to make his efforts meaningful, but understands that the important thing is his willingness and effort rather than any specific accomplishment. A householder should feel free to communicate his precise level of interest to his Witness teacher, and the Witness teacher will likely work within that interest level in the future. For some, that will include rides to meetings at the Kingdom Hall; for others, it will include a regular weekly sit-down bible study from a bible-based publication; still a third might simply be on a magazine route and spend a few minutes each month to discuss a bible topic for five or ten minutes. Even if a person wishes to merely continue as a person of good will, Jehovah's Witnesses are happy to remain friends and merely check in once every few months.
If a householder realizes he is wholy uninterested, or comes to regret having schemed to waste the time of a Witness minister, it might be best for that householder to thank the Witness minister and allow him to now redirect his energies. The typical Witness will be glad to have had the opportunity to share and explain his faith, but will appreciate such an expression of honesty.
(Hebrews 13:15) Let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.
2007-02-07 06:44:16 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
in case you place Jehovah first, he will safeguard you and your loved ones. He is familiar with all approximately your conflict. you do not might desire to flow out interior the ministry as much as you do now. Jehovah in basic terms expects us to do what we are able to. As for a college, why not wait till the recent gadget comes? you will possibly be a application engineer then. With all the certainty we've approximately desktops, do you not think of that the recent gadget will deliver an entire new attitude to the laptop? interior the recent structures, technologies would be used to larger Jehovah's reason.
2016-09-28 13:24:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't want to be visited anymore just tell her that. You won't break her heart. We're used with these things. There are people who respond. Some of them become witnesses, some of them give up on the way. It's your choice. You're not making her a favor talking about the Bible and receiving publications.
I have an advice. Pray to God to help you find the true religion. I personally found it.
2007-02-07 08:07:06 · answer #3 · answered by Alex 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Dear Friend,
Speaking as an ex-witness and now Re Born Christian, The sister concerned would much rather you tell her that you do not feel that a Bible study is not for you. She will not react badly and will appreciate your honesty.
God Bless
2007-02-07 03:56:35 · answer #4 · answered by ianptitchener 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As a witness and someone who participates in the ministry a lot, I can tell you that we would rather you just be honest and say that you are not interested in becomming a witness or recieving anymore information. Our goal is not to waste your time, and when you are not truly interested...that is what we are doing. So it's better for everyone involved if you are just honest :-)
She will not be offended. She will appreciate your honesty. And she will appreciate the fact that you have always been kind to her.
2007-02-07 04:12:04 · answer #5 · answered by surfchika 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
As a witness for 30yrs and counting, I would rather you tell me flat out that you are not interested. She is doing so because of love and concern for you and her other fellow neighbors. However, we don't push out faith on anyone. If you don't want it...then you don't want it. Kindly tell her that you appreciate the gesture, but you aren't interested in her beliefs.
We look for individuals that want to learn the "truth" about the bible, thats our main goal. But I will say this...if you don't agree with our beliefs, check to see if what we say is in accord with the bible and Jesus' teachings. Test it and see for yourself and not what someone else taught you.
2007-02-07 04:01:11 · answer #6 · answered by osubuckeye 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I'm not sure if you're asking from a Christian perspective or not but if you are I would do a little bit of research comparing the two and then share the gospel with her. If you want some insight on JW let me know. cropdownunder@yahoo.com
2007-02-07 03:54:29 · answer #7 · answered by cropdownunder 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I am in the same situation, I just nod and smile and thank her. It's not really that much of a bother to listen to her prattle about her religion. She really is a sweet old lady, just misled.
2007-02-07 03:55:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I would tell her that even though you enjoy conversing with her that you not interested in becoming a Jehovah's Witness.
2007-02-07 03:57:23 · answer #9 · answered by Troy K 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
They like the fakes because they have to fill out time cards and it boosts their numbers. I used to be one. Don't kid yourself, they don't give a damn about you.
Once a year they print out their stats in a magazine, how many hours they were "out in service", how many recruits, etc.
*edit - some witnesses gave me the thumbs down -- because what I said is exactly true!
2007-02-07 03:52:45 · answer #10 · answered by Tanya Pants 3 · 3⤊ 5⤋