Jehovah Witnesses, why are you hesitant to give out your home address to those whom you visit? Hypocrisy?

Question

When Jehovah Witnesses visit the homes of others to preach, or ask the address of others to send them periodicals or start an initial Bible Study, why are you hesitant to also reveal your address? How would you react, if one of the individuals you visited during your door to door preaching, obtained your home phone and address, and stopped by your place of residence unannounced to ask Bible Questions during dinner hour? The next time a JW comes by your home, ask them for their home address, or pay them an unexpected visit. You just might be surprised at how they respond to you.

Living in Myrtle Beach, do you really think you're sounding like a "sheep" of christ right now. If I didn't know better, it sounds like you're implying some type of physical altercation: "come find me??". Why so defensive. Is this not a legitimate question. If a stranger trusts you enough to open up there home, provide their full names, and you have their address, why do you view someone as having an "attitude" for requesting the same? You are proving my point.

Answer 1

Such an excellent point! I remember getting at least 7 different pamphlets and tracts from JWs. My husband offered them ONE cassette tape to listen to and they refused. JWs are so blind to only listen to their leaders and appointed "scholars" that they don't have an open mind to take anything from non-JWs.

When a group first came to our house, I asked him what their book of scriptures said, he lied to my face and told me it said the same thing as my KJV bible. I knew it wasn't true and asked him to read John 1:1 and do you know he took about 20 minutes blowing hot air before he read it? The initial deception was a dead give-a-way.

Then throughout the whole conversation, they kept going to a special book of commentary they had and read to us when we brought up various scriptures that they couldn't respond to. This demonstrated their lack of knowledge and ability to discuss the Word because it's clearly not IN them. It was so bad that I asked them to give me a copy of the commentary book because I can just read that instead of have them come to my house every weekend.

OK, getting back to your point, I agree they were quite hypocritical on many levels. I didn't even consider the hypocrisy of them not inviting us into THEIR home. I will ask them that next time. Thanks!

Answer 2

Dear Quentin,

What an excellent point! I never thought of that.

Last December one couple gave me a copy of a book that they assured me would prove that Jesus was the angel Michael.

I tried to refuse it but the Holy Spirit told me to take it and to give them a pamphlet in return. I gave them One Truth Exposes a Thousand Lies - Traits Shared Between Jehovah and Jesus which I found at http://www.soulright.com

One person who read the chart said "I'd say that's a suspiciously high number of qualities that Jehovah and Jesus share. And since Jehovah God will not share His glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8) it seems odd that the two have the same characteristics through and through."

I was looking forward to discussing the verses with the couple but they did not come back together. Instead the man came with an elder a month later and then a month after that the elder came with a different woman. I've been praying for that original couple and I can actually picture them as becoming members of the church I belong to. So maybe I'll have another chance to get their phone number.

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses fully understand when an interested person hesitates to give out his home address, and thus Jehovah's Witnesses never 'force' the issue. Witnesses hope that interested persons (and others) reciprocate the same respect.

In this regard, Christians follow two Scriptural principles:

(Matthew 10:16-17) Prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men

(Matthew 7:12) All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them


In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses have made it easy for skeptical persons to learn more about the faith without handing over any personal information. All JW literature is distributed without charge, and congregations are encouraged to keep local public libraries supplied with undamaged copies of Witness publications. Sadly, some libraries refuse Witness publications outright, however.

The vast majority of the literature mentions the official website (www.watchtower.org). The official websites of Jehovah's Witnesses have expanded steadily with each passing month. At this point, there are literally hundreds of articles covering dozens and dozens of bible subjects on the website. No registration or personal identification is needed to view any articles, and personal visits may be requested when a reader finally wants one.
https://watch002.securesites.net/contact/submit.htm
http://watchtower.org/how_to_contact_us.htm

Wherever possible, Jehovah's Witnesses try to have 'listed' phone numbers and addresses for their places of worship. Congregations work to schedule meetings at times convenient to the community, and to plainly post the meeting times for each congregation on or near these Kingdom Halls. All congregation meetings are open to the public.

An individual Witness minister who knocks on a door hoping to discuss the bible is not a "professional" member of the clergy. He is a sincere Christian who likely has a family and similar secular responsibilities as most householders.

Jehovah's Witnesses would be delighted to receive a visit from anyone in the community, and they sincerely invite their neighbors to join them at the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses!

Answer 4

I've never come across anyone asking that. If they did I would give my phone number if they had real interest in why I was there but as a woman I wouldn't give my address nor would I expect any woman I met on the street to give out their address to anyone.It's better to meet at a park or public place if someone wants to talk more at another time. It's a dangerous world.If someone came to my house like you said...I'd be more than happy to talk even at dinnertime,I've done it a few times. once on Halloween and once when 2 Mormons came to my door(they came to a picnic with us and learned a lot that day)

Answer 5

I don't give out my home address randomly because of the randomness of people. Case in point, a former ID on here made several violent, threatening comments about Jehovah's Witnesses, going so far as to mention wanting to blow up buildings. For that matter I sell Video Games and Systems. I have had people call me up and proposition my answering machine. This same person at one point asked for my address. Often when out in service I have run acrossed people who lived near me, the first question I usually asked was do you know where (insert my address) is. It is often a common point in the conversation. I would hate for some disturbed person to decide that because I am a Witness they should harm my family. Obviously, if I am at your home, I know where you live:D When not first meeting people at their homes there are a variety of contact options. Their are phone #s, Email addresses, IM, PO Boxes, and neutral locations. Case in point, some people meet during their lunch breaks, at school or work, in a public venue. We offer to send our brochures as a courtesy, our right, which you may then accept or decline, your right.

I personally would have no problem with someone, deciding to get up, get dressed, come to my home, offer to share a scripture with me, politely discuss beliefs and/or politely leave, if asked to.

If it was my dinner hour, I would use common sense, and let them know I was occupied.

I've decided to add a link to Youtube, it doesn't really add any validity to my answer, but since Youtube isn't exactly a reliable news source anyway I figure it shouldn't matter much one way or another.

"Weird al" yankovic - eBay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX_t2Hg9PXs

My sibling had an interesting take on this query. He mentioned that you are right. You should come find us, the same way we find those in the ministry, get up get ready and go from door to door, and chances are you will eventually find one of us. The same goes for us. We find those we call on, for the most part, rather randomly (yes we are orderly in going from door to door but more or less we don't know who will answer) Just thought I would let him weigh in as well. He isn't a Witness. He just hasn't started on Y!A yet.

Answer 6

You could just tell us that you are busy and we will come back at a more convenient time.
We do not try to annoy anyone, we just do our best to find people at home so we can share a scriptural thought from the bible.
These are troublesome times we are living in and we hope to share some encouraging scriptures from the bible to help give comfort while we go on with our daily lives.

Answer 7

Let me preface this by saying that my dad was raised a JW and he has been screwed up for years as a result of it. I could go on and on and on about how messed up the JW's are.

But really think about your approach-- Of course they wouldn't give out their addresses to angry strangers. It's not that they're scared of someone coming to their house and preaching, it's that they're scared of someone coming to their house and murdering their children. This approach is completley ineffective for what you are trying to accomplish.

I have a better idea. The next time a JW comes to your house tell them this: "I know all your family and friends will disown you if you disagree with them or change your mind about your faith, but I want you to go home and punch in 'Jehovah's witnesses and child molestation' on a search engine. It may seem unreal to you at first, but there are hundreds of victims that went to the elders and nothing was done to help them."

This is not JW bashing, I consider this to be my form of preaching and saving people.

Answer 8

I give interested ones my address and phone number all the time. I've conducted Bible Studies in my living room before. No big deal. Stop by any time with a question.

Answer 9

Well I actually do this when I get sale calls at home, when someone calls to sell me a vacation package or asks me to donate money to their charity, I will tell them that "I am busy right now can I get their number and call them back" when they give me their number I ask if it is their home number, they say no of course not- then I ask why they can call me at home and I can't call them at home - they usually hang upon me LOL

Answer 10

If I were to give my address out to all the people I talked to they wouldn't fit in my home.
When people of other religions have come to my house I have tended to them and wouldn't ask them for there address since like I stated it's not reasonable to expect them to give there address out to everyone they come in contact with.

Two Mormons did come during dinner time ounce and I was more then happy to talk to them since I enjoy discussing spiritual matters.