Sincere question for those who consider themselves "religious"?

Question

I hope I don't end up regreting this question but I am sincere in asking this. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and when I am out in my ministy work many people say the same thing to me over and over (just before slamming the door)
"I have my OWN religion", or "We're happy with our church", or (my favorite) "I'm a BAPTIST"
I find this amusing because nearly all "religions" preach love of neighbor, and even enemy, right? So if your brother shows up at your door wanting to discuss your Father, why is this so objectionable to you?
Most of you don't have any problem with missionaries going to developing nations to convert the natives, right? Didn't they have "their own religion"? Didn't those missionaries "try to cram their own beliefs down (the natives) throats"?
Jesus gave all his folowers the command to preach the "good news" of the Kingdom. If you think I'm wrong, why aren't you preaching to me?
When one of Jehovah's Witnesses knocks on my door, (who I haven't met)

we greet each other with hugs!
Don't you care about MY soul?

Pastor Art: How can you go on believing the lie you perpetrate by saying that JW's don't recognize Jesus? I just mentioned our adherance to Jesus command to preach!

Brian: Thats the whole point JW's don't proseletize, they preach. When a methodist pastor comes to my door to tell me how trendy his church is and how everybody's having so much FUN - that's PROSELETIZING.

that_guy-drew:
e-mail me your address and I can have that arranged

wyomugs: Wow! You really know alot about about what JW's teach, but I must ask you, why are you so sure they are not true? Are you sure you aren't being led by dogmatic ideas?
Maybe you should do some secular research to find out. When I first began to study the Bible it was actually just a "favor" to my husband, I thought it was all unneccessery, and frankly weird. But every point that they made to me, and that you just mentioned I was able to VERIFY as truth by studying about it at my Library.
I'm sorry your so busy and your cat is ill, but when I see somebody blindly walking off of a cliff, I call out.

rwalke01: Good work, Keep Studying your Bible! Jehovah only wants from you what you do out of your LOVE for Him. The "greatest commandment" is LOVE. When love for Jehovah and His righteous principles fills your heart, you will wonder what you were so worried about!

Answer 1

Alot of good people on here.... but out of all the answers ive read so far only one person gave it his best shot to use THE SCRIPTURES. Whether for or against the witnesses wouldnt it be logical to use the bible for your beliefs either way & not our own imperfect thoughts.? & i commend him for that even though thats not the way the witnesses take2 John 7. thats talking about if ther person or people confess that Jesus did not come in the flesh or came in the flesh at all, to back that up read 1John 4:2...Some say he was only a man, or prophet. those are the ones not to believe,no no he was the Messiah that Did come in the flesh & thats what the witnesses believe.
Now to answer the question.
Dont get discouraged sister or brother, if you meet people at the door that does say these things. We have to be considerate of their feelings and beliefs, Neither try to judge them, neither try to force our beliefs on them, which is not what we do. OUR commission is to seek out the descerning ones who are thirsting for spiritual answers (Matt:10:11) not to talk to people who do not want it, & keep moving, unless of coarse you find an individual youre able to converse with. because surely no matter what the religion, all of us are affected by the same problems on this earth, crime, sickness, war, pollution, DEATH. its these ones that we try to seek out that wants know the solution to all of these problems.....The Kingdom of God, all we're told to do is preach & seek them out & then the end will come (Matt 24:14)(Matt 25:31). After that the judge will be Jesus when he does come to destroy the wicked at Armageddon,2 Thess 6-9. People can make their own minds up so dont get uptight Just deliver the warning of his kingdom is coming. Accoriding to Matt34:37,38 For as they were in the days of Noah so the presence of the Son of Man will be, Noah warned the people of his time but only 8 of all the population of the world & the animals at that time in the ark was saved. verse 38 said the people took no note until the flood came and swept them all away so the presence of the Son of Man will be. The Loving thing is our creator is giving us time not to be destroyed but to Repent and be Saved because his day is coming as a theif. 2Pet 3:9
I just dont know of another religion that goes from house to house to deliver these messages like the early apostles did (Matt 10:11-12 & Acts 20:20.) But the Witnesses. Keep up the Good work & pray to find some one And i promise you will. But be prepared to answer alot of questions , thats what we do..LOL
I encourage all not to take what mans (whether, her, ME,any pastor, priest or whoevers) word for it get your own copy of the bible LOOK the scriptures up yourself to see if these things are so.

Answer 2

I care about your soul and you can come to my house anyday.
But I have been a witness since the early 60's and had a lot of doors slammed in my face. But I have to think about this.
NOah it doesn't say was an only child, so he had brothers and sisters and so did Mrs. Noah, probably counsins and grandparents they lived a long time.
But when Noah went inside the Ark God sealed it for him so no more could come inside. Why did he keep people out?
As one of the questions on here if just keeping Noah's family alive was all that was important couldn't he just move him to a deserted Island and then cause all the women to stop having babies? It says he kept Sarah Rachel and others from having children? Eventually they would all die out. Except Noah's family on this deserted island.
He wanted to do something everyone would remember and wip away all the filthy sex practices and demon worship.
clean things up a bit.
Like he is going to do in the future something no one will ever forget.

Answer 3

Boy, did this open a can of worms. NOT one bit surprised though. Good job sister. I don't like to go around any question. I usually don't read any other answers before I answer but I did this time.

If any religion would take a step back and look at what they do, then look at Jesus Christ and his teachings, they would be ashamed. He talked with the woman at the well, a major NO-NO for any Jew to do back then, Jesus also touched lepers. He commanded his followers to go and preach the good news about his Father's Kingdom in all the inhabited earth.

For those that think we don't believe in Jesus Christ, we do, we can't even pray to Jehovah God, our Heavenly Father, in less it's through Jesus Christ. Our District Conventions this year are called, "Follow the Christ". He is our example for how we are to live our lives.

Those of you that keep saying you have your own religion. You are 100% right, you do have your own religion. You follow what your minister or preacher tells you. What about how God Himelf has told mankind how He wants to be worshiped? Jesus said no one is to be called Father, but the Father. SO, catholics, what makes your Preists think they can be called Father. That is only for God. When did God change any church to have women be the head? NEVER! Or make it OK for gays to marry? NEVER! To have sex before marrige? He never has changed that either.

Jehovah's Witnesses live by God's Word. We don't live according to how we want to live, we go by His Standard's.

Answer 4

I have been studying with Jehovahs witnesses and I love them to death. The problem is I am not ready to commit myself to the changes that are necessary and often times I feel as though I'm being pushed into it. I think most people have a problem because they have become accustomed to living a certain way and they want to find a way to dismiss the truth because it is so hard to change. Witnesses lifestyles are so different than the average American. I don't know if I am capable of such dramatic changes in my life. I think people are rude because they want to make it clear that they don't want to be a part of the truth and they don't want JWs continually coming back trying to save them. I know the right way is not the easy way. Pray for me. : )

Answer 5

I have always been kind and polite the JWs that come to my door. I'm not interested in what they have to say, but I have never been rude to them. If they are interested, and they're not, I will tell them about Catholicism.

The thing is, I don't ask them to come to my door and discuss religion with me. And it's not a discussion they are looking for, it's converts. Plain and simple. When you know that, and you know there is not way you'd convert, and there is no way they are going to listen to your view and religious beliefs...what's the point? So, I'm nice and I take the literature and they go on their merry way. Then I put the pamphlets in the trash.

You can't compare it to missionaries who go to third world countries to preach. Those missionaries move into the community, they build churches, help with health care, they share more then preaching. They don't just go knocking on doors and handing out literature. They do not cram it down their throats, they bring Christ to these people, but they do not insist they come to church etc. They are just there for them.

JWs come to my house about 3 times a year I'd say. As a Catholic I have never knocked on anyone's door and expected to discuss my religious beliefs with them.

Answer 6

Hi Tori!

That's a good question. I understand what you mean. I used to be a pastor's wife. I felt very passionate about my beliefs, and I used to want to share them with everyone. Over the years, though, my beliefs have evolved along with my knowledge and education. I'm no longer involved in ministry directly, have changed denominations, and many things in my life have changed as well. Now, I realize that maybe the answers I was so confident in before were meant more for me at that time than for everyone around me. Different people are on different spiritual levels at different times; not everyone travels at the same pace, and not everyone needs the same thing (I'd have scoffed at that 10 or even 5 years ago.). I'm always nice to JW and other people that come to talk to me about their beliefs, but my personal beliefs now include a firm belief that everyone is constantly evolving spiritually, and that when God is ready for someone to find a truth, they will find it. I don't proselytize or even discuss many of my beliefs with people unless they specifically ask me to. That way, no one feels pressured or cornered, and if I live my life in a positive way, people do ask. Some people don't preach not because they don't have strong faith or beliefs but because to many people spirituality is a deeply personal journey. We don't want to treat others as if they are spiritually ignorant, and we don't want to be treated that way. When people need what you have.... they will come to you & not the other way around! Hope that answers your question.

Answer 7

I too am one of JW. I love Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ.
I was raised Baptist but never was taught much from the Bible itself. It was all about "fund raising" and singing in the choir.
I feel so frustrated to hear people like Johnnywalker above say, over and over, that we don't believe in Jesus.

WE BELIEVE IN HIM COMPLETELY
.
We know he walked the earth. We know he preached door to door and in the temples, that's why we preach the good news too. It is from Jesus' example and the commission given.
We know Jesus is God's son and was here to teach about his Fathers purposes. We know he is the Christ. We know he died for our sins to be forgiven and for us to have a chance to approach God through him in prayer. We know he was resurrected by God to be in heaven at God's right hand. We know he is now King.
How can people who are NOT JW continue to claim to know more about JW than those of us who are Jehovah's Witnesses!
It's crazy...or maybe, their eyes have been blinded by Satan.
Whew...I feel better :)

Answer 8

It's not that I do not love you, I just do not love "entertaining" you at my front door "right now." I am not in the mood for a religious discussion when I am in my housecoat with my cat puking in the hallway. Besides, I have already considered your religion and dismissed it as the "right" one, and am not interested in discussing THIS with you right now, either. I'm really not interested in talking to you right now, and I also know that no matter what I say, YOU are not interested in listening to whatever I might have to say, unless it is to twist it around to fit one of your pre-written texts of "expected answers." I know how you folks work!

As for the "Jesus" thing... like it or not, there ARE significant differences in how JW's view Jesus and how Christian religions view Him. If you NEED some details on this... here goes...

1- JW's believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. Jesus is God, NOT an angel, and NOT a created being.
2- JW's do not believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross, but a "torture stake." Crucifixion on a CROSS was a much practiced form of "punishment" in the Roman Empire, evidenced by many historical records.
3- JW’s believe that Christ has already returned in the early 1900’s and that the "last days" began in 1914. Umm... yeahrightsure.
4- JWs deny the bodily resurrection of Christ, and does not now have a glorified physical body. Instead, they claim Jesus arose spiritually and only "materialized" at various times after His resurrection so He could be seen alive.

These are just the points of difference regarding Jesus. For more differences in other areas, please refer to the website below.... IF YOU DARE!!! The JW's stand at our doors expecting us to question our faith, why, then, is it impossible for you to question YOUR "faith" as well? But here you are saying, in essence, "HI, I want to ram MY religion down YOUR throat, and you REJECT ME? HOW DARE YOU!" You are just as "guilty" of trying "to cram their own beliefs down (the natives) throats" as you accuse us Christians of doing. Two wrongs don't make a right, and you, my dear, are then JUST as wrong as we are/were.

My question to you is... "If I have NO CHANCE of going to HEAVEN, because Heaven is already FILLED UP with that 144,000, then WHY should I even want to try YOUR religion? No heaven, and hell.. well you don't even BELIEVE in a HELL either!!!! Hell what DO you believe in? You don't even believe our souls are immortal... so why should I care what happens to mine, or to yours??? GOOD GRIEF, girl! How did you ever swallow all that goop? And people accuse us Christians of "following blindly" and "blindly accepting" our faiths!

There... you wanted a blunt, honest answer. I tried to be KIND to you when I told you at my door that, "Sorry, I'm not interested," or "I have my OWN religion," or "We're happy with our church," etc. .... Oh... and YOUR "Great Commission" is not the same as our "Great Commission." Jesus commanded us to go out into all the world and teach the Gospel... and that Gospel is that Jesus died and rose again for your salvation... read John 3:16... but not in YOUR version of the bible, but the TRUE Scriptures.

Oh... whew!! It's too hot today to get so worked up... but then again, you DID ASK the question... thus... I GAVE you the TRUE answer you were asking for. Good night, and have a blessed day tomorrow.

Answer 9

You know, I am Buddhist. I do not preach to anyone, and am not religious in the traditional sense. I am as dedicated to my path, and my Enlightenment, as you are to your path. There are no Buddhist missionaries, and we believe all paths can incorporate Buddhist ideals.

I have invited Jehovah's witnesses in, and listened while they said their piece.

What I cannot abide is the lack of respect from them to me for my path. Therein lies the issue. No matter how your doctrine is interperted, I will never believe I need saving, fixing, or anything like that. Let me be.
I don't know that you're wrong for you - how could I know that? I would never make such an assumption - I assume you are intelligent and have given your choices great thought.
Please grant me the same.

Answer 10

Sincerely answering your question here:

I am a Hindu by faith and respect all faiths and beliefs in their core form. I've met many people following different faiths and some have tried to force their thoughts and preachings onto me and have tried their level best to convince me to follow their way. Some had even gone to the length of bribing me with lucrative job assignments (when I was a student).
Having gone thru all this I have become a bit wary of the so called preachers who just want to add to their clout under the name of preaching.

To me if you are a real preacher and want to spread the knowledge of your faith do it in a manner where you tell the people the basics of your faith and your reasons to follow it and STOP. Let the other decide wether he/she likes, wants, or is impressed by your preaching. If he/she doesnt want to convert JUST LEAVE IT.

But no most preachers are a persistent lot and often border upon maniacle obsession to get the one who is willing to listen to convert by any means.

This is what makes people wary of the preachers and makes them teh way they react as you have said by slamming doors on teh face and screaming out that they dont need your preachings.

All what I have said here is my own experience and I still have respect for all other religions. just that such behaviour by the so called preachers actually works againt the spirit of preaching itself.

Hope I did not offend anyone as it was not my intention. Just was being sincere in my answer.

Sarve janaha sukhino bhavantu!
(may all have peace)