I'm not trying to offend anyone..I'm just curious about the Jehovah belief..?

Question

Why do they go door to door to recruit? what happens if someone says they won't do it?
Why can't they celebrate birthdays,holidays etc..what do they tell there children??
Whats the main point in the religion? like what are the regulations of being one?
I heard they believe only a certain amount of people get into heaven..so why continue to try it's already full???

I like to learn about others religions..

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses do door to door in imitation of Jesus and the apostles, and in obedience to Jesus' command that Christians must preach.
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

...(Matthew 10:7,11,14) As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ ...Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving... Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet.


An ostensible Jehovah's Witness who refuses to preach is considered "inactive", and cannot have privileges in the congregation (such as appointment as an elder or pioneer). Inactive Witnesses are still considered "brothers" and still enjoy fellowship in the congregations and homes of other Witnesses.

Regarding birthday celebrations, Jehovah's Witnesses note (and remind their children) that:
: 0% of faithful biblical Jews celebrated birthdays
: 0% of first century Christians celebrated birthdays
: 100% of birthdays celebrated in the bible were by debauched enemies of God (See Mark 6:17-29; Gen 40:19-22).

Nearly every "holiday" has either nationalistic or pagan origins which Jehovah's Witnesses believe to be incompatible with true Christianity. Witnesses are often puzzled that Christendom has so readily adopted pagan customs while ignoring the one holiday Jesus himself instituted and commanded be commemorated:
...(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...14 At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”

The "main point" of the bible and Christianity is "the good news of the Kingdom", that is, the restoration of God's rulership over the earth by Christ Jesus.
...(Luke 8:1) [Jesus] went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God
...(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_06.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/trueworship.htm

Jehovah's Witnesses note that the bible seems to use a literal number to refer to the "little flock" resurrected to heaven to administer the Kingdom government. Jesus contrasted that "little flock" with a group of "other sheep" who would be preserved and resurrected to live forever on restored paradise earth.
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
...(Revelation 7:4) And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand
...(Revelation 14:1-3) Look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. ...And they are singing as if a new song before the throne..and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth.
...(Luke 12:32) Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom [to administer alongside Christ]
...(John 10:16) And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm

Answer 2

Why do they go door to door to recruit?

They do not. They instead adhere to Jesus command to teach and preach the coming of the kingdom/government of God.

Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

what happens if someone says they won't do it?

There are over 6.7 billion other people they will move on to talk to. http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop

Why can't they celebrate birthdays,holidays etc?

JWs do not practice pagan or idolatry customs.

what do they tell there children??

The truth rather then lie about Santa clause or the Easter bunny.

Whats the main point in the religion?

The bible.

like what are the regulations of being one?

Follow Christ and worship his father.

I heard they believe only a certain amount of people get into heaven..so why continue to try it's already full???

Unlike Christendom that says God is mistake prone and has to destroy the earth that he spent the first days of creation to make, JWs teach from the bible that the earth was made to live on.

Answer 3

1. They go door to door because their leaders constantly tell them that they must do that in order to be saved. They believe they will be destroyed by God at Armageddon if they don't "preach the good news" which is really preaching about the JW religion.

2. Their main reason for not celebrating holidays or anything else is because they think if they are different from the world, that makes them the true religion. Some holidays are labeled as "of pagan origin" . Others, such as Thanksgiving or Father's Day, are condemned simply because "the world" celebrates them, and they don't want to be part of the world.

3. The main point of the religion is that JW's are the "true religion" . Their main teaching is that to be saved, you must associate with 'the faithful and discreet slave', a group of men who claim to be the pipeline of the Holy Spirit on earth. Whatever these men say is "truth", even if it isn't true. (This "slave" is, of course, the Governing body of their religion, who identified themselves as being the only "faithful' slave on earth today.)

4. In 1935, their president, Judge Rutherford, had a "revelation". It was revealed to him that the "great crowd" of Rev chap 7 didn't die in the great tribulation, as previously believed, but lived through it instead. So now most JW's choose to survive Armageddon and living in paradise on earth. A few still want to go to heaven, but they're told that most of the 144,000 heavenly slots have been filled, so probably they'll be living on the earth.

This website, www.freeminds.org has a lot of information and history about the Witnesses. It's not 'whitewashed' history, but it's documented by their own publications.

Edited

You are correct that the purpose of going door to door is to recruit new members, but in recent decades, the leadership has tried to downplay that aspect. In the 1940s and early 1950s, WT leadership was more honest about their motivation in going door to door. The leadership issued "quotas" for the congregations and in 1951, the "work that is given them to do" in Cuba was to increase their numbers by 34%. (April 1, 1951 WT, p. 200; Jan 1, 1951 WT, p 14, para 8)

Answer 4

You cannot be a JW and not do all of the "works" proscibed by the Watch Tower organization, including door to door ministry. Not only are all of the things you mentioned required regulations for JWs, but if someone is found to be violating many of them, such as celebrating holidays--which are believed to be pagan in origin-- they will be disfellowshipped (ex-communicated), especially if they are unrepentant about it or if the elders think that they are not genuinely repentant. They also believe that strict adherence to all of these rules is REQUIRED for salvation.

Salvation for them means, yes, that only 144K go to heaven, but the rest of the faithful JWs are believed to be resurrected to a future paradise on earth, so they are still said to have their reward.

Answer 5

We go door-to-door because that is what Jesus' followers did.(Acts 5:42;20:20)
Also,it is the best way of making sure we are reaching everyone. We do not seek to recruit others, but rather to share good news of God's Kingdom. We want to obey Jesus' command to teach others and make disciples.(Matthew 10:7; 28:19,20)

We try to understand why a person does not feel comfortable going to visit others to share the scriptures with them and we try to help them with this, yet they must realize that, as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, they made a vow to God to serve him and share their faith with others, even if it is difficult.

As for birthdays and other holidays: We notice that in the Bible only two birthdays are mentioned and both were of people who didn't worship Jehovah. Bad things happened at both these parties. Also, Ecclesiastes 7:1,8 points out that one's birth is not the important thing. Building a good name with God and man that is remembered after our death and resurrection is what is truly important. Secular sources also point out that, among the Jews, birthday celebrations were thought to be of pagan origin, so they did not take part in this custom. We follow their example. Any holiday that is of false religious origin, with false religious customs or ones that glorify humans are not celebrated by Witnesses. We tell our children exactly what non-witnesses are told about holidays.

The main point of being one of Jehovah's Witnesses: to tell others about Jehovah and his ways, what he has done for us and what he will do.

Heaven is not full yet. Many of the "little flock" are still on earth.(Luke 12:32)Many others will live on this earth made into a paradise(Revelation 7:9,13,14)

I will list a website that will explain what it means to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as explaining this religion.

Answer 6

Actually the Jehovah believers are wrong because they follow the bible step by step, while actually they don't know that it's write in code, for example that only 144,000 number of people are going to receive salvation, that's wrong, because the fours are the north, south, east and west, which means that everyone is going to heaven and not only a certain amount, so if they know at your door, just tell them that u r satanic or something like that. that scares them away. a friend tried it and they just walked away ^ ^

Answer 7

Isn't their door-to-door tactics a must as a 'chosen' one? Some young jw's told my brother they know only 144,000 will make it to heaven and the most they could hope for was recognition from God by going door-to-door. The rest I imagine a JW will let you know themselves or google it?

Answer 8

I don't know but I think it's way too strict. I would never be happy celebrating that religion.

Answer 9

I'll try to answer your questions the best I can.

First of all, really - when we go door to door - we're not trying to "recruit". Do we believe we have the truth? Yes. But your choice of religion, is **your choice**. We, or no one else . . . can make that for you. To even become one of Jehovah's Witnesses takes months of study on the part of the person wishing to become a Witness. That's their choice. What we offer is education as to the Bible. That's what we offer. A hope of better things to come, because of what the Bible says is occuring in the world now. Many religions teach that the Bible is not the word of God. We do. We believe that it explains itself, and we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and the Holy Only-begotten (only born) Son of the Father, Almighty God. Jesus taught that his followers would Witness about him, and about his father - to the ends of the earth. Jesus told his true followers to do this, so this is why we go from door to door:

"Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" - Matthew 28:19,20. The word "disciple" means "learner". Therefore, we try to teach the Bible, and make them "learners" to it's message.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." - Acts 1:8

"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house" - Acts 20:20

Your second question. What if someone says "They won't do it". What someone's religious choices are - are their own. God has never, ever forced anyone to choose to worship him. False religions have forced people. But God has never come down from heaven and forced people to do anything. If someone truly does not want our message, we will make our best effort to make the message appealing - but past that? It's their CHOICE. We will excuse ourselves, and try again at another time. Just as all of God's servants have always done throughout the ages

As to your next question on birthdays, holidays, etc? Well, first of all let me state that we DO engage in celebrations. Just as the ancient Israelites celebrated important dates, so do Witnesses. Not the same dates as those ancient Jews. But we understand the importance of celebrating certain dates. But we keep to the Bible. We celebrate only what Jesus told his disciples to celebrate. His death. We do this every year, when the Old Jewish Calendar reads Nisan 14th. We also privately celebrate our own wedding anniversaries. But some celebrations, we have found, arise from pagan celebrations. Some holidays, are the result of trying to mix Christianity, and paganism. But according to the Bible, trying to mix another religion with it's religion, is disgusting in God's sight. We also understand that this attempt at mixing of religous beliefs all was prophesied by Jesus, as well as the Apostles.

I'd urge you to read 2 Kings 17. There, they tried to mix the true Judaic religion, with customs from Assyria. God made his displeasure known. We try to avoid that displeasure, and avoid any celebration that has attempted to mix in ancient pagan celebrations, with the idea of being Christian, as Jesus taught:

"But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." - Mark 7:7

(See references below)

I was a Witness as a child, so I know what they tell them. I also left being a witness for some years, before returning as an adult. My biggest shame, is the utter insolance I showed people as a child, when the adults were doing nothing more than trying to help me. I practically spit in their face, because I just wanted to "have a good time" Having tried both ways . . . I now see that. As a child, the holidays never bothered me. I never felt left out around Christmas, no more than a Muslim would feel left out around Christmas. As a teenager, I always bucked what I felt was being too restrictive, and engaged in behaviour I was warned about. Needless to say, I reaped the poor consequences of engaging in that behaviour; although I had been warned of what it could lead to. I was always warned of the **why** as a child. **Why** I should not engage in certain behaviour. I foolishly thought I knew better.

The main point of the religion? Love of God. Next - Love of Neighbor. As Love of God, we must obey all of his commands, regardless of our personal feelings. The same is true of the next greatest command. Love of our neighbor. I can honestly say, that throughout the world, I have never found an organization, that if I ended up in Tbilsi tommorow, they would accept me sight unseen. Just because of love.

As far as "Regulations" of being a Witness. One can accept a free home Bible study. They can learn what the Witnesses teach at no charge, as Jesus directed "You received freely, give freely". (Matthe 10:8)

As to who goes to heaven? The scriptures indicate in a number of places that the number is limited. But that ANYONE can be saved, and salvation does not depend on going to heaven. That those who DO go to heaven, have a job to do. They will rule as Kings and Priests over those on the earth (John 10:16, Revelation 5:9,10).

I can honestly say that since coming back to the organization? I have found peace. I have found a people that have demonstrated in actions, that they would get up at 4:00 am, if it meant helping me out. They would live, as well as die for me.

Any further questions, feel free to contact me at [e-mail]