Why do we, Jehovah's Witnesses...?

Question

Tirshatha has an excellent point in some answers she's given a short time ago. Why are we answering questions from those who have been disfellowshipped? She is right. We know their minds are made up. We know we're not to have contact with them. Is it that somewhere deep down, we feel or hope they will come back to serve Jehovah?
Now I feel bad for letting myself be baited.

Tirshatha... I stand corrected. Thanks for clearing that up.

I appreciate the kind answers that most have given so far. It seems that my question has ruffled someones feathers as they seem pretty angry & hateful even though they call themself "born again" & it's not Lamb or Pedi

Sorry... not "born again" however a former JW

Answer 1

LOL. Are you not supposed to excommunicate the people who have some questions.....how convenient!

Answer 2

I looked at 2 John 2:10 and it wouldn't hurt to try and explain it. If someone is always coming on and trying to get attention by saying mean or provocative things, I don't say, hi, welcome back and may not respond to their comment. You know when to or not. Obviously if they had a real question and you thought you could help, that would be good or you may have to refer them to someone else. It's says that we should be able to handle serpents, but maybe we can't and we should be able to handle ideas, theoretically, but really, do you know everything? I don't. lol I think greeting someone from another city, which I think John was talking about, was to welcome then into the church and your home with all the benefits, after all he was writting to the church too. Of course, If someone's hungry, that's another matter.

I don't think you have to feel bad for being baited, I just feel silly having been tricked and missing the real point of a question. You know, sometimes it's a joke and I answer it straight or meant to be mocking and I take it seriously. I'm just a little wiser then and look and listen harder. You can't catch 'em all. I always try to err on the side of love to be sure. That can't be too bad. A kind person can be taken for a ride, that's all part of our learning to be wise as the serpent. When haven't we played that role, at least unmeaningly? And I don't think John meant to be rude, if someone greets you, but he would rather say, let all your affairs take place with love.

Answer 3

I am not a JW but I am a Christian. We all want to believe that 'we' can save everyone. Sadly that is not the case. We can only do our best. Peace

Answer 4

True Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) could not accomplish their public ministry if they did not interact with the world around them. In most cases, disfellowshipped former Witnesses do not identify themselves as such. Even when they do, their question is directed to the public and a Witness may feel that his answer is similarly directed to the public.


From time to time, an anti-Witness works to discourage those who might refute his anti-Witness propaganda. At other times, a seemingly sincere self-described Jehovah's Witness feels compelled to counsel those who refute anti-Witness misinformation. Ironically, both groups tend to imply that the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses say things that they do not actually say.

Is it fair to imply that a Jehovah's Witness who participates in Yahoo Answers is unfaithful or disobedient? Do Jehovah's Witnesses really discourage the use of the internet by adherents?

No and no.

Firstly, Yahoo Answers does not require or even encourage socializing between participants. The bible does not authorize a true Christian (such as a Jehovah's Witness) to ignore a question of faith unless it is posed by a "good associate".

(1 Peter 3:15) Sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.


Secondly, a Christian whose conscience permits him to share the "good news" exclusively in person certainly does not displease God and Christ, for such personal ministry is required of true Christian ministers. But he must recognize that there is no rational reason to suppose that corresponding via the internet must be viewed differently than corresponding by post or on the telephone.


Jehovah's Witnesses have always taken advantage of the latest technology to further their ministry, including pioneering efforts with personal record-album players, "talking" motion pictures, wide-area-networks of telephone tie-ins, and nationwide radio broadcasts nearly a century ago. It should be unsurprising that Jehovah's Witnesses have enabled more and more internet-based tools every year.

None of this should blind Christians to the fact that the internet can be used to waste time and view unwholesome material. As with television, Christians are encouraged to be selective in their choice of virtual association. There is no need to watch an entire program, or read an entire website/"question" to recognize its unwholesomeness.

(1 Corinthians 15:33) Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm

Answer 5

Honestly this question, though usually with a different spin, is asked quite often on here.

Answering on Y!A is something I do for a couple of reasons. One is because to post questions you must have points, to obtain points you need to answer questions, to get questions fast you need best answers, to get best answers you should answer about something you know, since I know my beliefs I feel this is a good subject for me to answer on. I also answer questions about Anime, Pets, Video Games, TV, etc. I originally came to Y!A because I at times have questions about various things, mostly related to videogames (which I in turn am a seller these trying HARD to get a hobby/business going). I have also found Y!A to be a good source of aid with my poor typing/spelling skills.

I do occasionally count an hour or two of my time (when answering about the Bible), if I see my answers were actually read and helpful. Even then I only count an hour or two. I view it as informal Witnessing. Being a Witness is not a 9-5 thing, it should be a 24, 7 thing. So just as I count the time when I informally Witness real world I do when I witness here.

I do appreciate the concern your comment shows. The net is not a place to make friends. Just as there are good and bad people in the real world there are Good and Bad people on line. The difference is it is much easier to hide ones truer nature on the net. Discernment is always needed.

As for who is a Witness, who is disfellowshipped, and who is whatever else, honestly I don't know. I am the ONLY Witness using Y!A that I know of for sure. I have seen those on here claiming to be Witnesses, some seem to be Witnesses, while others probably wouldn't know a Bible if it bit them. On the other end I have seen people claim to be former Witnesses, and once again, some seem to be, while others probably haven't been to a Kingdom Hall even once.

I am here to answer questions, in general. There are some who I avoid do to their conduct, or the wording of their questions. I try to decide how I will act, and in the cases where it comes up, interact on this site on a case by case, ID by ID, question by question basis.

As for someone's mind being made up, one wonderful Brother in my hometown was disfellowshipped for quite some time before I knew him. He is a great encouragement to those around him. One friend of mine in Alaska went through allot of stuff in her life, and during her life she stopped being a Christian, but she at some point, picked herself up, dusted herself off and came back to Jehovah. My Nephew's mother studied off and on for over 12 years, coming and going, doing um lots of things, but is now a Christian, and my spiritual sister. Clearly while there is still life there is still a chance for redemption.

Answer 6

Well, for that matter shouldn't they be shaking the dust from their feet rather than engage in any discussion with those who are going to disagree with them?

Answer 7

Tirshatha, Thanks for clearing that up also and thanks for giving a list of who is an Apostate on here! I'm an un-baptised publisher and I have family members who one is an Apostate and another who is disfellowshipped. FYI: Satan is sowing seeds of doubt to every Witness who trys to give witness to those who have made up their mind and who have left and who are bitter towards Jehovah. The Apostates are using every resource they have to get us to leave Jehovah! Please don't take the bait.....hook, line, and sinker. Pray to Jehovah for strength and courage!

Another suspect(s) is definitley an Apostate:
1) steinbeck11
2) Carol D.

Answer 8

I've never been a JW.
I'm a christian.
Eph 2:8-9
Acts 2:21
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Matt 24-25

Answer 9

We are supposed to spread the truth to everyone. If you know a person inactive or disfellowshipped check with elders first. But online be careful. Some of us are students and others are witnesses. watchtower.org I watch for.If they don't use our web site then remember Cornthians 15:33.

Answer 10

there has been so many witnesses that come back to serving jehovah even after being disfellowshipped for even 12 years. I don't fully understand your question though.

You people don't know anything about Jehovahs witneeses, you should probably learn about us a little more before you go telling lies.

Answer 11

What I actually asked is why are Witnesses answering questions of obvious apostates? Not just disfellowshipped.


You can be disfellowshipped, ( I once was), and not be an apostate. An apostate will not repent and instead spend their time trying to stop honest-hearted ones from learning the truth.

And if we are obedient to Jehovah's arrangement we will not have contact with any that are disfellowshipped either. It is Jehovah's form of discipline, a time out, if you will, to adjust ones way of living and choose whether or not you will uphold Jehovah's standards. But again, an apostate will Not come back or repent.

Everytime we engage an apostates question,or debate with them we show disloyalty to Jehovah and our brothers and sisters. It is designed to decieve and divide us.

Since so many of you can't seem to identify, or don't bother to look closer at the questions, here is a list of suspects to avoid:
1.Used to be PediC
2.Unsilenced Lamb
3.Trolltotroll
4.Curly Sue
5.exJW144000
6.Nea
7.Ole Baby B
8.MsKitty
9.Christian Solder
10.Steinbeck ll
11.Wondering Faith
12.Sinister Minister
13.GregM.
14.DannyH.
15.Nina
They either are openly apostate or openly have supported apostate views. Stop responding to their baited questions.They are united in their plotting to bait us, and we need to be united at ignoring them.
This is just the few I have detected, but by no means can be all, so "Be on the watch" and let us know when you spot another. "Oppose the Devil and he will flee from you."
We don't oppose by falling into the trap of engaging an apostate,we oppose by loyally listening to our Shepherd and seeking out honesthearted ones. Agape' Tirshatha

Now that they have been identified they are likely to quickly change their names, but their objective won't, their tactics may as well, becoming more subtle in the way they put their questions out or being empathetic as Curly Sue has tried. If you can't discern then avoid questions that trigger debates.
Read all of the answers before posting one yourself,and read the additional details of the question as it gets responses and see how they end up on the attack.
I have all these blocked,obviously.