Do they get points or earn money for doing it? I can't figure out why they do this when they are about as welcome as a kidney stone. It's almost like the Moonies from several years back, they were forced to sell flowers on street corners. Are they all brainwashed cult people?
2007-10-30 10:57:28 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not earn money or "points" for going door to door.
Really, everyone who respects and obeys Jesus Christ goes from door to door to teach his neighbors about the Bible's good news. It is interesting that only Jehovah's Witnesses are so clearly identified with the preaching work; globally more than 6 million preach publicly each month.
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.
(Acts 5:42) Every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.
(Acts 20:20) I did not hold back ...from teaching you publicly and from house to house
It's sad when someone who claims to respect the bible actually insults or even advocates attacking a peaceful preacher. Sad but completely expected.
(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching... You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.
Really, if someone goes out of their way to disregard Christian preachers and preaching, what is he saying about himself?
(Luke 10:1-17) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos... “He that listens to you listens to me too. And he that disregards you disregards me too. Moreover, he that disregards me disregards also him that sent me forth.”
Learn more:
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_15.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
2007-11-01 08:41:13 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
No, we are not forced to go door to door. No, we do not get paid or earn any browny points.
We are following the command that Jesus gave at Matt 24: 14 "This good news of the kingdom will be preached to all the inhabited earth, as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come."
Of course, we have to have a strong love for our neighbors to take the time out of our busy lives to share the truth we have found in the bible with others. We know that it is a live saving message and we want all to have the opportunity to learn about it.
We realize that not all will want to hear our message. It was the same for Jesus and his disciples. However, we follow in their footstep by going door to door.
Matt 10: 11-14 "Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who is deserving, and stay there until you leave. when you are entering into the house, greet the househol; and if the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of the house or that city shake the dust off your feet."
Acts 20: 20 "while I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house."
Acts 5: 42 "And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus."
Even though you may feel we are "as welcome as a kidney stone", many people do not agree with you. Jehovah's Witnesses conduct over 6 million home bible studies a year worldwide.
2007-10-31 03:49:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 3⤋
You've introduced a word they are uncomfortable with, apparently. Every one of the respondents that supported JW beliefs, sidestepped the issue by saying it's a commandment they follow because they love Jesus. I believe it's called a red herring. It becomes another logical fallacy of "tying" when there are repercussions for refusing to go door to door (you DO love Jesus, don't you? It's what he commanded...).
Sometimes there isn't a whole lot of difference between instituting a requirement, and force. I think you make a good point.
2007-11-05 13:03:11 · answer #3 · answered by ccrider 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are Jehovah's Witnesses forced to go door to door?
No.
Do they get points or earn money for doing it?
No.
Comment: I can't figure out why they do this
Answer: Jehovah's Witnesses adhere to Christ.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Act 20:20 [And] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house
2007-10-31 02:52:52 · answer #4 · answered by keiichi 6 · 9⤊ 2⤋
Reasons are many. Here are a few:
#1 - We love our God, Jehovah and his son, Jesus Christ. We want to make Jehovah's name known. (Duet. 6:5; Matthew 22:37)
#2.- We love our neighbors. (Matthew 22:39) We wish to tell them about the "good news" of God's kingdom. We want to warn our neighbors of God's impending judgement, and tell them how they may escape that judgment and live forever on a paradise earth. How they will be able to welcome back dead loved ones from the grave. How they will be able to live without suffering and death.
#3 - We are commanded to do this work. (Matthew 28:19,20) Jesus told his disciples to go from house to house, door to door, searching out the deserving ones. Acts 5:42 says
"And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus."
#4 - This work has to be accomplished before the end can come. 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." This work is now being done in 236 lands and nations, and there are very few people left on the earth that have not heard or had the oppotunity to hear this good news. People are making their decisions - which side they are on. There are only two sides, Satan's or God's. The fence belongs to Satan.
We do this of our own free will, we do not get paid for it, In fact we use our own money and time to do this work. We do not earn points, we don't expect to go to heaven because we do it. We just want to serve our God and please him because we love hm.
2007-10-31 04:28:11 · answer #5 · answered by SisterCF 4 · 8⤊ 2⤋
We aren't forced to do anything. we do so willingly out of our love for Jehovah God. We don't get "brownie points" or money we do so because we love our God and he commanded us to do so in the Bible. 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."
2007-11-01 09:05:51 · answer #6 · answered by no name 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Nope, not forced, asside from the fact that in the Bible Jesus mandated ALL Christians to share his teachings. This is something done, not just door to door. It is apart of life.
Clearly, many welcome us, or our numbers wouldn't still be growing.
Nope, not cultists. Don't believe in brain washing, or brain dirtying.
2007-11-02 15:35:42 · answer #7 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, we are not forced.
No, we do not get points or earn money (ooooh, I'd be sooo rich!!! :-D)
Jesus requires his followers to continue the work he did- preaching about God's Kingdom to EVERYONE. One way to do that is to go to people's homes.
Many people are seeking answers to questions they've had for years, and have had no one to answer them. When we find such ones at home, we can show them answers from God's Word, and they gain comfort.
Jesus warned not all would want to listen, but that we are required to preach all the same. Our aim is not to recruit, but to proclaim God's Kingdom.
Finally, No, we are not brainwashed and we are not a cult. We did not just 'fall' into this religion, we do a lot of studying. It is not easy to become, much less stay, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. We all make an informed decision when we get baptized.
2007-10-30 11:00:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 15⤊ 4⤋
When Jesus sent out his early disciples, he directed them to go to the homes of the people. (Matthew 10:7, 11-13.) The apostle Paul said regarding his ministry: “I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.”—Acts 20:20, 21; see also Acts 5:42.
The message that the Witnesses proclaim involves the lives of people; they want to be careful to miss no one. (Zephaniah 2:2, 3.) Their calls are motivated by love—first for God, also for their neighbor.
But why do the Witnesses call repeatedly even at homes of people who do not share their faith?
They do not force their message on others. But they know that people move to new residences and that the circumstances of people change. Today a person may be too busy to listen; another time he may gladly take the time. One member of a household may not be interested, but others may be. People themselves change; serious problems in life may stimulate an awareness of spiritual need.—See also Isaiah 6:8, 11, 12.
When one becomes filled with the knowledge of the promised earthly Paradise under Christ’s Kingdom, one wants to share it with others. It is good news!—Acts 5:41, 42.
Doing this is an important way of showing that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Jesus is called “the faithful and true witness.” When on earth he preached, saying: “The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near,” and he sent out his disciples to do the same. (Revelation 3:14; Matthew 4:17; 10:7) Later, Jesus commanded his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations ...” He also foretold that before the end, “this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.”—Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20.
There are many ways of declaring this good news. Conversation with friends and acquaintances often opens the way to do so. Some do it by writing letters or by using the telephone. Others mail literature containing material that they think an acquaintance would be especially interested in. Out of a desire to miss no one, Witnesses go from door to door with the message.
The Bible contains this warm invitation: “The spirit and the bride keep on saying: ‘Come!’ And let anyone hearing say: ‘Come!’ And let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life’s water free.” (Revelation 22:17) Telling others about the Paradise earth and its blessings is to be done willingly, out of a heart filled with a desire to share this good news.
We are sure that you have other questions about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their beliefs. Perhaps some issues are controversial in nature. We would like to answer your questions. Space is limited so we invite you to ask the Witnesses locally. You can do so either at their Kingdom Hall meetings or when they visit you in your home. Or visit
There was opposition to Jesus’ preaching, and he said that his followers also would be opposed. When some were impressed with Jesus’ teaching, religious opposers retorted: “You have not been misled also, have you? Not one of the rulers or of the Pharisees has put faith in him, has he?” (John 7:46-48; 15:20) Many who advise you not to study with the Witnesses are either uninformed or prejudiced. Study with the Witnesses and see for yourself whether your Bible understanding increases or not.—Matthew 7:17-20.
2007-10-30 12:38:33 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Cal 5 · 11⤊ 3⤋
Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses preach from house to house?
Jesus foretold for our day this work: “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.” He also instructed his followers: “Go . . . and make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Matt. 24:14; 28:19.
When Jesus sent out his early disciples, he directed them to go to the homes of the people. (Matt. 10:7, 11-13) The apostle Paul said regarding his ministry: “I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.”—Acts 20:20, 21; see also Acts 5:42.
The message that the Witnesses proclaim involves the lives of people; they want to be careful to miss no one. (Zeph. 2:2, 3) Their calls are motivated by love—first for God, also for their neighbor.
A conference of religious leaders in Spain noted this: “Perhaps [the churches] are excessively neglectful about that which precisely constitutes the greatest preoccupation of the Witnesses—the home visit, which comes within the apostolic methodology of the primitive church. While the churches, on not a few occasions, limit themselves to constructing their temples, ringing their bells to attract the people and to preaching inside their places of worship, [the Witnesses] follow the apostolic tactic of going from house to house and of taking advantage of every occasion to witness.”—El Catolicismo, Bogotá, Colombia, September 14, 1975, p. 14.
But why do the Witnesses call repeatedly even at homes of people who do not share their faith?
They do not force their message on others. But they know that people move to new residences and that the circumstances of people change. Today a person may be too busy to listen; another time he may gladly take the time. One member of a household may not be interested, but others may be. People themselves change; serious problems in life may stimulate an awareness of spiritual need.—See also Isaiah 6:8, 11, 12.
2007-10-30 11:00:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 16⤊ 3⤋