JWs - Do you feel it's OK to go on ministry on Christmas day?

Question

I have had quite a bit of negative feedback from people saying that they don't appreciate JWs on their door on Christmas day...some people are highly offended. Could this be a case of being discreet and not causing offence to others? What do you think?

I can see there is a varied response to my question, and that some feel It is a personal decision.

I was deciding whether to go out on the 25th/26th or not, I have made my mind up but I don't want to say (so as not to cause divisions lol).

Answer 1

It is a sad thing when a Christian (a seeming Jehovah's Witness even) seems to discourage the evangelizing work. Obviously, an individual and family head may intentionally choose to refrain from preaching on a particular day, but the bible seems quite plainly to note that there is no basis for him to similarly discourage his brothers.
...(1 Thessalonians 4:8) So, then, the man that shows disregard is disregarding, not man, but God, who puts his holy spirit in you.
...(Galatians 6:3-6) For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deceiving his own mind. But let each one prove what his own work is, and then he will have cause for exultation in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person. For each one will carry his own load. Moreover, let anyone who is being orally taught the word share in all good things with the one who gives such oral teaching.

Ironically, it seems likely that certain householders may be PARTICULARLY interested in spiritual things on a day ostensibly focused on Christ. It seems certain that the angels will use those who make themselves AVAILABLE to be used (see Acts 8:26, 27, 36, 38)
...(Romans 10:14) How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach?
...(Isaiah 6:8) Jehovah saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I proceeded to say: “Here I am! Send me.”
...(1 Corinthians 9:16-18) Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news! If I perform this willingly, I have a reward; but if I do it against my will, all the same I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What, then, is my reward? That while declaring the good news I may furnish the good news without cost

Truly, ALL true Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) will choose to share in preaching despite whether conditions seem favorable or troublesome.
...(2 Timothy 4:1-2) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is destined to judge the living and the dead, and by his manifestation and his kingdom, preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season, reprove, reprimand, exhort, with all long-suffering and art of teaching.

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

Answer 2

I will be going in service tomorrow. It will be my first time on this holiday, and I have been concerned for the same reasons that you mention. However, a dear sister who has been in the truth for more than 30 years tells me that she has always had a positive experience going out on Christmas day. I agree with some of the others who suggest that we don't try and get into the whole "this is not the day Jesus was actually born" discussion. I am personally going to use the recent Watchtower about compassion and the suggested presentation from the Kingdom Ministry "Have you noticed that people seem more compassionate this time of year, wouldn't be nice if it was like that all year"

My book study is at 12:30 Tuesday, so I will go there after field service and then we were going to have a few brothers and sisters over to the house for some fellowship, since it is a day when most people do not have to go to their secular jobs.

So, yes I have a full day of service, study and fellowship planned that I am looking forward to.

Answer 3

I'm a JW and so is my immediate family. We don't celebrate the holiday.
But this week is one of very few times my husband gets to see his children. His daughter lives with her mom and the son is full grown and in another state. We make a big deal of this time because it's the only time we have. They are NOT JW's.
Having this unique experience makes me understand why some might not be happy about us coming to their house on Christmas day. Their families come together from far distances sometimes. And they don't want any distractions.

So, personally, I'll visit the day before and the day after but not on Christmas day itself because I don't want to make people more unreceptive. But I know others who do go out and it works fine for them.
As one of the dear Friends already pointed out- many take offense at our stopping by no matter what time of year it is.

Just be careful, if you do go out. Tempers fly and people can be very irrational.

Answer 4

As said before me: it's a personal choice and no doubt you would take your local territory into consideration.

It's true what all the brothers and sisters have said; it's just another day and ideal for witnessing. Moreover, many households believe they are celebrating the birth of Christ. However, I went out this morning (24 Dec) and people were either 'very busy' or they simply wouldn't come to the door ('home but hiding').
So, I won't be going out tomorrow. If our visits upset or agitate people, than that reflects negative on future visits.

That's just my conscious though ...

~ EDIT ~
Nevertheless, if a situation emerges for some informal witnessing ... well ... that is a wonderful opportunity to praise Jehovah and his purposes.

Answer 5

What better time to use tact in our presentation & offer the Truth... The Greatest Man who ever lived publication.

If interested by the time next year come around i like to show them about what i feel also could be a christmas tree in
Jerimiah 10:2,3,4. Do not learn the way of the Nations at all, ...3 For the CUSTOMS of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere TREE out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With SILVER and with GOLD one makes it pretty. With NAILS AND HAMMERS they fasten them down that none may reel.


They done the same thing back then , the same now they just named the tree a different name. I ask them first what colors & decorations are on a christmastree then i show them this. now of course you cant come straight out the gate & show them this but once interest is developed then gradually show them things that maybe wont be so offesive to them but dont hold back the truth. Ive used this on 3 people but it didnt work on my work associate he think its talking about something different , so you have to use tact & preparation, yet it will work for some & not for others.
So for me 2 out of 3 aint bad. ;)

Answer 6

A few years ago JW's always went out on Christmas Day, but as time has gone by, more and more people do not appreciate our calling on that day because they are usually busy with their celebrating.
However, I am now in the Hungarian field, and the Hungarians go out on the Ministry whatever the day and whatever the weather!! B ut I don't think I will be going out that day, because I am in the English speaking field and most of my territory is students and they won't be around.

Answer 7

Colossians 4:5-6
Go on walking in wisdom toward those on the outside, buying out the opportune time for yourselves. Let your utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how you ought to give an answer to each one.


I wouldn't bother knocking on doors at Christmas brother, it can only go badly. No-one want's to be told that they're sinning, whilst they're having a good time sinning. Satan will just swoop down and steal the seeds that you're sowing, with the greatest of ease (Luke 11-12).
Instead, wait until the dust has settled. After the new year they'll be wanting to turn their life around, wishing they hadn't spent so much money again, and got themselves yet again in debt.


1 Corinthians 9:26
Therefore, the way I am running is not uncertainly; the way I am directing my blows is so as not to be striking the air;


Besides, it'll give you plenty of time to do some personal study. Although saying that, you could alway's go on the ministry here on the internet. Just make sure that you put that it's info from the Jehovah's Witnesses in the 'know your source section', and I think that it's alway's good to put a link to the official website..

Answer 8

Well first we need to realize that our goal is to find those people who are aware of their spiritual needs, so we shouldn’t care about the people that could feel bothered about our visits on the Christmas day. Anyway, this kind of people will never be happy with our visits, even if we go in the very “Jehovah’s Witnesses day”.

Secondly, we could easily adapt our message that day, using everything we have about Jesus, books, magazines, pamphlets, talk about Jesus' birth and the important signification for us today, show Bible quotes etc. (Alex’s link it’s full of them).

And last, but not less important, be wise, open your eyes and pay attention to the surroundings and signs, if you realize that the situation is not nice, they are in big group, or gathering in the middle of a celebration, or perhaps you see that they begin preparing to take an aggressive action… start running!

A.

Answer 9

I have found people to be too busy to talk on Christmas day as they usually have all the family around and are in the middle of cooking ect. So I feel better going out the day after when most of the stress has died down a bit.

Answer 10

I personally don't do it!
I know a lot of others do go out in the ministry on worldy holidays, but I feel that each person is entitled to do as his/her conscience dictates.

Although I may not be in agreement with what people choose to celebrate....I respect their choice by not intruding on that particular day. What we have to say that day is NOT going to change their minds because they are honoring a "tradition" that's been passed on; even though it's wrong...the ones who celebrate believe it's right. Mark 7:7-8