A few minutes ago a couple Jehovah Witness’ came to the door. They were extremly nice and them at the door made me wonder.
They seem to have a deep conviction about their faith. One that is deep enough to go out in the middle of winter and go door to door because of their faith. It got me wondering if you would ever see me out on the streets going door to door just talking to people about God. The arguement isn’t effective evangelism right now, because door to door is probably the most ineffective way nowadays to express your faith. What I am trying to point out now is how deep their faith must be to do that. How deep does their desire go to see lost people saved. Whether it’s that effective or not, at least they are doing it, at least they are earnestly trying to be used for God to save souls. I don’t see a quarter of the passion in churches or in Christians. Our biggest excitement is when we can bring a friend to church, to hear a pastor preach about something you probably don’t even want to hear.
We would see a drastic change in churches and communities if our passion could match that of the Jehovah Witness. If you cared for your friend as much as they care for those they talk to door to door, guarenteed things would be different. While they may not have the technique down, and you could argue that the motivation is wrong also, there is one thing for certain: the JW churches are growing and they are sold-out to their faith, and we, well as long as our get-out-of-debt project is successful then we feel like we’ve accomplished the world, when in fact the kingdom isn’t advancing nearly as much as it could.
ok so the point is commitment? ok, but isn’t that the motive? their commitment is what drives them to do whatever they do?
see my mom used to be a JW and from talking to her and from her experience it seems to be very manipulative. its commitment based on manipulation. and plus the reason they do all those things including door-to-door is because they get points and the points help them move up in the organization. the point shouldn’t be just to have people committed, because you can manipulate people into being committed. the point should be for people to be committed to Christ and the Church for the right reasons. Christ asked Peter three times, “Peter do you love me?” why? because Christ knew that the only way that Peter could do what Christ was calling him to do was if it was based out of love. love is what should cause the commitment, not commitment based on a point system or manipulation.
That’s all great, sure. That isn’t the point though. We all know how we feel after a JW comes to the door. Were nothing more than duty to them. Were just being used to further there rewards in heaven. We feel used. Blah Blah Blah.
The point however is to look beyond their ‘duty’ and realize that their is something else going on behind all that. You go to any JW church, and if they need a roof repaired, they are going to have it done within days, why? Because the members of their church are absolutely committed. Something needs to be done, someone has a need in that community and it’s done for them. I’m not really concerned about the motive because that isn’t important to us, the fact that it is getting done there and not getting done with us is what i’m more concerned with.
So should we go door to door? probably not, but we should have way more of a heart for the lost and if we can be inspired by a JW then that’s awesome. Let’s not let their motives get in the way of us seeing how important and awesome what they are doing is.
Ron, if you hadn’t begun with JW i could’ve sworn you were talking about Christians. we make it mechanical more often than not. i guess my question is do JW’s do it out of passion or duty?
because if its out of duty, i don’t get the feeling that they care about me so much as they are just trying to fulfill some obligation so they don’t feel guilty.
i dunno im with Ron…you nailed it bro.
I had JWs over at my house a while back. I invited them in for coffee. A mother, daughter and her child sat in my living room telling me about God. It was pretty cool to say the least. The problem I found was that to them – following God required no relationship. They seemed so mechanical in there style – Almost as though they were a computer shooting off programmed scripture to back up there thoughts. There concept of doing good deeds so there prize in heaven will grow is all well and said but they feel as though that if they do not do Gods work then his kingdom will cease to exist. My problem with that is simple: God doesnt need us, we need him. Gods never losing – Only we doubt God. True there style is in your face but I dont think they know anything about relationships. Leading someone to Christ requires 100% of you. I felt as though I was being added to the JW database for there mission. I still receive there mail that a lady delivers once a month without fail.
Amen. The JW’s and Mormons are eating our lunch when it comes to evangelism.
i agree the JW’s are way more interested in getting their churches full than most of our happy clappy evengelical churches now. by the way i woul venture to say that the JW’s are more evangelical than we are, they are just directing it in the wrong was. The really surprising thing is that they dont even believe that Christ is the son of God. So we need to start being more real about our faith and thinking of ways that we can get the people in our churches to stop worrying about that building debt and start worrying about the furthering of the kingdom. because the kingdom is not a visible tangible thing is embodyed in the lives of belivers through the power of the holy spirit.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are actually given a quota of hours which each “Publisher” has to fulfill.
This is not the kind of “committment” we need in the church of Jesus Christ. Therefore I agree with Darryl totally. But this doesn’t mean that the church can totally give up on giving people motivation to get out there and preach the Gospel. The question is how are we supposed to do that. Personally I think that all those para-church organizations are eating the church’s lunch. The Great Commission was given to the church, not to individual Christians and the organizations they found because the church doesn’t do things the way they like it.
I still think your missing my point Darryl.
I wasn’t talking about motivation, and I didn’t want to talk about it. I don’t care why they are doing it, the fact is; they are doing it. Why aren’t we?
I understand what drives them to do what they do isn’t the most godly, and obviously we shouldn’t be equal. However, brainwashed or not, they are out there, and we aren’t.
Can’t we at least admire their desire? I’ve had JW’s knocking on my door since i was born, but ask me the last time i’ve have a Christian knock on my door just wanting to serve the community or share Christ’s love.
But your both right, we don’t want a forced committment, because that’s not Christianity at all. What we do need though is Christians who have been discipled to learn what Commitment really is. “If you love me, then feed my sheep.”
ok, so apparently i keep missing the point here. so are we simple to acknowledge the fact that JW have more commitment and desire than we do? is that your only point. they have a drive to get out there, and we don’t?
i dunno i guess if that is the only point you were making, i don’t understand the importance of it…help me understand…
you know im slow sometimes so if this isn’t what your point is, then spell it out for me…
Ok, this will be my last post, because i’m hoping Darryl is just slow at this and everyone else got what i was getting at and i can just explain it to him in person.
This is what i said in the original post:
“They seem to have a deep conviction about their faith. One that is deep enough to go out in the middle of winter and go door to door because of their faith.”
And that’s what i meant. I don’t care if their faith is “i beleive that i have to save so many souls to get to heaven.” I don’t care because that wasn’t my point. My point was to acknowledge that whatever their faith is, it must be pretty strong because they are out their battling crappy weather, humilation and persecution to express their faith. Milton Stanley commented after that these guys have us Christians beat. For whatever the reason, selfish faith or not.
The importance of it was to acknowledge the good in other walks of faith, the good being their level of committment.
I didn’t start the post to JW bash and point out their faults, i wrote it because i saw something good in it and i think that’s a lot better to focus on then the bad.
I get what you’re saying and I agree. So what if they are going door to door to score points? This just means that they so strongly believe in their faith that they believe these points will get them into heaven and therefore risk the cold and humiliation in order to fulfill what their religion states is their duty. But do we as Christians not have a duty to evangelize as well? No one would deny that we do, and yet all I see around me are Christians hanging out with Christians, or Christians who act UN-Christian with their non-Christian friends. Me and Amanda have started to try and get in touch with all old friends from high-school, since we have started to join “the bubble”. It’s rediculous how many Christian friends I have who are so strong in their faith and so inspirational in their words, yet seclude themselves from those who so badly need to hear their words.Wow I didn’t mean to make it this long :P
It really dosent matter if we are as agressive of Satan’s Choice (I mean the JW) It is a sovereign act of Holy Spirit to draw ppl to Him. We dont weasel or cajole people to come to Him, He draws and no one can come to Him unless he draws them. Notice I am not saying that evangelism is not important. I am simply saying that the number of people who become truly regenerate is not dependant on the amount of “evangelism” done.
Horray for Southern Rights!!!
I agree with Nathans reply at the end. I also agree with Darryl.
Anything you do with (not for) Christ should be based on love. THe JWs have a messed up perception on love – they believe that “acts” will get them into heaven and high up there in ranking.
A christians perspective is based on relationship; with people and with Christ. Just because our faith is a loved based one doesn’t justify our lazyness.
The JW’s know whats up in regards to getting things done. A fellow brother needs a ruff repaired – you can be sure it will be done. They take care of there brothers.
JWs have been minipulated into there process to “help” others. They tell you about God because THEY want to go further. We tell people about God and Christ because we want to see “THAT PERSON” go to heaven and not hell. I dont know if JWs care if you go or not – there more focused on saving there own ass.
your comment about jws not believing that christ is gods son is incorrect
they positivly do believe that jesus christ is the son of jehovah god
hey guys you dont no much about jws do you they not goin to heaven they are goin to live on a paradise earth
its true some do go witnessing to score points
some do suffer as the appostles did with who is your favourite look at me look at me syndrome
but 99% of them are trying to over come these lacks in spirituality
we all live in a so called democracy
which is
if you dont agree with some one tear him to shreds with lies and innuendo
iff you still cant stop him
bring in the fauls accusations
and iff you still cant stop him kill him
lol sounds what happened to jesus christ
like jesus said to satan
i am no part of your world
a world which has proved itself to be very violent soon to be destroyed by god
with jesus christ leading the fight
for right
if you want to be part of this and see it happen make sure your on jesus christ side maybe you might be saved on the day of gods anger
let your kingdom come oh yeah