JW DECREASE IN AMERICA of 1.07% (page 3)

dozy

"How do you account for the size of other religions? It is because they actively preac (Oh come on - get real!) At work I am well aware of those who are active Christians. They preach to people, rather than the pointless and ineffective waste of time spent at the doors of empty houses."

Wrong - other religions are so big because they demand absolutely nothing from their members in terms of commitment , belief and restraints on conduct. "Membership" simply is on the basis that this was their parent's religion - the longer they were going the more members they have. Why are there more Catholics than any other Christian religion? I see thousands of them every fortnight when Glasgow Celtic play their home games - their conduct , attitude , language and hatred for other fans is a sight to behold. Is it because of their missionary zeal that they are so numerous? You are joking , right?

From a personal perpective , for the last twenty years , no "Christian" ( other than an occasional Mormon) has EVER preached or witnessed individually to me - at home , in work , on the street , on the phone ,anywhere. You will also know from when you were a witness that hardly ever does a Christian make any effort to express their beliefs or engage in any meaningful scriptural discussion - there was a thread to this effect recently on JWD (I'll try to find it). One ex-JW poster said that in forty years field service , only one "Christian" had ever asked him a meaningful question.

Some local churches have brought in the singers and guitars and a few more go along for the big sing-song , but it is far removed from Christian worship in any way.

blondie

98,269 congregations in 2005

81675 increase in average # publishers from 2004 to 2005

.83 new JW for every congregation in 2005

The PO in the last congregation I attended said that in the last 10 years, except for children of JWs, only one person had been baptized that came in from the "outside." (and that person had been DF'd that year). He was trying to encourage making more effective return visits with the view to starting a bible study....but actually he highlighted a more pressing situation.

It is hard for someone who has never attended or closely observed or studied other religions to know what goes on in them. In my area, I have been called on by Mormons, Lutherans, Baptists, Pentecostals, all encouraging to gather and worship with them, to study the scriptures. But no JWs; and no one knows I am one in this area and I have checked with the neighbors, 5 years and not a sign of those JWs....

Blondie

ozziepost

Some local churches have brought in the singers and guitars and a few more go along for the big sing-song , but it is far removed from Christian worship in any way.

How? Please show support for that from the scriptures.

jwfacts

How much experience do you have with other religions Dozy, how many have you attended to know what they are like?

There are other religions that are far stricter than JWs, there are others that have grown quicker in a shorter space of time. Seven Day Adventists and Mormons started at the same time, are similarly strict and have similiar numbers of members, they are no more inherited religions than JWs.

When JWs were growing the WTS said it was 'proof' of Jehovah's blessing and direction. It really proved no more than the growth of these other religions. This last service year 84 countries had zero % or negative growth rates. What spin is being put on it now to indicate JWs are the only truth?

carla

Dozy said, "Maybe tiring out from you!", what a loving remark and so uplifting. hmm, I wonder if attitudes like that have anything to do with the loss of members within the jw community.

Dozy have you actually gone to a church to see what their worship is all about? Are you suggesting God disapproves of music? Simply because others find that as a form of worship to write and compose their own music from their heart and you choose to only sing what is allowed by men in Brooklyn that doesn't make you better. Just boring and repetative in your song choices. I believe God would appreciate the creative skill it takes to compose and write a song that expresses ones love for God. Maybe that's why God gave some that gift.

dozy

Maybe in USA (and Lithuania?!) there is a bit more of an evangelising spirit among other religions - in the UK it is dead.

"It is hard for someone who has never attended or closely observed or studied other religions to know what goes on in them" - but we are talking here about the outreach , evangelising efforts that other churches make. Which has zero impact on the population here.As an apostate , Blondie , you are probably down as a do-not-call. Even if you think you are not known by JWs in your area , "we know where you live!"

Ozzie - show support from the scriptures that a big sing song with guitars , tambourines and virtually zero scriptural teaching constitutes worship. We call it a concert in this country.

And - doh - witnesses have increased. Not decreased.

jwfacts

In regards to Music, David loved signing and dancing in his worship of Jehovah, hence the book Psalms.

What I have found at work is that to most people JWs are inconsequential. Many have never spoken to a JW. Some have been offered a mag on a couple of occasions but have no idea what they teach. Is their reaction to a couple of book sellers really the way Jehovah is going to judge them worthy of everlasting life? 20 or 30 work collegues know more about the WTS from me than a lifetime being called on at the doors.

ozziepost

Dozy:

Which meeting does this resemble, do you think? Do any come to mind?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." - Col. 3:16 (NIV)

Notice "admonsih one another" - not elders admonish

Notice singing "spiritual songs and hymns" - does that sound like the drone-like singing in Kingdom Halls?

One of the first sermons I ever heard, the speaker spoke of visiting a Kingdom hall meeting and he asked,"Do you know how i could tell they don't have The Spirit? - Their singing!"

blondie

Blondie , you are probably down as a do-not-call. Even if you think you are not known by JWs in your area , "we know where you live!"

dozy, the only way we could be a DNC is if everyone in our neighborhood is as well...

dozy

JWFacts - how much of an impact did Jesus make? If you asked the average Jew what Jesus stood for , what he believed , who he was - what response would you get? Would you get an informed , carefully reasoned viewpoint? Or would the average Jew have known very little - and much of what little he knew was wrong and misguided. What about Noah? Isaiah? Ezekiel? Remember Peter and Paul - all people knew was that people everywhere vilified Christians. If people refuse to listen (for whatever reason) or accept the commonly held view in their community , then that is their perogative.

JW DECREASE IN AMERICA of 1.07%

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