Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-14-08 WT Study (July 15, 2008, pages 7-11) (CHALLENGES)
Review comments will be in red
WT material from today's WT will be in black
Quotes from other sources will be in quotes boxes
w = Watchtower
g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
Bible translations www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
WT publications www.strictlygenteel.co.uk
WT child abuse www.silentlambs.org
Blood issue www.ajwrb.org
United Nations http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm
MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE HOUSE-TO-HOUSE MINISTRY
"We mustered up boldness by means of our God to speak to you the good news of God with a great deal of struggling. "-1 THESS. 2:2.
Sorry this is late. jws will be heading out soon to put in their obligatory time, minimum 1 hour a month for the healthy. Reading this article, I see that nothing has changed in the 7 years since I left except that more and more are not effective or joyful, if they ever were. Personal salvation drives most jws to do this. No preaching, no everlasting life. I feel so free every Saturday morning as I read the paper and drink my tea, planning the fun things for the weekend.
START OF ARTICLE
Q 1. What challenges did Jeremiah face, and how was he able to meet them?
JEREMIAH was a person with feelings like ours. When Jehovah informed him of his commission to be "prophet to the nations," he cried out: "Alas, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Here I actually do not know how to speak, for I am but a boy." Nevertheless, trusting in Jehovah, he accepted the assignment. (Jer. 1:4-10) For more than 40 years, Jeremiah contended with apathy, rejection, ridicule, and even physical violence. (Jer. 20: 1, 2) At times, he felt like giving up. Yet, he persevered in declaring an unpopular message to a largely unreceptive people. In God's strength, Jeremiah accomplished what he could never have done on his own.-Read Jeremiah 20:7-9.
Why again does the WTS choose an OT, non-Christian example for Christians to follow? Are there not enough good examples in the NT? Was
Jeremiah preaching about Jesus, God's choice for king of the kingdom, or did Jeremiah have no idea?
Are jws "a prophet to the nations"?
Is the WTS/FDS?
Are the GC?
Quote
*** w64 6/15 p. 365 par. 22 Jehovah, the God of Progressive Revelation ***
As Jehovah revealed his truths by means of the first-century Christian congregation so he does today by means of the present-day Christian congregation. Through this agency he is having carried out prophesying on an intensified and unparalleled scale.
Quote
*** w72 4/1 p. 197 ‘They Shall Know that a Prophet Was Among Them’ ***
However, Jehovah did not let the people of Christendom, as led by the clergy, go without being warned that the League was a counterfeit substitute for the real kingdom of God. He had a “prophet” to warn them. This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. They are still proclaiming a warning, and have been joined and assisted in their commissioned work by hundreds of thousands of persons who have listened to their message with belief.
While Jeremiah prophesied for only 40 years, has the WTS been doing so for 129 years?
Did Jeremiah speak to non-believers or believers? Does the WTS prophesy to believers or non-believers?
Have the prophecies of the WTS come true? Do you have a favorite failed prophecy or list?
http://www.bibletopics.com/BIBLESTUDY/88.htm
Q 2, 3. How do God's servants today face challenges resembling those of Jeremiah?
2. Many of God's servants today can relate to Jeremiah's feelings. When contemplating the prospect of preaching from house to house, more than a few of us once thought,'That is something I could never do.' Yet, when we realized that it was Jehovah's will that we proclaim the good news, we overcame our apprehension and got busy preaching. Even so, many of us faced circumstances in our lives that made it difficult, at least for a time, to keep on preaching. There is no denying that it is a challenge to start preaching from house to house and to keep on preaching right to the end.-Matt. 24:13.
God's servants = only jws
Do Christians relate better to other Christians or an Israelite?
Jehovah's will or the will of the WTS?
What is the "good news" of the Bible compared to the good news the WTS preaches?
The WTS preaches that only baptized jws will survive God's destruction. Is that good news?
Quote
*** w89 9/1 p. 19 par. 7 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the “flesh” that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history.
How many jws even effectively "proclaim" WT doctrine?
3. What if you have been studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses and attending congregation meetings for some time but are hesitant to start preaching from house to house? Or what if you are a baptized Witness who finds it difficult to share in the door-to door work, even though you are physically able to do so? Be assured that people of all backgrounds are meeting the challenges of the house-to-house ministry. With
Jehovah's help, so can you.
It is not enough to study WT publications, go to their meetings; you must preach their doctrine and get baptized as a Witness, not baptized as a Christian.
So who judges whether a person is "physically able to do so"?
Mustering Up Boldness
Q 4. What enabled the apostle Paul to speak the good news with boldness?
4. You no doubt recognize that the global preaching work is being accomplished, not by human power or wisdom, but by God's spirit. (Zech. 4:6) That is also true of the ministry of individual Christians. (2 Cor. 4:7) Consider the apostle Paul. Recalling a time when he and his missionary companion were mistreated by opposers, he wrote: "After we had first suffered and been insolently treated ... in Philippi, we mustered up boldness by means of our God to speak to you the good news of God with a great deal of struggling." (1 Thess. 2:2; Acts 16:22-24) We may find it hard to imagine that a zealous preacher like Paul had times when it was a struggle for him to preach. Yet, like all of us, Paul had to lean on Jehovah in order to speak the good news with boldness. (Read Ephesians 6:18-20.) How can we imitate Paul's example?
Do jws "no doubt" recognize that the WT message is being reached globally? Does the WTS even think that needs to be done?
Quote
*** w00 1/15 p. 13 par. 17 “Keep on the Watch” ***
Fifth, we see a global preaching work being accomplished, which Jesus said would take place just before the end of this system. Jesus stated: “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.” (Matthew 24:14) Today, that prophecy is in the course of fulfillment on an unprecedented scale. True, untouched territories still exist, and it may be that in Jehovah’s due time, a large door leading to greater activity will open. (1 Corinthians 16:9) Nevertheless, the Bible does not state that Jehovah will wait until every individual on earth has received a personal witness. Rather, the good news must be preached to Jehovah’s satisfaction. Then the end will come.—Compare Matthew 10:23.
How is the ministry of individual Christians (jws only) being accomplished by God's spirit? How would the individual jw answer? Do they get a dream like Peter to go to Cornelius and his family. Do they get a vision like Paul to go over to Macedonia? Does the holy spirit inspire the words and understanding they use or are they only the infallible words of humans in paper publications?
Paul found it hard to preach because 1) he had never seen and talked to Jesus? 2) his hope was to be resurrected to rule in heaven with Christ 3) Paul had the powers of the holy spirit to resurrect (Eutychus) 4) He was given a vision of the future. No, Paul would have found it much easier than any jw today because of all those things.
Q 5. What is one way we can muster up boldness to preach?
5. One way we muster up boldness to preach is through prayer. A pioneer said: "I pray that I can speak with confidence, pray that I can reach the hearts of people, and pray that I can find joy in the ministry. After all, this is Jehovah's work, not our own, so we can do nothing without his help." (1 Thess. 5: 17) All of us need to pray continually for the help of God's holy spirit to preach with boldness.-Luke 11 :9-13.
Does this pioneer lack confidence because they are depending on the words of the WTS rather than the words of Jesus? Jesus said the sheep would be drawn to his voice; what is the best source of Jesus' voice, the Bible alone or the Bible "explained" by the WTS?
(John 10:2-4) 2 But he that enters through the door is shepherd of the sheep. 3 The doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has got all his own out, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.
So why doesn't this pioneer find joy in helping people escape eternal destruction...where is the love for those individuals? Where is Jesus'
feeling that they are sheep without a shepherd?
Quote
(Matthew 9:36-38) . . .On seeing the crowds he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples: “Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
Q 6, 7. (a) What vision did Ezekiel receive, and what did it mean? (b) What lesson docs Ezekiel's vision provide for God's servants today?
6. The book of Ezekiel reveals something else that can help us to speak with boldness. In a vision, Jehovah gave Ezekiel a scroll written on both sides with "dirges and moaning and wailing" and told him to eat it, saying: "Son of man, you should cause your own belly to eat, that you may fill your very intestines with this roll that I am giving you." What did this vision mean? Ezekiel was to absorb fully the message he was to deliver. It was to become part of him, as it were, affecting his inmost feelings. The prophet goes on to relate: "I began to eat it, and it came to be in my mouth like honey for sweetness." Declaring God's message in public was a delight-like tasting honey-for Ezekiel. He felt highly privileged to represent Jehovah and to fulfill this God-given assignment, even though that meant delivering a strong message to an unreceptive people.-Read Ezekiel 2:8-3:4, 7-9.
Another OT example, Ezekiel.
What is the WTS message, eternal destruction for all non-jws, 6.5 billion men, women and babies. Even Ezekiel was not preaching that.
Quote
*** w89 9/1 p. 19 par. 7 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the “flesh” that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history.
7. This vision contains a valuable lesson for God's servants today. We too have a strong message to deliver to people who are not always appreciative of our efforts. For us to continue to view the Christian ministry as a God-given privilege, we must be well-nourished spiritually. Superficial or haphazard study habits will not be sufficient for us to absorb God's Word fully. Could you improve the quality of regularity of your personal Bible reading and Bible study? Could you more often meditate on what you read? -Ps. 1:2, 3.
Only jws are "God's servants today."
Are only jws privileged with the Christian ministry? What about the other religions such as Mormons, Baptists, non-denominational religions, that speak about their faith?
Are jws only studying superficially or haphazardly, perhaps highlighting the answers on the way to the meeting or at the meeting itself to give the appearance of studying, even having a marriage mate do the underlining? In 1977 the WTS changed the procedure in how to conduct the WT study from reading the paragraph last as a summary to now reading it first, why? Because so many jws had not read the article and were reading it right there at the meeting and were always behind.
Quote
*** w77 2/1 p. 96 New Method of Conducting “Watchtower” Study ***
With this in mind, we recommend to all congregations the following order of study: (1) Read the paragraph in The Watchtower (or other publication); (2) Read the question thereon; (3) Call on those raising their hands for answers, discussing fully the paragraph and supporting scriptures.
There should be a number of advantages in reading the paragraphs before they are discussed. This will quickly refresh the minds of all who have studied over the lesson in advance, and in the event some have not been able to do this previous to the meeting, the reading will at least familiarize them with the material before it is discussed. Everyone will be encouraged to concentrate on the reading, rather than look ahead for the answer in the next paragraph. Those who are shy, or who are slow in organizing their thoughts, will be able to prepare better to put their words together and so gain confidence to raise their hands. There should be freer participation and fuller discussion of the finer details of the study, with emphasis on the application of key scriptures before passing on to the reading of the next paragraph.
Starting Bible Discussions
Q 8. What approach has helped some Kingdom publishers to start Bible discussions in the house-to house ministry?
8. For many publishers, the most difficult part of the house-to-house ministry is the initial exchange with the householder. Admittedly, in some territories it is a challenge to start conversations. Some publishers feel more comfortable when speaking to people at the door if they begin their presentation with a few well-chosen words and then hand the householder a tract, as outlined in the accompanying box. The title of the tract or its colorful illustration may capture the householder's attention, allowing us to mention briefly the purpose of our visit I and to raise a question. A variation of this approach is to show the householder three or four different tracts and invite him to select one that interests him. Of course, our goal is not simply to place tracts or to use them at every door but to start Bible discussions that lead to Bible studies.
The "initial exchange" is so difficult is that most jws have not prepared or are using the same "introduction" they have for the last 20 years. The hardest thing is sales are "cold calls." What kind of territories does the WTS mean are a "challenge"? What words would be considered "well-chosen"? And hand the person a WT publication, an inexpensive tract, something that a donation is not requested for?
Why isn't the words of Jesus in the Bible that would capture their attention...why substitute the WTS words?
Accompany box: One Way to Start Bible Discussions
To get started:
After you greet the householder, you might hand him a tract and say, "My purpose in visiting today is to share an encouraging though on this important subject."
Or you might offer a tract and say, "I'm visiting briefly today because I am interested in knowing what you think about this subject."
(No mention of Jehovah, Jesus, or kingdom)
If the tract is accepted:
Without a lengthy pause, ask a simple viewpoint questions based on the title of the tract.Listen carefully, seeking to understand the househoseholder's views. Graciously acknowledge his comments.
To continue the discussion:
Read and discuss one or more scriptures, tailoring your presentation to the person's interests and needs.
Where interest is shown, offer and demonstrate a Bible study if possible. Arrange to return.
(Why is the Bible the last thing to appear if it even does, just a WT publication and mention of "bible" study?)
Q 9. 'Why is good preparation important?
9. Whatever approach you use, good preparation will help you to be poised and enthusiastic in the house-to-house ministry. One pioneer observed: "I have more joy if I am well prepared. It makes me want to give my presentation." Another pioneer said, "When I familiarize myself with the publications that I am going to offer, I become enthusiastic about using them." While there is some benefit in silently reviewing what you are going to say, many find it more helpful to rehearse their presentation out loud. Doing so helps them to give their best to Jehovah. -Col. 3:23; 2 Tim. 2:15.
Do jws prepare? How many vary from the same presentation that they have used for 20 years? How many have even read the publication they are presenting? Should they be familiarizing themselves with the Bible since the voice of the shepherd is found there?
Are jws Christians? Why not be giving their best to Christ? Who are Christians witnesses of according to the Bible, the NT that is?
Quote
(Acts 1:7-8) . . .; 8 but YOU will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon YOU, and YOU will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.”
(Revelation 12:16-17) . . .. 17 And the dragon grew wrathful at the woman, and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus.
(Revelation 17:6) 6 And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the holy ones and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.. . .
(Revelation 19:10) . . .But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! All I am is a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who have the work of witnessing to Jesus. Worship God; for the bearing witness to Jesus is what inspires prophesying.”
Q 10. What can be done to make meetings for field service practical and beneficial?
10. Practical meetings for field service contribute to our effectiveness and joy in the house-to-house ministry. If the daily text deals directly with the preaching activity, it may be read and briefly discussed. However, the brother conducting the meeting for field service should take sufficient time to discuss or demonstrate a simple presentation that is well-suited to the territory or to consider other practical information that can be used in the ministry that day. This will further equip those present to give an effective witness. With good advance preparation, elders and others who conduct these meetings can accomplish this and still conclude the meeting within the allotted time.-Rom. 12:8.
The WTS feels that the rank and file are not being effective or finding joy. So who would be prepared to give a presentation? A pioneer, not without advance notice. Are the rest to copy that presentation? All this information is not new, it hasn't made jws effective then and won't now.
Is the problem that the elders are going overtime? Why do the elders waste time, are unorganized, drive around in the territory and rarely actually go D2D, is it because they have no joy?
The Power of Listening
Q 11, 12. How can compassionate listening help us to reach people with the good news? Give examples.
11. It is not only good preparation but a deep personal interest in others that helps us to start Bible discussions and reach people in the ministry. One way we demonstrate such interest is by the way we listen. A traveling overseer observed: "Being patient and showing a willingness to listen to people has an amazing power to attract and is a wonderful expression of warm personal interest." Compassionate listening can be the key that unlocks a householder's heart, as the following experience shows.
Do jws have a "deep personal interest" in others or only in their own personal salvation. Does a jw have to convert anyone to ensure their everlasting life?
Do jws really want to listen or just get that tract in the person's hand and off to the next door, to go on coffee break after 45 minutes to an hour?
Do jws listen, or just go off to their next doctrinal point when they hit a snag?
12. In an open letter published in the newspaper Le Progrés, of Saint-Etienne, France, a woman described the visit of two people who knocked on her door shortly after she suffered the tragic loss of her three-month-old daughter in death. "I immediately recognized them as Jehovah's Witnesses," she wrote. "I was ready to dismiss them politely, but then I noticed a brochure they were offering. It was about why God permits suffering. So I decided to invite them in with the intention of demolishing their arguments. ... The Witnesses stayed a little over an hour. They listened to me with great compassion, and when they were leaving, I felt so much better that I agreed to another visit." (Rom. 12:15) In time, this woman accepted a Bible study. It is revealing that what she remembered about that first visit was, not what the Witnesses said, but how they listened.
Once again, jws target people with sad events in their life; sick or dead children, parents, spouses; divorces, financial problems, fears about war, get them when they are down.
There is no mention of this woman's arguments...and no mention that she became a jw. No mention of the date of the newspaper, page number, or name of this woman. Bad quoting. Nothing on Google.
Q 13. How can we adapt our presentation of the good news to the individuals we meet?
13. When we listen compassionately, we in effect allow people to tell us why they need the Kingdom. This puts us in a much better position to share the good news with them. You have likely observed that effective evangelizers are usually skilled listeners. (Prov. 20:5) They show a real interest in the people they meet in the ministry. They take note not only of their names and addresses but also of their interests and needs. When someone expresses a specific concern, they do research and soon return to share what they found. Like the apostle Paul, they adapt their presentation of the Kingdom message to the individuals they meet. (Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.) Such sincere interest attracts people to the good news and wonderfully reflects "the tender compassion of our God."-Luke 1:78.
Here it is, start them out on the CARROT, everlasting life on a paradise earth, "why they need the Kingdom." How often were you out in "the ministry" and people had not written down anything or haphazardly, and then misplaced it, or thought of going back months later after they had forgotten if it was a man or a woman, young or old, black or white, and what they talked about? How many jws have promised to do research for people on this board and never were seen again? Out of 100 jws, maybe one has "sincere interest." Not enough to fill the chairs at the baptisms at the circuit assembly and district convention. Instead children of jws make up the new recruits.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Q 14. As we carry out our ministry, how can we reflect Jehovah's qualities?
14. Jehovah has dignified us by giving us free will. Although he is God Almighty, he forces no One to serve him but appeals to people On the basis of love, blessing those who respond appreciatively to his marvelous provisions. (Rom. 2:4) As his ministers, we should be ready to present the good news in a manner worthy of our merciful God each time we give a witness. (2 Cor. 5:20, 21; 6:3-6) To that end, we need to maintain a positive attitude toward the people in our territory. What can help us to meet this challenge?
What is free will by WTS definition?
[ Quote
[b]*** dg part 5 p. 11 par. 10 The Wonderful Gift of Free Will ***[/b]
So too with God’s gift of free will. Unlimited freedom would mean anarchy in society. There have to be laws to guide human activities. God’s Word says: “Behave like free men, and never use your freedom as an excuse for wickedness.” (1 Peter 2:16, JB) God wants free will to be regulated for the common good. He purposed for us to have, not total freedom, but relative freedom, subject to the rule of law.
What definitions have you heard outside the WT philosophy?
Q 15. (a) Jesus instructed his apostles to do what if people rejected the message? (b) What can help us focus on finding deserving ones?
15. Jesus instructed his followers not to become unduly concerned if some rejected the message but rather to focus on finding deserving ones. (Read Matthew 10:11-15.) Setting small, reachable goals can help us to do this. One brother likens himself to a prospector. His motto is, "I look forward to striking gold sometime today." Another brother has the goal "to meet one nice person each week and return within a few days to cultivate the interest." Some publishers endeavor to share at least one scripture with each householder if possible. What realistic goal could you set for yourself?
So do jws then judge who are "deserving ones"? How? Is the Christian message being rejected or the Watchtower message? Who is setting goals for jws, themselves or by the WTS at carefully constructed service meetings? Does this mean this man only prospects where gold is more likely to be found? Is the value of a human life to be compared to cold metal, that doesn't even nourish us? What is the definition of a "nice" person? Doesn't the WTS give "experiences" of people who became jws after not being nice? Shouldn't all publishers use the Bible at each contact so they hear the voice of Jesus not the voice of that individual jw or worse yet, the WTS?
Did Jesus only search for the 99, or for the one that was lost?
Q 16. What reasons do we have to keep on preaching?
16. The success of the house-to-house ministry does not depend solely on the response of people in the territory. True, the preaching work plays a vital role in the salvation of honest hearted ones, but it also serves other important purposes. The Christian ministry gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our love for Jehovah. (1 John 5:3) It enables us to avoid bloodguilt. (Acts 20:26, 27) It warns the ungodly that "the hour of the judgment by [God] has arrived." (Rev. 14:6, 7) Above all, through the preaching of the good news, Jehovah's name is being praised in all the earth. (Ps. 113:3) Hence, whether people listen or not, we must keep sounding forth the Kingdom message. Indeed, all our efforts to proclaim the good news are beautiful in Jehovah's eyes.-Rom. 10:13-15.
jws are told that if no one responds it doesn't mean they are ineffective............personal salvation is more important, avoiding bloodguilt. How is "Jehovah" being praised in all the earth...who knows who he is in China, India, Muslim countries, at least the WTS definition? How many people in the US understand what the WT explanation is.....? Every non-jw I talk to hasn't a clue, just a group that refuses blood transfusions, doesn't celebrate birthdays/holidays, doesn't salute the flag or join the military.............all things Jesus taught right?
Q 17. People will soon be forced to recognize what?
17. Although many today disregard our preaching work, they will soon come to view it in a different light. (Matt. 24:37-39) Jehovah assured Ezekiel that when the judgments he proclaimed came true, the rebellious house of Israel would" certainly know also that a prophet himself happened to be in the midst of them." (Ezek. 2:5) Similarly, when God carries out his judgments against the present system of things, people will be forced to recognize that the message Jehovah's Witnesses preached in public places and from house to house actually originated with the one true God, Jehovah, and that the Witnesses really did serve as his representatives. What a privilege we have to bear his name and declare his message in these momentous times' In his strength, may we continue to meet the challenges of the house-to house ministry.
Who are the "many"...all nonjws? So are jws prophets? Would they answer that if you asked them? Notice how the WTS dances past the eternal destruction of all nonjws soon. So will the people in China and India be "forced" to recognize their destruction?
How Would You Answer?
How can we muster up boldness to preach?
What can help us to start Bible discussions in the house~to-house ministry?
How can we show sincere interest in others?
What can help us to maintain a positive attitude toward the people in our territory?
CLOSING COMMENTS
I get the feeling that the rank and file are not "effective" or "joyful" in the WTS ministry. Even less than in the past. With wasted time, not pursuing return visits or "bible studies," and the lack of a date to shoot for or waiting too long, the WTS will soon be announcing that the work is slowing down because the end is near. The WTS went into negative numbers in the late 1970's, did the end come then, 30 years ago? As the WTS finds ways to plug the monetary leaks, will they plug the leak in human numbers?
Next week is IT IS 'GOD WHO MAKES IT GROW'! So is the failure of the WTS, ineffective sowers or the wrong kind of seed?
Love, Blondie