Where the need is great

by noontide 35 Replies latest jw friends

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  noontide

  Wow, haven’t been around here in a while and it's nice to see some familiar names as well as new ones.

  Well, it’s that time of year again when some members of my family decide that they need to go preach where “the need is great.” This usually means they will go to some rural area of the country, and travel by car to get to some remote house in the hope that there is someone at home they can speak with. Then they will get in the car and travel for another 30 minutes or so and repeat the process all over again. Two or three months later and lots of hours spent traveling by car (of course they count their time while in the car), they will come back home with some great stories to tell, and as they put it, “filled with Jehovah’s spirit.” This they do, because it is life saving work and they must reach out to those that have not heard the truth.

  Now in my mind this raises a few questions. If they are conducting “life saving work,” why are they preaching to the choir? What I mean is, they are targeting individuals who speak their own language, individuals who have resources available to read or learn about the Jehovah’s Witness faith if they chose to do so, and the majority of these individuals already believe in God and Christianity. Is the need to reach these individuals really that great? Oh yes, I forgot, they are not Jehovah’s Witness; therefore yes, there is a need because they are doomed, or damned if you prefer.

  But what about the BILLIONS of people in other countries who are not Christians? There are approximately 1.5 BILLION Muslims, 900 million Hindus, 400 million Buddhists, 24 million Sikhs, and 14 million Jews. (http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html)

  I could be wrong, but I doubt the majority of these people have ever heard of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Wouldn’t these locations qualify as places where “the need is truly great?” Why are they not bending over backwards to travel to these locations and preach the good news? If preaching door-to-door or face-to-face is truly life saving work, are these lives not worth saving? Why is their “Society” not encouraging everyone to learn a new language, to travel and reach these individuals? No need to travel 30 minutes by car to reach one person, in most of these countries you can’t throw a stone without hitting at least 20 people. Wouldn’t these areas be considered “a preaching paradise?”

  Oh but wait, these areas are dangerous, they would be putting their lives on the line. The governments are hostile and the people are not receptive. No need to unnecessarily risk their lives. But isn’t this exactly what Jesus did, risk/trade his life in a hostile environment and against non-receptive individuals, so that everyone could have a chance at life? Didn’t his apostles preach in hostile territories? Was the commandment to preach only in areas where your life or sense of security would not be in danger? I’m not saying to be stupid or to risk your life unnecessarily, but if preaching is truly life saving work, isn’t some risk worth it? This is what soldiers, policemen, firefighters do every day; they risk their lives and their sense of security so we can have ours. So I ask again; if the preaching effort is really the number one concern for Jehovah’s Witnesses, why are they not focusing their efforts where the need is truly great?

  So, some members of my family will go this summer and preach where “the need is great.” But you and I know better don’t we?

  Well enough of that, I guess I’m just in a reflective mood, thanks for letting me vent. I’ll try not to be such a stranger around here. Until next time.
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  LostGeneration

  Yeah you nailed it with that post. Another question, if the need is great in these rural territories and it takes a lot of gasoline and manpower to reach these people, why aren't they using modern technology to reach them instead? I mean not even TV or radio, use the local paper in these communites where almost everyone still subscribes to get the local news.

  Oh, thats right, the "preaching work" is just a tool to keep Witnesses busy and not thinking too much. And the WT would have to actually put its money where its mouth is for their so-called "life saving work"
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  SirNose586

  It's because the JWs can only be effective in areas with a Christian populace. Once they head into an area without a Christian base, their "We're better than other strains of Christianity" message falls flat.
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  Gayle

  It seems to me the WTS would rather they save all that wasted gas money and just give a donation to the Headquarters for all their re-builds, etc.
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  snowbird

  Imho, Solomon sums it up quite well.

  Ecclesiastes1-1 These are the words of the Quester, David's son and king in Jerusalem 2 Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That's what the Quester says.] There's nothing to anything—it's all smoke. The Message Bible

  Tee hee hee.

  Syl
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  stillin

  these people are often very irritating. I live in an area where groups come to "help cover the remote territory." Most of the ones who are in these groups are sincere and friendly enough, in a self-righteous sort of way. But, man, I've seen some real losers, too! Dressed like some sort of big-city clowns, to show us outback rednecks how the REAL life is. Then putting 10 old magazines in a ziplock bag under the doormat so they can go home and tell the friends there about the hundreds of magazines that they placed in the boonies. And all of the INTEREST that they found! What's the matter with you people, not finding any INTEREST in your own territory!? You should try being more like US!

  It was so encouraging to have them with us...yeah, right...
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  Magwitch

  The need usually becomes greater when these zealots arrive.
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  NomadSoul

  Good post.

  I often ask my JW relatives, if JW's are fulfilling the prophecy of preaching the good news and the Bible says it will be done in "all nations" then why is the preaching work not been done in Muslim countries like Iran?
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  shakyground

  I don't think there are any witnesses in the middle east. Maybe a few in Israel, but the vast majority of middle eastern countries are Islamic, and in many of those countries preaching anything but Islam will get you throw in jail or penalized with death. There are people in Pakistan right now who are on death row for allegedly speaking against Muhammad. I'm pretty sure if you go to places like Pakistan, Afganistan, or Syria and ask them if they know where the nearest kingdom hall is they will look at you like your an idiot.
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  godrulz

  Christianity has penetrated closed Muslim nations because the Holy Spirit cannot be kept out. I personally know people risking their lives and seeing great conversion growth in Northern African/Middle Eastern Muslim countries. The same was true in Russia/China and communism, etc. Persecution and martyrdom is great, but biblical Christianity has made inroads to the remotest places and seeing incredible growth. Conversely, JWs and Mormons cannot make the same claims and some groups are even seeing reverse growth. This is not proof of truth (like JWs sometimes claim because they go door to door or see growth in some places), but it is to the glory of God that the gospel is going to the ends of the earth. The largest, fastest growing groups are the Pentecostal/charismatic ones that I identify with.