Knocking on Doors vs. Televangelism

Band on the Run

I was watching a Tv show that made me think about why the Witnesses insist on door-to-door work "in this age of mass communication," to quote Jesus Christ Superstar. Did they not have a radio station at one time? I remember hearing about it and about the dj becoming too popular so he was axed. They have the resources to do it. Certainly, they could teach doctrine or teachings in innovative ways and reach an incredibly larger audience. People's privacy would be respected. Fewer normal people would be bothered and, therefore, almost all JW jokes would die.

I question whether to drop off materials in person or email them; My awareness of time being cash is heightened. Certainly, emails can be opened when the person has time. The person can resolve what to do and then get back to me. People tell me repeatedly that is proven that face to face contact yields better results. Civility rules make it hard to say "no" to a human face.

So doctrine they could spread by TV, internet. The "good news" has more venues than ever in human history. It is amazing. If your goal is to raise money, though, knocking on doors makes sense. I am so curious where all the money goes. Compared to when I was young, I am amazed at their international printing and ministry facilities. A lot of cash had to go there. Bethel is not lush, however. If any GB members were living the way Onassis, etc. lived, would we not know? I saw a Tammy Faye Baker documentary last night and almost fell over when they showed her home. It was all right to live that way b/c Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson also live that way. The Pope's resident must be exquisite.

Could they have expanded too quickly and the economy squeezed credit for expenses? I do believe the Internet and satellite TV fees would be cheaper.

Just wondering.

alanv

I believe it is all about keeping the sheep busy. Door to door work also has the benifit of making every individual think they are sharing in God's work, and this gives them brownie points to getting God's approval and everlasting life. It also underlines what the society say will happen when you preach, namely that you will get persecuted. As most people have no interest at all in JWs, this simply makes the sheep sure that they must have the truth.

wobble

Spot on AL, plus perhaps they know how inept they would appear on TV if they were to articulate their message in that way, and they would never win aTV war.

They would battle away to produce the best programme, only to have it topped by another religious lot with more media savvy, making the WT Troof seem not as impressive as the others Troof.

sir82

As AlanV said, the point of the door to door ministry is not to "find sheep". The whole point is to keep the flock either too busy or too guilty to think deeply, and to make them feel like they are doing something useful.

Bangalore

*** w86 11/15 p. 21 Insight on the News ***

Insight on the News

TV Evangelism-God's Way?

If Jesus Christ were on earth today, asserted TV evangelist Jim Bakker, "he'd have to be on TV." Why television? Because, according to Bakker, "that would be the only way he could reach the people he loves." Like Bakker, an increasing number of fundamentalist preachers in the United States feel that television is the best medium for spreading the Word of God. Yet, a 1984 study showed that, for the most part, TV evangelists "reinforce people already committed to evangelical religion."

Interestingly, in a letter to the editor of the magazine Ministry, one reader wrote: "You said they [television sets] are the church's most powerful gospel seed-sowing tools, and yet God says the most essential work is house-to-house visitation-soul hunting. . . . Our Saviour loved to get away from the multitude, and then He went from house to house-soul hunting. The one-soul audience was His delight. . . . Can we not do the same?"

According to Jesus Christ, the purpose of the Christian ministry was not just to ‘spread the Word' but to "make disciples." (Matthew 28:19, 20) He directed his followers to go to people's homes. (Matthew 10:7, 11-13) The apostle Paul accepted this preaching method and said regarding his ministry: "I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house." The personalized house-to-house ministry of the disciples reaped good results.-Acts 5:42; 20:20.

If Jesus laid such emphasis on this method of preaching in order to make disciples, why do many evangelists prefer TV as their medium? The Courier-Mail of Brisbane, Australia, notes that TV evangelists "make up to $120 million a year selling salvation. They appear in a blaze of electrified power and glory on 300 TV stations, and are worshipped like pop idols. . . . For all their tactics, these men who claim to manipulate even God, come down in the end to a straight business deal. Send them $10 and they will send you to heaven."

Bangalore

Band on the Run

Please, please tell me in which canonical or noncanonical gospel, any apostle letters, or John's Revelation that Jesus knocked on doors.

Keeping the flock busy makes more sense to me. I never would of thought of it. Notice that it is wrong to spend time reinforcing religion. Ah, busy work.

ssn587

The door-to-door ministry, keeps the dubs busy, they always say see at Matt. 28: 19,20 blah blah blah but they never read it in context. Jesus was telling this to the 11 apostles, not every tom dick, harriet etc. that were his followers. That is why they had special powers ala Benny Hinn (yeah right) Their inflated opinion of themselves is nauseating at best.

The WTBTS use this to make $$$, you donate for the "free" magazines, and by god if you get a donation for them, they want that too. Like most things in business and politics it's follow the money. Most in the door to door work, don't realize they are being used period. It's a publishing company and if you aren't out in the "field ministry" and having to do so, then you won't be using as many mags as needed to keep the pub company in business. The more door to door workers donating for magazines makes money for the WTBTS publishing corp. It has always been a money maker for them, and thus they will never end it for a more logical way to get the word out.

The first century christians used the only means they had at their disposal for getting the word out, Radio, Tv, the internet etc didn't exist. What were they suppose to do paint scriptures on Camels asses as they crossed the desert in Caravans. Paint on animals sides and asses to get the word out. Would have been a lot of pissed off shephers, caravaners, farmers etc. if their animals had been painted. And lets not forget that most people of the word at that time just like the apostles with the exception of Paul were illiterate unable to either write or read, and that is directly contrary to the the pics put out by the society showing them carrying around paprus scrolls like they were supposedly reading the bible.

follow the money folks, that's why the d=t=d exists.

BluesBrother

What were they suppose to do paint scriptures on Camels asses as they crossed the desert?

LOL at ssn587

Just a thought .. Britain has recently changed to the new system of magazine distribution whereby the dubs help themselves to the current ones for the ministry that week and return unused ones for others to take. The idea is for the Cong. to be able to order less copies. But the Bro's still pay for the mags they take by donating to the WWW Fund. So the next user of the same mag donates again, for the same mag

It is like taking unused goods back to the shop and not getting a refund. You just give them over to be sold again. Not bad, eh?

Vanderhoven7

Going door to door was never recommended in scripture and there is no real evidence that the apostles ever went door to door down the street before coffee and donuts at Friendly's.

Found Sheep

I agree with what was said + when you think about the way they brainwash face to face is needed. If they told doctrine on TV/radio without the sly manipulations it would never work. Like, I recall it's the 1st or 2nd study and it's normal to bring up "your friends/family may not like that you are studying with us" then you warn them about the internet.... the clasic "if you want to get to know someone do you go out and find all there enemies?"

some of that stuff just wouldn't fly on a public entatie... you know?

Knocking on Doors vs. Televangelism

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