Witnessing online

biblecheck

I know its been covered here somewhere but cant find the thread...

Does anyone know what the latest GB policy relating to JWs doing "online/forum witnessing" - is the GB still against it - any articles? ... would be really handy.

wha happened?

according to the latest articles, 'dubs aren't supposed to "engage" apostates.

Christ Alone

This is the last I found that mentioned it:

November 1999: Kingdom Ministry: Internet Use

USE OF THE INTERNET - BE ALERT TO THE DANGERS

Jehovah's people enjoy wholesome association with one another. They enjoy sharing experiences from the field ministry and appreciate hearing about events that occur in connection with Jehovah's Witnesses and the Kingdom work around the globe. They like to be informed about anything outstanding that may happen to our brothers, such as a crisis or a natural disaster, and they want to know if there is something they can do to help. Such interest shows the unity of the brotherhood, proving that we do indeed love one another. -John 13: 34,35;

Today, we hear about world events quickly. Radio and television broadcasts give live coverage of events in full detail to audiences all over the globe. The telephone also makes it possible to communicate immediately with people around the world. In communications a recent phenomenon that is taking the world by storm is the Internet. -See Awake! July 22, 1997.

The invention of the telephone opened the way to fast personal communication world-wide. Although the telephone is very useful, caution is needed in the way it is employed, as it can be a tool for improper association or activities, and overuse of the telephone can be expensive. Television and radio have potential in the field of education. Sadly, though, much of the programming is morally corrupt, and attention to it is a waste of time. Wisdom dictates that we be very selective in the use of television and radio.

The Internet enables one to communicate inexpensively with millions of others throughout the world, and it opens the door to vast amounts of information. (Awake! Jan 8, 1998) The indiscriminate use of the Internet, however, can expose a person to great spiritual danger and moral dangers. How is this so?

Many are concerned about readily available information that shows how to build weapons, including bombs. Industry complains about the amount of time workers waste using the internet. Much has been stated in our publications about the obvious spiritual dangers encountered on the Internet. Numerous Web Sites present violent and pornographic material that is entirely unsuitable for Christians. (Ps 119: 37) In addition to these dangers, there is a more insidious danger that Jehovah's Witnesses in particular need to be on guard against. What is this danger?

Would you invite a stranger into your home without first finding out who he is? What if there was no way to find out? Would you allow such a stranger to be alone with your children? This is an indisputable possibility on the Internet.

Electronic mail can be sent to and received from people you do not know. The same is true when you converse electronically in a forum or in a chat room. Participants may at times claim to be Jehovah's Witnesses, but often they are not. Someone may claim to a youth when he or she is not. Or a person may even falsely claim to be of a certain gender.
Information passed on to you may come in the form of experiences or comments about our beliefs. This information is passed on to others who, in turn pass it on to still others. The information is generally not verifiable and may be untrue. The comments may be a cover for spreading apostate reasoning. -2 Thess 2: 1-3;

With this danger in mind, if you use the Internet, ask yourself: 'What do I use it for? Is there a possibility that I could be harmed spiritually by how I am using it? Could I be contributing to the spiritual injury of others?

WEB SITES OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: Consider, for example, some Internet sites set up by individuals who claim to be Jehovah's Witnesses. They invite you to visit their web sites to read experiences posted by others who claim to be Witnesses. You are encouraged to share you thoughts and views about the Society's literature. Some give recommendations about presentations that could be used in the field ministry. These site offer chat rooms for individuals to connect to, allowing live communication with others, similar to talking on the telephone. They often point you to other sites where you can have online association with Jehovah's Witnesses around the world. But can you tell for certain that these contacts have not been planted by apostates?

Having association via the Internet may not be consistent with the recommendation found at Eph 5: 15-17. The apostle Paul wrote: Keep strict watch that how YOU walk is not as unwise but as wise [persons], buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked. On this account cease becoming unreasonable, but go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is."

The Christian congregation is the theocratic means through which we are fed spiritually by "the faithful and discreet slave" (Matt 24: 45-47)...

moshe

I think they are still against it- the big bad apostates might get you!

Christ Alone

Here is a newer one from Jwfacts.com:

Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.11
"Apostates “quietly” bring their ideas into the congregation, like criminals who secretly bring things into a country. Apostates use “counterfeit words.” This means that they say things that make their false ideas sound true, like criminals who make false documents look real. They try to get as many people as possible to believe their “deceptive teachings.” Peter also said that they like twisting the Scriptures. They explain Bible verses in the wrong way to make others believe their ideas. (2 Peter 2:1, 3, 13; 3:16) Apostates do not care about us. If we follow them, we will leave the road to everlasting life.
... The Bible says that apostates are mentally diseased and that they use their teachings to make others think like them. (1 Timothy 6:3, 4) Jehovah is like that good doctor. He clearly tells us to stay away from false teachers. We must always be determined to follow his warning.
What must we do to avoid false teachers? We do not speak to them or invite them into our houses. We also do not read their books, watch them on television, read what they write on the Internet, or add our own comments about what they write on the Internet. Why are we so determined to avoid them? First of all, it is because we love “the God of truth.” So we do not want to listen to false teachings that go against the truth in God’s Word."

biblecheck

Hey thanks for that.

That Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.11 article reads like it was written for a 5 year old.

" This means that they say things that make their false ideas sound true, like criminals who make false documents look real. ... Jehovah is like that good doctor. He clearly tells us to stay away from false teachers. "

What the...?

wha happened?

Apostates use “counterfeit words.” This means that they say things that make their false ideas sound true, like criminals who make false documents look real.

Apostates are so tricky they even use the society's own publications, unaltered and directly downloaded from the the WT's website. Tricky little criminals

sir82

Someone posted here a few days back that you can count placements of "epub" electronic versions of books and magazines, according to the December 2012 Kingdom Misery.

That seems to at least give tacit approval to online witnessing.

biblecheck

Thanks sir82 found that December 2012 KM here You're right, it states ... "Each time you give someone who is not baptized a electronic book, brochure, or magazine, you may count it as a placement."

(below is a cut and paste from page 5 of the KM...)

Direct People to the Web Site:
Some who hesitate to converse with us or accept literature are willing to investigate Jehovah’s Witnesses by looking at jw.org in the privacy of their home. So publicize the Web site at every appropriate opportunity.

Answer Questions: At times a householder, an interested person, or an acquaintance will ask a question about Jehovah’s Witnessesor our beliefs. Show him the answer on the spot, using a mobile device or a computer. It is often best to read the cited scriptures directly from the Bible.If you do not have ready access to the Internet, explain how the person can use jw.org to ?nd the answer himself.—Go to“Bible Teachings/Bible Questions Answered”or “About Us/Frequently Asked Questions.”

Send an Article or a Publication to Some-one You Know: Attach a downloaded PDF or an EPUB to an e-mail. Or download an audio version of a publication onto a CD. Each time you give someone who is not baptized a electronic book, brochure, or magazine, you may count it as a placement. Material should not be sent anonymously or in bulk. Neither should it be uploaded to any other Internet Web site — Go to “Publications.”

Show the Latest News About Jehovah’s Witnesses:This will help Bible students andothers you are calling on to develop apprecia-tion for the worldwide scope of our work and our Christian unity.(Ps.133:1)—Goto “News.”

DesirousOfChange

Apostates are so tricky they even use the society's own publications, unaltered and directly downloaded from the the WT's website. Tricky little criminals.

Witnessing online

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