It was never, ever, a warning work, was it?

by jambon1 25 Replies latest jw friends

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  jambon1

  Most witnesses I knew were exteeemly reluctant to go out in the ministry. But when they did, they were simply scraping by, eager to avoid conflict and just do their hour or so speaking to lonely old ladies or widowed old men. Placing magazines in a car group, doing route calls, plodding along in the utter boredom of their responsibility to get some time on a report by the last day of the month.

  This was NEVER a warning work. At no point did you ever see the urgency that they'd speak about at assemblies etc. Warning people of gods judgment and their need to repent and get baptised, like those who saw a house burning and how they'd draw the comparison with how you'd rush around screaming, warning, doing everything possible to save lives.

  The witness work was a tepid, ridiculous charade that people went through.

  Do they really believe that the work they're doing involves the eternal lives of each person they find?

  If they do, they're shit at it.
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  nicolaou

  True. If, as rumours suggest, the nature of the ministry is to be changed to a warning message I can only imagine how much more demoralised JWs will become.
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  HereIgo

  It was never a warning work. When I was in, I was pioneering, but looking back I was extremely unproductive. I spent 90 hours a month basically bullshitting, excuse my language. I had one failed bible study and spent my mornings handing out magazines at gas stations and knocking on doors hoping no one would answer. I never truly felt that urgency, I just was trying to look good so I could climb the ladder. That was the case with most dubs I knew. I personally didn't know anyone that was truly zealous and sincere.
  
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  The Searcher

  For most J.W.'s, the priority was to clock enough hours for the monthly report - any "interest" was a surprising bonus.

  Every Auxiliary Pioneer is asked by fellow Witnesses, "Have you done your hours yet?". I've never heard an A.P. asked, "Have you started any Bible Studies this month."

  APathy is ever-present - and growing.
  
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  joe134cd

  Yup I can agree with what's been said.
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  snugglebunny

  It was certainly a warning work in the build up to 1975. The old adage re the burning house was used over and over when people objected to the frequency of witnesses calls.
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  zeb

  so warning warning warning woe the world then I go to my first wt/kh meeting come away thinking what the hell was that about.?
  
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  Black Sheep

  It was an urgent warning work when I was a kid. Now, the same people that taught me that, deny they said that and bash my character for bringing it up.
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  Xanthippe

  The witness work was a tepid, ridiculous charade that people went through.

  Actually it wasn't for me. I really meant it. Perhaps that's why I don't feel so frustrated that I've totally wasted the first thirty years of my life. At least I lived authentically and when I realised the religion wasn't about love or caring about peoples' survival that helped me to leave.

  I'm not the only one who feels this way but sometimes we feel bad admitting we really believed it and tried to help people. We shouldn't feel bad IMO because always living authentically shines a light on bullshit and helps you, eventually, avoid it.
  
  
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  notsurewheretogo

  I'm of the opinion that 60-70% know, or act like, it is not really the truth and the "the end" will not come in their lifetime yet it is a social environment that they are in that would destroy them if they left.

  Thus, 60%-70% of each cong just does their bit...an hour here or an hour there...goes to a meeting etc...the rest maybe believe it more and are pioneers/elders and put a bit more urgency in but let us be honest...and I used to make this point in elder meetings when I was in...IF it is the truth why isn't everyone a pioneer and busting their guts? Surely a few years doing that to show almighty jehoover you love him is the best way to do so to get back everlasting life?

  The fact many do not shows they don't really believe it to that extent. And therein comes the lack of urgency.

  Honestly, how many in your old cong can answer, without reference, how they get to 1914 using the bible? Very few, they do not know their own doctrines well enough...it is a way of life, a social group...closed...that is the attraction rather than the religion itself.