*** How goes the "Keep On The Watch campaign? ***

by truthseeker 6 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  truthseeker

  I thought this campaign was different from the last few campaigns the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society has organized.

  First of all, there was no REAL build up to this campaign - it received very little attention.

  Just a scant comment in the KM about the 30 day preaching campaign and that is all.

  In 1995/6, when we had the brochure, "Will All People Ever Love One Another", there was a build up of enthusiam.

  Brothers and sisters were told that they were not allowed to even SEE the brochure until it was time to give them out.

  As we left the exit doors then, ministerial servants would distribute a batch of 25 to each publisher to place.

  We felt IMPORTANT. We felt SPECIAL. We felt that the WHOLE WORLD had to hear what we had to tell them.

  Fast forward to 2004, and here are some interesting quotes from E-Watchman's forum on this decidely SELECT campaign...

  but before that, if you have the brochure, notice that where the WT talks about the destruction of false religion, the United Nations is not even mentioned ONCE!!! Political governments will destory Babylong the Great, not the United Nations.

  http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/viewtopic.php?t=891

  What does everybody think about this brochure work?
  
  Our congregation has been told:
  
  Stop current territory coverage.
  Get new coverage
  Give brochure only if householder shows interest and says he/she will read it.
  Do not keep track of not at homes...Leave short tract to show we were there.
  Cover the entire territory from Oct 18 - Nov 18
  
  Here is the table of contents for those who have not read it. We got it at the conventions.
  
  Keep On The Watch
  Where Is This World Heading?
  What Does It All Mean?
  Where Is Your Life Heading?
  'The Hour of Judgment' Has Arrived
  A New World According to God's Promise
  Paying Attention Saved Their Lives
  "They Took No Note"
  "That You May Not Enter Into Temptation"
  "Above All Things. Have Intense Love"
  Help To Understand The Bibble

  http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/viewtopic.php?t=891&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=15

  I'm just going to mention some interesting feedback from the brothers in my congregation regarding this campaign.
  
  Many brothers have mentioned that they felt the brochure was more applicable to the brotherhood and congregations rather than members of the public. I too would agree with that view.
  
  For example, just consider page 14 'Would it make a difference if you knew?'
  
  pages 24-27 'That you may not enter into temptation'.
  
  pages 28-31 'Above all things have intense love".
  
  Although there are sound reasons for publishing a brochure like this, there are a number of points which I will find it hard to present to those in the territory.
  
  page 3 - Religious scene - Our record as JW is not unblemished, we too have a real problem with child abuse and cover-ups, as well as a decline in attendance and participation in our worship - why point the finger readily at other churches, suggesting we have not been affected?
  
  page 12 - 'The hour of judgment has arrived' - the usual argument about Babylon the Great, outlining how she has shameless luxury and vast commercial holdings, immorality rampant among the clergy and laity, teachings and practices of an organization that mark it as part of Babylon the Great. Additionally, it mentions how Babylon the Great has prostituted herself to the world and its political systems.
  
  But is our "house" so pure? Has not the WTBTS a vast amount of assets and land, with business interests? Has there not been an 'alliance' with the interests of the UN as an NGO , thereby prostituting itself with a political organization? Does not the Watchtower insist the 1914 doctrine is infallible, even though it has been inherited from Christendom, a part of Babylon the Great?
  
  For deep thinking individuals of the public who may be familiar with our beliefs in addition to the 'bad' publicity regarding the conduct of the WTBTS in recent years, some of the condemnatory points made in this brochure will be hard to swallow.
• 

  hubert

  Do you mean the Watchtower Society is REALLY starting to "come clean"?
• 

  nilfun

  Many brothers have mentioned that they felt the brochure was more applicable to the brotherhood and congregations rather than members of the public. I too would agree with that view.

  I agree also. A short bit from the "would it make a difference if you knew" section:

  If you knew for sure that the impending execution of divine judgment would not come for a few more years, would that change how you are using your life? If the end of this old system is already later than you expected, have you allowed this to slow you down in Jehovah's service?

  I think John/Jane Q. Public is going to read that and go "huh?"
• 

  Jez

  My mother sent the brochure. I too found it a cheap way for the society to hit both the general public as well as their congregations. Why produce 2 brochures when you can do one? What happens is, the general public will be baffled, and the congregation will be bored because it is the same ol stuff.

  "Are your choices leading you to where you really want to go?" Page 10 and 11 asks a zillion questions. Very personal questions. I can't see the point in asking them??

  I think they know ppl are getting pissed about waiting for the new system, 'just around the corner', 'any time now' because on page 14, they preach to existing JW's and state "If you knew for sure that the impending execution of divine judgment would not come for a few more years, would that change how you are using your life? If the end of this old system is already later than you expected, have you allowed this to slow you down in Jehovah's service? Our not knowing the exact time gives us opportunity to show that we serve God out of pure motives. True Christians want to live and serve Jehovah forever. That prospect is not less precious because they must wait for certain blessings a little longer than some may have expected."

  A little damage control to the masses and perhaps scare a few new ones or fence sitters back into action. What a load of crap. I hope some see through this.

  Jez
• 

  truthseeker

  How do we know that these Special Campaigns (TM) aren't a way to simply reinforce the general JW belief that they are somehow special, God's people etc.

  Give the dubs something IMPORTANT to do, and it may, just may reinforce their belief that the end is near.

  Steve Hassan's book on Cults, says that many cult leaders try and make their members feel that they are somehow special, that they have the whole world on their shoulders. Consequently, this way of thinking allows little time for personal development and hobbies, and plenty of time for warning the masses.
• 

  ezekiel3

  Truthseeker is correct on all counts. Our congregation has received the same direction. Most publishers are puzzled by the "work all territories in the month period" concept.

  Supposedly we will do the not-at-homes after the campaign (but there are already other publication offers slated for that time??).

  The November 2004 Kingdom Ministry states that Keep on the Watch! will be next up for the book study meeting (beginning 23 May 2005).

  Also in the same KM: further directions on calling back on those who took the brochure: basically the same RV and Bible Study procedure. Also JWs are encouraged to study and discuss only the "first half" (my term) of the brochure and then move to the Require brochure for a regular study. This is interesting because the "last half" of Keep on the Watch is tailored for the standard JW asleep at the wheel - not very encouraging for a newly interested person.

  What's really news is the lack of motivation among JWs for this campaign. I keep asking around for experiences and coming up dry.

  I do believe the JW propaganda machine is in deep...and I'm not talking about the end of the system here.
• 

  Room 215

  Many brothers have mentioned that they felt the brochure was more applicable to the brotherhood and congregations rather than members of the public. I too would agree with that view.

  I agree also. A short bit from the "would it make a difference if you knew" section:

  If you knew for sure that the impending execution of divine judgment would not come for a few more years, would that change how you are using your life? If the end of this old system is already later than you expected, have you allowed this to slow you down in Jehovah's service?

  I think John/Jane Q. Public is going to read that and go "huh?" This is a pattern that is quite consistent; for about two decades, it seems the WTBTS has turned inward on itself-- notice for example how the Sunday talks -- one for the public and for which the speakers were cautioned not to use ``theocratic" jargon unfamiliar to the non-witness -- and devoted to subjects of broad interest -- are now like the ``do more" service talks to the initiated that Bethelites used to deliver on the Saturday nights preceding their publi talk assignments. ``Huh" is also likely to be the most common reaction of anyone of John Q. Public who ventures beyond the front cover of any Watchtower before it winds up in the recycle bin.