"The preaching work would have to be organized"

by Check_Your_Premises 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Check_Your_Premises

  I think witness often confuse the subject of "organized" or "order" with human concepts of these words. For instance a forest might look highly random in it's placement of trees. On the other hand, the trees are placed according to very hard and certain rules that decide where a tree can receive enough water, light, and nutrients to survive. Or what of clouds?

  The point is that what looks like disorder to a limited human mind, is actually perfectly ordered to a omnipotent being.

  Complexity does not equal disorder.

  Their textbook example of organized is their preaching work. Everyone walking around, knocking on doors, saying the same thing appears to be ordered. But is it adequate? Is it sufficiently complex? Does it handle the case of the 12 year old girl who has been sold into sexual slavery in the slums of Mumbai. That girl does not need a friggin pamphlet and a study. She needs someone to get her the hell out of there before she is going to be able to take stories of hope and forgiveness seriously. Christ often addressed the physical needs of people without EVER mentioning the spiritual needs. See Matthew 8. There are folks doing that sort of work. They are not witnesses.

  So you see a complex job like spreading the word does not require a distant, spiritual politburo to direct all those mindless drones as to how to conduct such an endeavor. Rather it is a grass roots effort that requires the local knowledge, freedom, and perfect guidance that can only come from an all knowing Holy Spirit.

  The wt efforts look silly in comparison.
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  M.J.

  Furthermore, Witnesses limit the term "organized" to fit in their 20th century corporate America definition. Heck, even their corporate charter fulfilled a 2500 year old prophecy!

  If the level of organization and cohesiveness in a group is a measure of God's involvement, then Toyota is one of the most Godly corporations in the world.
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  blondie

  Even though the WTS says it is "organized" in the preaching work, they admit they cannot reach every person, they can't even keep up with the birth rate.

  Blondie
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  Finally-Free

  Does it handle the case of the 12 year old girl who has been sold into sexual slavery in the slums of Mumbai. That girl does not need a friggin pamphlet and a study. She needs someone to get her the hell out of there before she is going to be able to take stories of hope and forgiveness seriously.

  And how many JWs, if they knew of such a situation, would lift a finger to help? It's so much more convenient to say that "Jehover will deal with it in his own time."

  Their "ministry" requires little effort on their part. 90% of the doors they knock on are unanswered. Few JWs knock on these unanswered doors for a full hour before they run for the nearest Tim Hortons in need of a break.

  W
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  Narkissos

  I think witness often confuse the subject of "organized" or "order" with human concepts of these words.; For instance a forest might look highly random in it's placement of trees. ; On the other hand, the trees are placed according to very hard and certain rules that decide where a tree can receive enough water, light, and nutrients to survive. ; Or what of clouds?

  The point is that what looks like disorder to a limited human mind, is actually perfectly ordered to a omnipotent being.

  Slightly off-topic, I couldn't read the above lines without a (friendly) atheist's smile. Most "natural" things which do work together, thrive along and against one another, and which we find awe-inspiring do "look highly random". As if they had found their place and function by themselves, at random. What if they really were as they look?

  If there is a God he does play dice, and the WT high-controlling organisation doesn't look like his "work". This dissonance of nature and corporate organisation really struck me when I was leaving the WT.

  And if there is no God... it's a fake all the more.
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  Elsewhere

  If a JW told me that I would simply ask him "Why does it have to be organized?"

  Hell, look at Islam... they have absolutely no organized proselytizing and they are the #1 fastest growing religion in the world.

  According to the 2004 statistics in the US**, a JW must preach 4886.3 hours to baptize one person. That means that if a JW went out in FS for 10 hours a month (Above national average) he would have to preach for 40.7 YEARS to baptize ONE person.... Moslems don't spend any time in any kind of preaching work and have no organize effort.

  ** http://www.watchtower.org/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm
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  coolhandluke

  I have always even from a young child had a problem with the condemnatory nature of Jehovah's Witnesses in the context of others doing the work of community service or charitable assistance. I hate how preaching is seen as the higher moral ground as if preaching solves all social ills.

  "Come, be one of us. All of your problems will disappear in the spriritual paradise."

  Wait, wait, I feel a rant comming on. Spiritual paradise? WTF?!? It never felt like paradise in the kingdom hall with the clichishness or the nepotism. Aren't liars supposed to have a portion in the lake of fire? Why did you just lie to me? Shouldn't you burst into flames? Okay sorry. We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
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  Honesty

  Rather it is a grass roots effort that requires the local knowledge, freedom, and perfect guidance that can only come from an all knowing Holy Spirit.

  The wt efforts look silly in comparison.

  The average dub would stink his pants up if he knew why/how the autonomous churches of Christianity are growing. The WT effort has no organisation to it other than a high profile sales pitch of a pipe dream that will never ever take place.
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  M.J.

  Going along w/ Honesty's thought, China's evangelical Christianity is experiencing tremendous growth, without a centralized, human chain-of-command type of orgainzed effort at all. Instead, it's underground, in homes, and very informal.

  http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37202

  An "organized" effort in China, a la WTS-style marketing program, is zilch...
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  AK - Jeff

  The entire use of the word 'Organization', is IMHO, just a part of the major mind-washing that has to happen to keep the JW going.

  Jesus efforts at preaching seem to bear no semblance to JW style. He intermixed and intermingled with people, aided them in material and health issues as he spead his message of hope, not in a group, religion, or denoninational way of thought, but in Him as the Christ. Paul and Peter seemed to have entirely different takes on how to do the preaching work, and there was no central corp directing.

  I think Russell had it right at least in this one point when he stated;

  Beware of "organization." It is wholly unnecessary

  . The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others' consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God's Word to-day, and so continue growing in grace and knowledge and love day by day…What shall be our Standard by which we may know the truth and prove it? We answer, The Word of God "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect [-ed in knowledge and conduct], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [2 Timothy 3:16,17] Zion’s Watchtower September 15, 1895 Page 216

  Jeff