The challenge is getting the dubs to really listen and obey.
The rank and file have to stay busy, they cannot be left with time on their hands. Look at what's happened, assemblies are shorter, meetings have been whittled down, some publishers can be active with just 30 minutes of field service and the hour requirements for pioneers are easy compared to those of 30 years ago.
Now look at the results, stagnation and shrinkage in most of the territories that once were so productive. Easing up on the publishers has caused weakness within the congregations. Members enjoy more of what the world has to offer and are less inclined to blindly follow. In other words, they ain't as gung ho as they used to be and they sure don't make the sacrifices that were made years ago. The widdows mite has been reduced to leftovers.
Growth in numbers was always used as an indicator of jehovah's blessing, so if it's easier and less demanding to be a witness then maybe growth will continue. Well maybe, but at what cost? Today, giving away magazines full of pretty pictures has replaced hauling around a gramaphone or taking part in an information march. Enthusiasm is low. Now break times are the most enjoyable part of field service. Scrapping the bookstudy and saying that time should be spent in personal study is a joke to all but the most devoted.
Making the dubs theocratic life easier is like taking an athlete off the treadmill and sitting him on a couch with a bag of chips and the TV remote.
Many witnesses today are soft, they don't listen, they don't know their Bibles and they love much of what the world has to offer.
Obedience comes through sacrifice.
You can have a large group of so-so followers or a small band of zealots. Both groups existing together in the same organization won't work very well. I think this is where the JWs are right now.
The zealots think the so-so ones are weak, half hearted and maybe even a threat due to their misplaced priorities and lack of appreciation. The band of so-so jws think the zealots are too extreme, dogmatic even cold. There's no way they would want to be like them. Clique vs Clique.
The WT is a high control group who believe they are speaking for god. You wouldn't question god so you mustn't question them.
Here's the way I see it...
Watch out for a charismatic leader emerging, someone fairly young with the ability to electrify and galvanize an audience. Sure he'll deny at first that he's the leader but behind the scenes he'll push his agenda through and surround himself with people who are street smart, savy and know the machinations of the organization. These also enjoy the feeling of power that the leader bestows upon them. He'll be quite ruthless and tolerate no equals because he really believes that he has been chosen and raised up given the task of cleaning the organization.
The days of cloistered old men ruling by committee are over.
There will be a purge.
New hard line policies will emerge such as a total and complete ban on blood and it's associated byproducts, bye bye fractions. An absolute zero tolerance for apostates and those showing weakness or questioning. Limiting internet exposure. However the WT will have sites for instruction featuring the best of the best teachers with great high tec visuals. Viewing their top notch presentations will be both compelling and manditory. Also if you don't have their JW filter installed on your computer you must be up to no good, and you can forget about social networks. There will be no cover up of pedophiles, they are the lowest of the low. They will be exposed and wear a figurative scarlet P for thre rest of their lives. (So it's not all bad) Committees will always remain secret, punishment will be harsh for the sake of the brotherhood and lawyers will find ways of exposing "sinners" without incuring liability.
Everything in life, even recreation and fun activities will be oriented towards the organization. Outside interests and associations will not be discouaged they will be forbidden for the faithfull. The congregation MUST be kept clean at all costs.
It will become harder to lead the double life. The so-so JWs will either turn away in disgust or get the boot.
The zealous will become more zealous and callolus. Even little sister humble will turn her back on those who don't give 100%. It may break her heart that we're not with her but she must follow the organization no matter what the cost.
So the numbers shrink... but that's a good thing..."the love of the greater number is cooling off" Scripture fulfilled. Solid evidence that jehovah is with the WT and smiles upon it's leader.
Remaining Dubs will still be kept very busy. Tactics to get face time with people may become more extreme, think of an updated version of Judge Rubberfarts sound cars or WBBR. As strategies for spreading the truth become more annoying, worldly folks will offer up more resistance, how well this plays into their inflated persecution complex!
Magazines will be scaled way back. Instead a phone or some other hand held device could be used to get people instantly on line and experience the dynamic and captivating message of the latter-day moses and crew. (Those at the top really believe that they have the divine right to lead)
Meetings and assemblies will be longer but not as boring. Technology will bring wonderful presentations of the new world, the resurrection, life everlasting along with the images of the men in charge, their booming voices spewing persuasive rhetoric. Sister Humble will melt, brother Wannabe will covet the power.
There will always be people who want to be led, to be told what to do and reassured that they will be rewarded. There will also be followers who want power over other followers.
There will also emerge a "Big Dog", the alpha - Il Duce, the Boss.
He's coming, maybe he's already here. And the followers? They'll always be around as long as he keeps telling them what to do. Where else would they go?
