Jehovah's Witnesses are Reasonable - Not All or Nothing
Posted: Monday, November 29, 2010
by Scott Wolfenden
WinMentalHealth.com
Jehovah's Witnesses are most widely known for their public preaching work, notably, their house to house ministry. However, many who are not familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses don't realize that the house to house mnistry is just one aspect of their public ministry. Jehovah's Witnesses also spend time conducting free home Bible studies with millions. This is available to people regardless if they want to or plan to convert. It is available to anyone who wants to learn more about the Bible.
Varying Levels of Participation and Committment are Accepted
Participation in the activity of Jehovah's Witnesses is not all-or-nothing. People enjoy and benefit from contact with the Witness Bible education work on all levels. Some read the Witness literature and derive benefit from articles on family life, raising children, or health articles on depression, mental health, many different facets of life are covered by Witness literature.
Others occasionally visit the Kingdom Hall and others come only once a year and are always made to feel welcome. Many associate regularly, and some choose to serve as missionaries, or in other aspects of full-time ministry. All is voluntary, and persons can participate in the full-time ministry for as long or short a period of time that they want to. "Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
Monetary Contributions at Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses
This is true of monetary contributions as well. At meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses there is no collection plate, not tithing or mandatory contributions. While it does take money to print Bibles and Bible literature, to send out missionaries and to maintain a place of worship, money is not emphasized at meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, and perhaps, once a year, a reminder about the value of monetary contributions may be mentioned in a talk or Bible study article in the Witness magazines. This follows the pattern in the Bible where the issue of money for the early Christian congregation is discussed in several places in the Bible, but not emphasized.
Elders and the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
Elders in the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses do not have a single pastor who presides over the "church," but a body of elders, which can be from one to twenty, an unlimited number, of men, who qualify for this priviledge. See 1 Timothy 3:1-13. It is a voluntary work, an elder can step down, with no reprecussions, if he feels it is too much for him, or take a break from his duties for a period of time, as many have, to again serve when they are able. Also, elders are not paid for their work or financially compensated in any way.
The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, and all who work at the headquarters in Brooklyn and other locations, receive a small allowance for living expenses, but take a vow of poverty, which ensures that no one will be in any way personally enriched by the work that is dedicated to God.
Participation in the Evangelizing Ministry of Jehovah's Witnesses
Similarly, some Jehovah's Witnesses are able to, or choose to, participate in the full-time ministry, the public Bible education work, others do so on a very limited basis. It is a personal choice. But, all are encouraged to imitate Jesus example of sharing the Bible's message with others. However there is no "punishment" or discipline for those who don't, there is no hour requirement. It is truly voluntary. As a Jehovah's Witnesses for many years, I can say truthfully, that the preaching work that we engage in is a joy and pleasure. No one has to push us to do it, we genuinly enjoy it, and wish we had more time to do more.
As it is we work secularly during the week, and spend some time on the weekends preaching, but it is the cream of our life, rather than a burden. As Jehovah's Witnesses, we try to imitate the Apostle Paul and other zealous evangelizers and preach, not for a limited number of years, but for our entire lifetime, while supporting ourselves with secular work, even as Paul and other early Christians did.
The Widow's Mite and Her Whole-Souled Contribution
Jehovah's Witnesses, then, recognize that there are different levels of committment, different abilities and circumstances, and frequently use the example of the "widow's mite," who was able to give very little, but who Jesus commended, because she gave with her whole heart. This example helps those who are limited with the time they might like to spend in various forms of worship, but whose worship God accepts completely, because it is with the whole heart.
This is the attitude in the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses, contrary to what some opposers try to depict. No one is pressured to preach or do more than they can, it is acceptable to God in any amount, when it is from the heart. Worship, then, as practiced by Jehovah's Witnesses, isn't all-or-nothing, and there is emphasis on handling things reasonably on all levels.
For accurate information on Jehovah's Witnesses please visit www.knocking.org which gives the reader a good idea of the history, practices and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, unglossed, from a non-Witness source. www.jw.org provides free Bible, Bible literature, Christian music, and other downloads.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)I have admiration for how committed Jehovah's witnesses are in their house to house missionary work. It can't be easy.
This is more of a question, than a comment. How would someone believing slightly differently be treated by the rest of Jehovah's Witnesses? Example - let's say that someone believed that Jesus did not pre-exist, but that he is nevertheless a special man, central in God's purposes - God's messiah. Would such a person feel "at home" in the group?
David Gray
David, in answer to your very good question, First, there is a difference between believing slightly differently and teaching in the congregation something different than the doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses or trying to create your own sub-group. Believing and teaching or causing divisions are two different things among Christians.
In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the Apostle Paul encourages Christians, "Now I exhort YOU, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that YOU should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among YOU, but that YOU may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought."
The Bible encouraged Christians to have unity and not to cause divisions. For example, in the Baptist Church, there is First Baptist, Second Baptist, all different divisions of the Baptist religion, mainly because of slight differences in practices or belief. So, with Jehovah's Witnesses its not like that.
However, there is no "though police" among Jehovah's Witnesses if someone has a slightly different comprehension of the Bible.
Also, to be a Jehovah's Witness means you accept the Bible as the Word of God. Jesus said, "Your Word is truth". So on a question such as Jesus' pre-existence, Jehovah's Witnesses would go back to the Bible. In John 8:28, it states, Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been." So Jehovah's Witnesses would let the Scriptures answer basic questions of doctrine rather than promulgate personal ideas.
However, individually, Bible principles are highlighted in the Watchtower and Jehovah's Witness publications, but it is up to each individual how they will use that information, it is not so strict and allows for considerable variation in individual application of Bible principles. Jehovah's Witnesses try to pattern their manner in the same way as the first century Christians.
I hope that answers your question. Good question.
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