JW - Door knocking - how does it work?

[Bathsheba]

Thanks for your perspective Berenice. I understand the "matter of life or death" issue.... I firmly believe that too many people neglect their spiritual well being... but the door knocking thing does, I have to admit, annoy me. But I am in two minds. Does it cross the line of what is respectful? People should be able to find sanctuary from the world, to a certain degree, in their own homes. People need to know that at home they can shower/ be intimate with their partners/ breast feed a baby/ grieve a loved one/ meditate/ have heated discussion with a partner etc etc etc and be fairly guaranteed that it won't be interrupted. I take the phone off the hook quite often here to this ends... but when somebody knocks on the door I find it very hard not to answer. I find it stressful to ignore... brings back memories of listening to my drunken stepfather being locked out at night by my mother for example. So I just answer it and get it over and done with. I have answered the door to JWs and accepted their magazines (and read them) but I did say that we attended another church and don't require ongoing help... and tried to do it with grace despite having just put down my baby for a sleep and hearing him cry... I can see both sides... but personally, knowing that I do try to look after my eternal soul by following the teachings of the Bible I would prefer to be able to chose the right moment to focus fully on the Lord and not have that moment chosen for me.... but then again maybe that's not how it should work! Not intending to be disrespectful to the largely good work the JWs do.

[meow]

Does it cross the line of what is respectful?

I think it does- for the same reasons you have said about home being a person's sancutuary and I think that should be respected. My MIL is a JW and when she joined the church she said she would never door knock. The scriptures that discuss going out and telling everyone to spread the word are too compelling for her though so she door knocks now too. I just wish they could "spread the word" in a public place. I expect to be swamped with information at a mall for example but I detest having advertising of any nature brought to my home without my consent. I've had this dicussion with her though and I think she said the scripture actually says to go house to house - is that right Berenice?

ETA: I found this info which details the scriptures...
The Bible says that: "Every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus." (Acts 5:42)

The apostle Paul was a fine example to the early christians and us as he was also active in the house-to-house ministry. He says at Acts 20:20, "I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house."

[Bathsheba]

Yes, I was aware that it does say explicitly to go from house to house... thanks for posting the exact words Meow. This is why I am in two minds. The way it is worded though is more of a description rather than a command though isn't it? Or am I quibbling with words? I really don't want to be disrespectful to BB's JW community though... so I think it would be wise to choose our words carefully.

I just know that home visits have come at terribly inconvenient times though... it was a shame... if they weren't so unpredictable i could probably welcomed them in for a chat and a cuppa.... does not the unsolicited nature of the house calling work against them? Thinking aloud here...

[Indadhanu]

You can say what times work best for you though... Don't JWs usually have a 'section' of the area that the witness in?

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Not quite sure what you mean Leasha? We have maps that we work off, and we also have congregational boundaries, but neither of those affect the time we call. If you would prefer another time just ask the person who calls on you, and hopefully they will be able to call back at that time - but it wouldn't be noted on any map or secret file or anything, it'd just be between yourself and the person calling on you.

Have I misunderstood L?

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

LOL Bath, its so difficult to try and get everyone at their perfect time y'know? In the summertime we have special witnessing groups that go out around 5.30-6.00, to catch people coming home from work that we wouldn't normally catch at normal times. Great for them, not so great for SAHM's, families, etc. Which is why we do so many different types of witnessing, and go at different times - to catch as many people as possible with our message

[Mummato2]

Berenice can I ask a question without it sounding seemingly rude?

I've always been curious about the JW way - and wonder why they don't just let people choose to go to church if they want to worship rather than go to their homes?

I have one girl that comes around month in month out and I have to be honest - I get very jack of it......I am Anglican and I go to church. I would never think to knock on someone's door and ask that they come to my place of worship - and keep coming back if they register the slightest interest.

Perhaps it's the world we live in now that doesn't place the same level of importance on spirituality - but I just think that if someone wants to worship, they'll do it on their own terms.

I hope I didn't offend - I am genuinely interested in why JW's are different to every other religion in this respect.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Yes, it does actually say house to house. That's how Jesus instructed the apostles to do it, to go in pairs to each house and speak to the people inside. Earlier in the 1900's, JW's didn't actually do the preaching themselves, they would walk around wearing sandwich boards or go from house to house with a portable phonograph and press play on a pre-recorded message. It is considerably harder to go from door to door, not knowing who is going to answer or what their reaction will be. Interestingly Bath, I have heard so many stories of people who were going through a very hard time, stories of people who had just learned of a loved one's death who felt compelled to answer the door to find JW's on the other side - and 90% of the time, have been comforted by what we've been able to show them from the Bible.

I met a young man last weekend, who came to our Sunday meeting for the first time, because the day before he had been called on and invited. He told me that when he heard the knock at the door, he had been making himself a noose to hang himself, because he just couldn't cope any more. He ignored the knock the first time, but then they knocked again, so he answered it. He stood at the door talking to the JW's on the other side for 2 hours, asking questions and just talking about Jehovah. Even if that young man doesn't become a JW, it's absolutely amazing to realise the power the Bible can have for people, the comfort it can bring.

We also do public witnessing, in parks, in shopping centres, in carparks, in letters, on the phone. We do business witnessing as well, and train/bus witnessing. We're very adaptable people Although I'm not so good at other types of witnessing, I prefer house to house.

ETA - Bath, if you would prefer them to come at a different time, just ask them! They'll be more than happy if there's something you wanted to discuss. Either that, or you and I can have 'virtual coffee' and Bible discussion one day

[Bathsheba]

I've seen public transport witnessing work to good effect... pairs of JW fellows striking up conversations with people who figure that they might as well have a chat as they didn't have anything better to do on their way home from work. I have no doubt that there are many success stories of JWs coming to people's doors just at the right moment... sadly for me not the case... 80% of the time as a SAHM I am desperately lonely and up for a chat (which is why I get on BB so often) but 20% I just don't want to be interrupted... I wonder why it's had to be that way? Hint: JWs probably shouldn't call after about 4pm... this is the worst possible time for anyone at home with babies and young children... Breast feeding mums feed at all times but anyone that knocks on my door after 4pm is always given short shift as even now my kids are very tired and noisey. I guess if they have to do then between 10 am and 3pm would be best.

[HotI]

Does it cross the line of what is respectful? People should be able to find sanctuary from the world, to a certain degree, in their own homes.

I think it does cross the line. And i believe religious door knockers prey on those who are vulnerable.

Out of interest, what good work do the JWs do?

[rhyb]

At the top of our street is a JW church so they quite regularly do the lap of our street. As DF is religious but Im not they know us and remember the names of our childrenetc. They seem to be very nice people but not my cup of tea. Im respectful to them and they respect my lack of faith and dont expect DF to take the LOs to church with him (he has gone there before)

[Indadhanu]

Sorry... my head added more to that post but my fingers must not have been listening!
Yeah, like certain areas that you witness in. So you generally have the same person come to your door, so you can ask them to come back at a different time.

[Sopdet]

Is there a way of getting on a "do not visit" list because I have asked time and time again for them not to come to my door (yes I even have a sign up), that I'm pagan (oh how I love the "spawn of the devil" comments & they just don't get when I say that the devil is one of their's, not one of ours), that I'm not interested, that I don't want their literature etc.

I respect other religions, I just have an issue with religions that don't respect my beliefs.

[diannescruffy]

Sorry Sopdet but that is a bit harsh. The devil is the devil. In what way do they not respect your belief. Even though I am not interested they have NEVER ever pushed their beliefs on me, they do come in love. In God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Regards,
Dianne

[Indadhanu]

OT i know, but the devil isn't 'the devil' if you don't believe in a devil Dianne.

[Sopdet]

Sorry Sopdet but that is a bit harsh. The devil is the devil. In what way do they not respect your belief. Even though I am not interested they have NEVER ever pushed their beliefs on me, they do come in love. In God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Regards,
Dianne

Yeh but I don't believe in your god, or any god (ok there are a few gods and goddesses that have a place in my practising of my religion but not an "all encompassing" god) and as for the devil, yeh we have gods and goddesses that are darker than others but we don't have a "devil".

Because I have a non god believing religion, a lot of god based religions do push their beliefs on me.

I respect the belief systems others have in place, I don't question their reasoning of following that particular path.

And to throw a total spanner in the works, I am born of a Jewish mother and have Heathen (Asatru) on my father's side.

I grew up with friends who were JWs, I have been to "church" with them, same as I had friends growing up who were Mormons, Budhists, Muslems, Christians, Jew, Bahai etc I would attend their worship to find out more about their religion, I would ask questions etc. I'm open about my faith, so that people will ask questions. I go to midnight mass with some of my family, I respect their beliefs, just like they respect mine, they celebrate Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mid-Summers with me (they're not too sure on the whole being 6 months out from everybody else thing), still to get them to celebrate Samhain and Beltane with me but they're more "in your face" celebrations.

[skybie]

i open my door to JW's, i let them tell me what they have come to tell me, i answer their questions and just plain old talk to them.
I am not religious and follow no faith, but i do find the JW's very interesting and i like to learn.
unfortunately i grew up thinking u had to hide from the "bible bashers" and im glad that i have taken the time to speak to the JW's who often visit.
i had a young boy about 13 or 14 by the looks at my door the other weekend. he told me that god had an actual name and did i know what it was? he was VERY suprised when i answered his question correctly

[Toomanytoomany]

This thread is interesting to me as my daughter has just become a JW after marrying into the faith. I'm not really happy about it to be honest - the traditional gender roles, the opting out of public life (not voting, for instance), and the fact that she is being encouraged to go door knocking rather than earning a living... Yeah, not happy. But she's happy with it, and that's what I have to respect I guess.

(Oh, the "not happy" might also have something to do with the fact that my dh is an Anglican minister LOL.)

FWIW, we get JW's knocking at OUR door and it quite clearly says VICARAGE and we live next to the church! No, we are not converting any time soon, thank you very much!