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.
No problem Mumma, always happy to answer questions
To put it VERY basically (not that I think you wouldn't understand, LOL), the Bible teaches that Jehovah only accepts worship according to His standards - so, not every religion is created equal ITMS. He gave Moses 10 Commandments for His people to follow. But, when Jesus came to Earth, he found that the supposed 'spiritual leaders' of the day had corrupted Jehovah's teachings to the extent that they were a burden on the people. They used their positions to take the best of everything, while adding to the people's spiritual responsibilities and making them 'groan and suffer'. That's why Jesus taught first his apostles, and then the disciples, to go to the people and preach about Jehovah's Kingdom - because they were being misled.
Obviously this is going to get into a very emotive area, and I want to take care not to offend anyone. The prevailing attitude today is that as long as you're a good person, and you don't do bad things, and you worship God in your own way, you're alright. Or sometimes I hear that all religions are just different sides to the same coin. The reason we continue to preach from door to door is because we have learned from the bible that that is not true, Jehovah is very specific about the kind of worship that He accepts - and how would anyone know if nobody told them?
Again, I do not want to offend anyone with the above paragraph - it is simply the answer to the question
No offense taken and I truly appreciate your reply
I am one that has taken the train of thought that if I live my life a good person, worship my god in my way, Baptise my children etc then I have done what I need to.
I remember having a conversation with a girl that told me that if I didn't become a JW and worship their way, door knock etc then I wouldn't be resurrected the day Jesus returns....apparently he will only resurrect the JW's.....I had a real problem with this because to me it seems that unless I throw myself into the JW life, including donations etc - I am putting myself and my family at risk of not being accepted by God when we die....
To me, it's scare tactics that prey on those that are fearful of death and dying....
It's such a personal thing spiritual worship - I'd hate to do it just because I was weak enough to believe that this was the only way I would be saved.....
Anyway, thank you again for being a doll and explaining it to me
When I was younger that's how I understood it Mumma - the whole 'you have to be a JW or you're going to die' idea. As I get older I start to realise there are many shades of grey. For instance, what if someone has never heard of JW's? What if someone's only experience with JW's is horrible? What if someone stops being a JW because of something done by another JW? As I said - so many shades of grey.
At the end of the day, Jehovah will look at heart conditions. Nobody on this earth can tell you the state of your heart condition, most would struggle to truly know their own. I'm glad it's Jehovah making the decisions, not me
That's a lovely way to look at it Berenice. I would truly think not many people walking this Earth can honestly look into themselves and say they've lived the perfect life according to God/Jesus/Jehovah/Allah etc - not even holy figures such as priests.......
I honestly believe when the time comes God will look at our hearts, not which religion we are practicing. We are ALL children of God. Berenice, bless you hun for answering all these questions, I didn't mean to make you work so hard .
I came back to delete my comment, but was too slow.
My question was genuine as someone previously said "all the good work JWs do", and i haven't heard of any charitable stuff (like the salvos or Smith Family) and so that's why i asked.
I have issue with a number of religions, not just the JWs, so nothing personal against you. I shouldn't have posted anyway, it was out of line in this thread.
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