Romans 10:15
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!
According to the National Council of American and Canadian Churches, in their yearbook report for 2011, the Jehovah's Witness membership was up 4.37% for the year 2010. That number was up from a growth of approximately 2% in 09. Mainline Christian denominations as a whole experienced no growth or even declined in membership in 2010. The Mormons grew around 2% as well in 2010 according to this report.
www.ncccusa.org/news/1
These statistics are not good news. But, in the grand scheme of God's design and plans, these things are to be.
My friend coordinates an outreach ministry where he goes into the neighborhoods surrounding our church sharing the gospel. A Romans 10:15 kind of thing. With vigor and in the same area, so do the Jehovah's Witnesses. Having some knowledge of their heretical beliefs and a New World Translation in case he bumps into or visits a house of a JW is beneficial.
So, with that in mind a few weeks ago I stopped by a Kingdom Hall to see if they would give me two copies of the New World Translations. I had been casing this place out weeks prior to actually pulling into the parking lot. Vowing, that when I passed by and saw vehicles parked in front, I would stop. Crazy, but in my mind, I was like a spy trying to find that perfect opening to slip behind enemy lines and slip out again unnoticed and unscathed. I know, too many, way too many war movies growing up. But I suppose it is a form of warfare, spiritual warfare. By the way, that parking lot has recently been expanded. An obvious sign that their membership is growing. Maybe, the numbers above are accurate after all. Not a good thing.
I prayed, then went in. I was greeted by four smiling friendly faces. I was a bit nervous. I felt as if I had walked into the belly of the beast. The plan was to ask for two copies of the NWT and scoot out quickly. No engaging in conversation. Just duc in and duc out. They asked if they could be of some assistance. After stumbling over a few unrecognisable words and introducing myself, I finally asked for a couple copies of the NWT. They told me that today was my lucky day. They had been out of the ones that they could freely give away and just received a shipment the previous day. I am thinking, thank you God for your providence. Not sure if I could have mustered up enough courage to come back.
So, they kindly gave me my copies and we began to talk. I began asking them questions about Watchtower ecclissiology. Specifically "their" individual rolls in evangelism.
There are three categories, generally, of JW's. These categories are divided by the amount of hours one goes door to door evangelising or "preaching" as they call it. Publishers, pioneers and auxiliary pioneers are required to spend approximately 30-50 hours a month "preaching" or doing bible studies with prospective converts. They call these bible studies, "book studies". I asked them if they were pioneers or publishers.
They were a little taken aback that I knew this. I didn't want them to shut down and run me off. I was praying that the conversation would not become combative and I could get to the gospel. So, I just continued to ask questions about their evangelism techniques.
They showed me a big map of the surrounding area on a wall near the entrance to their conference room. On this map were names given or assigned to strategically mapped out areas near where the JW's lived. Each JW was given the responsibility to spend 30-50 hours or more visiting homes, preaching, handing out Watchtower literature in their allocated areas. After each visit to a home they fill out cards (which they proudly showed me), that give a description of their visit and they then turn it in. I am not sure who gets the info. Chances are if you have been visited by a JW they have noted that visit in writing and filed somewhere. At least that is what these folks were doing at this specific Kingdom Hall.
Sad to say that this is an incredibly effective system they have. The many visits and the highly effective dumping of tons of demonic Watchtower literature into the homes of the unsuspecting and naive.
We finally sat down in their conference room. I apologised for taking up so much of their time. It appeared, as I was coming in, they were about to leave. They were in fact leaving. They met there to strategise and go out to propagate their false gospel in their assigned locals. I was simply making their job much easier that day, they said. I began to ask them questions about certain beliefs. Things that I had only read that a JW believes. I had no reason to doubt that what I had been reading and learning what they believe wasn't true. But hearing it straight from the horses mouth was something different all together. We talked and it was cordial. I let them know that in no way I agreed with their false doctrine and if they continued in this, they would be damned for eternity. I asked if I could share my belief in what the gospel truly is. With a little hesitation they agreed, and it would be fine. Before I started I couldn't help to be angry and saddened.
Angry because Satan is blinding and deceiving these people. But, all the while knowing, they are heaping to themselves doctrines they want to hear and consciously at some point rejecting the truth.
Angry because they are being used by Satan to drag, not only these families, but using them to go out in the communities to spew this filth and spew it effectively.
Angry because the stories they were telling me of professing Christians slamming the door in their face and having guns waved in their face, without offering any true gospel message.
Angry that untold generations of people, like the lady and her two children sitting across the table from me, are being dragged to hell as doors are being slammed in their face. I know, I know, I just stated that above. I guess I am repeating it twice for emphasis sake, kinda like the apostle Paul does on a couple of occassions.
Saddened because I use to slam the door with the best of 'em
I was saddened because I know that God has allowed us to participate in such a glorious thing by sharing and proclaiming the gospel and for the most part we are unwilling to participate.
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Saddened because we have the words of life and want to keep them for ourselves.
Saddened that some think that even without the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, they are still better than the cultist.
Saddened that somehow Christians forget that the people in cults are still created in the image of God. They still bear His image. The image of YOUR maker.
As I shared the gospel, much to my surprise they put up little resistance. They listened. I tried to shove as much truth in this gospel presentation coupled with scripture, in which I used my brand New World Translation.
Listen, that day I had no intentions of sharing the gospel with these people. For one, I feared getting "ganged up on". I mean there was four against one after all. I am so thankful that when I am weak He is strong.
That day I made it easy for them. I showed up to their door.
They make it easy for us. They show up at our door. I am not advocating that everyone should tangle theologically with a JW. Most of us don't know enough sound doctrine to explain it to a 3 year old. Some of these guys can twist the average christian into a pretzel quick. But as a christian you should know the gospel. Share it. Study and be prepared if they come by.
Remember Romans 10:15
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things
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