Obviously with no end-time date being out there right now, the WT to motivate members. Stagnation is the word that comes up frequently on the board here, and a currently active member, I see it permeating the dub attitude. So this week's study article was interesting in that it potentially expands the area where dubs can count their time. While no directive within the article says dubs can now count FS time in these areas, it equates these activities with field service time. Paragraphs 5-12 explain this in these scans:
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Pars 5-6 lay out the definition of Ministering to One Another
Pars 7-8 talk about more ways in which those in the 1st century ministered.
Par 9-Very interesting, here are the examples in modern times. Are these activities where dubs might start counting time?
1) Brothers spending time preparing meeting parts
2) Compassion shown toward fellow believers
3) Visiting depressed ones and praying with them
4) Writing letters to others- heartfelt words of encouragement
5) Helping others to meetings
6) Relief work- Natural disasters
Next subheading - Which is more important?
Pars 10-12 lay out the argument that preaching door to door and ministering to others in the congo should be viewed as equal or complimentary.
Par 11 uses an illustration of which of a birds wings is more important? The bird needs both wings of course, so it is with JW, preaching to others and ministering to one another.
Par 12 concludes that doing this will help them remain Christ's disciples. (Italics theirs)
So what do you think? Is the groundwork laid here for all of these other activites to be counted as FS time? If they are in fact equal in importance to actual FS time, then why would one be counted and not the other?
Several advantages come of course to the WTS if they authorize thes activities as "time" Many, if not most dubs hate FS. But most don't mind doing a favor here and there for others. Many do this kind of stuff already. Elders suddenly get to count extra time for meeting prep. Visitations to sick ones, preparing meals for them, etc. get counted too. Everyone gets re-energized as they are now putting in 20 hours a month! WOW! YAY!
And of course the numbers go up in a bigtime way. Suddenly, dubs spend 3 billion hours in FS rather than last years 1.5 billion. More so-called "evidence" for the GB to say that Dubs are the one and only true religion.