help with JW Internet use guidelines

by Tatiana 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Tatiana

  Can anyone help me find an article giving info on whether witnesses are allowed to "count" time witnessing online? I know a KM from '99 that basically says JWS should spend time with their brothers and sisters instead of being online. I'm looking for something specific. Or is this a "conscience" thing?
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  Tatiana

  anyone???????
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  Crumpet

  Sorry - the internet didn't exist when I left! Well it did but no one had it.
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  fokyc

  My wife studied with a deaf person online using MSN, she was allowed to count the time.

  fokyc
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  needproof

  I don't think they have ever said this; they recommend telephone witnessing but not going online to witness, they strongly denounce that.
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  blondie

  I would look at in the context of telephone witnessing. While telephone witnessing is encouraged there are some conditions. JWs usually have telephone territories set up by their congregatoin that correspond to addresses/people who live in their territory. They aren't encouraged to take the phone book and just start calling people. The idea is to make contact IRL eventually and continue the "study."

  If a JW has already contacted a person in this way and followed up door to door, I can see under certain circumstances that they may continue the study online. It is similar to studying by exchanging letters in cases where the territory is remote and/or unassigned.

  The WTS does not frown on contact with family members, friends, etc., online any more than they do with seeing them IRL, calling them on the phone or writing letters to them.

  But I can't find any direct mention of a JW studying with a non-JW online.

  Blondie
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  OnTheWayOut

  The Index in the WT Library leads to several dangers of the internet, but no specific guidelines
  as to "counting time" on the internet. I think that the GB is so worried about rank and file going
  on the internet that they don't want to recommend spending time on it. I have never heard of
  an experience given at a convention about "internet witnessing."

  If someone wanted to argue that it's okay, that's simple enough. Their ORGANIZED TO DO GOD'S
  WILL book, on page 92, states of Jesus: "He did not pass up opportunities to witness."

  On pages 95-96 is the subheading, "Searching Out Deserving Ones." It points out that Jesus' instructions
  to his disciples' search for deserving ones was not limited to house-to-house work. The first paragraph on
  page 96 says: "...our objective is to reach everyone (italics- theirs) possible with the Kingdom message.
  This means imitating Jesus and his disciples in their approach to the disciple-making work as well as keeping
  abreast of the changing times and the varying circumstances of the people in our territory." The next paragraph
  says that "publishers have been successful in calling on people at places of business.....street witnessing.....parks
  ....parking lots, on public transportation, or wherever people can be found."

  Even though they are afraid to list the internet, it is clear that arguments can be made to use it for preaching.
  The only thing they have to stand on is their organization by territories.

  How can you know what territory someone is in? Just fall back on using "every opportunity" and say that we have
  been encouraged to witness on vacation or while traveling to and from conventions. We are outside the territory then.