*** w08 11/15 p. 16 par. 17 Help Them Return
Without Delay! ***
Why did the brother become inactive? He admits: “I started giving more
attention to worldly matters than to spiritual things. Then I stopped studying,
engaging in the ministry, and attending meetings. The next thing I knew, I
was no longer a part of the Christian congregation.
*** w82 4/15 pp. 23-24 par. 10 Enduring
Joyfully Despite Persecution ***
Hence, when our activity is banned, it is generally our preaching and
our meetings that are prohibited. “You can be Jehovah’s Witnesses,” we are
often told, “but you may not preach or hold any meetings.” Yet if we did not
preach or hold meetings, we would not be witnesses of Jehovah God or Christ
Jesus, since a witness who does not say anything is really not a witness at
all. (Isaiah 43:10, 12; Acts 1:8)
*** w55 1/1 p. 14 par. 14 Holding Fast the
Public Declaration of Our Hope ***
Under that wholesome counsel by Paul it is very necessary for each one
of us to look after himself. It is not just a matter of saying, ‘I am one of
Jehovah’s witnesses,’ or one’s coming to a meeting and there sitting quietly.
It really is a matter of inspecting yourself, testing or proving yourself by
answering questions in public, voluntarily or when called upon. How can
anyone say he is one of Jehovah’s witnesses if he does not attend and
participate in the meetings of true worshipers of Jehovah? (John 4:23) How can
he say, even to himself, that he believes the truth of God’s Word if he never
expresses that truth to his brothers? One might be born a Catholic and be
baptized into that religious cult when he is but a few days old and be called a
Catholic for the rest of his life. Or he may be born of Protestant parents or
Moslem parents or Jewish parents, and the name of his parents’ religion will go
with him the rest of his life unless he personally decides to progress. But as
for Jehovah’s witnesses, each must make a decision for himself. It is not for
any parent to decide for his child to make a dedication to Jehovah God through
Jesus Christ. Each must personally prove that he is one of Jehovah’s
witnesses through public expression of his faith and hope in Jehovah’s new
world before the congregation of Jehovah’s people. It is your active belief
that will incite others to greater activity; therefore the knowledge you have
gained should be expressed aloud before the congregation for the benefit of
all.—1 John 4:17, NW.
*** w57 2/15 p. 114 par. 4 How Jehovah’s
Witnesses View Their Ministry ***
Being one
of Jehovah’s witnesses means more than saying, ‘I am one of Jehovah’s
witnesses.’ Are you witnessing? Regularly? All physically able have the responsibility to
preach publicly and from house to house, as did Jesus, and in addition take
advantage of all opportunities to witness to friends, neighbors, etc., while
the physically infirm are privileged to witness to visitors, write letters,
make telephone calls, and in other ways share in giving the mighty witness.
Without exception each witness of Jehovah is aware of his obligations in this
regard, as set out in Ezekiel 3:17-21. If one does not witness, he is not
one of Jehovah’s witnesses. To call ourselves witnesses of Jehovah and then to
refrain from witnessing, which is ministering, would be taking Jehovah’s name
in a vain or worthless way. Never may that happen, and it will not so long
as a proper view of the ministry is maintained.
