I haven't started a thread in some time but this is something that has got me thinking. I want to know if I'm off-base here or if others have noticed this too.is.
Over the last several months (perhaps 6-9) I feel that the tone of the WTs and KMs have been very strong. Not strong in the sense of legalistic do's and don'ts but strong in the sense of DO MORE!!!! type of stuff. I know that the society has always been a do more institution, but lately perhaps in response to the release of the lastest statistics (Feb WT) to the friends, they've been beating us extra hard. There has been a lot of talk between dubs about what the numbers could mean. Some have said perhaps it's apostasy at the top like back in the early 80's (they're unaware of the UN), others are saying that it means the end of the preaching work because all right hearted people have responded , and still others are just confused because everyone sort of expects big increases, especially as the end draws near.
When the friends see the numbers slow and dip and perhaps in the future steadily decrease or remain stagnant, even though there are approx. 5,000 a week baptized, they get nervous. No one wants to be the last one clinging to an idea as everyone else abandons ship. I think that is why the friends talk about the numbers so much. They link statistics to armageddon. They've been conditioned to do so by mother.
When you're in a congregation and you see new people pop up from time to time it's exciting. But, oftentimes the new people trickle away as fast as they came in. You'll go to one meeting and meet a new family that's moving into your territory. You'll see them for a little while and then "poof" they're gone. Like they never existed in the first place. This happens pretty frequently. If you look over your cong. and think about the last couple years you realize that hardly anybody is new. Perhaps just some transplants from a nearby hall, but not that many totally new dubs.
I believe the literature is pushing the dubs more and more into feeling worthless. I was thinking over my own parts on the meetings over the years and realized that lately all my parts contain a DO MORE modern application. It seems that regardless of what a particular talk or article is about it contains DO MORE admonition as the solution. If something is wrong in your life it's your fault because you haven't DONE MORE.
Where is the joy that used to come from being a dub? The group WT studies on Friday or Saturday night to prepare for the Sunday meeting? The gatherings of several families laughing and singing and just generally having a good time? What about congregation picnics and regular book study goody nights? It seems as if all those things are past. Remember pioneer days when huge %s of the cong. would turn out for service and many would stop for a picnic lunch or something? Now a hall is lucky if 15% show up for service on Saturday. I don't know it just feels like the joy of being a witness is gone. For many that was the only joy there was. As I look around I think, 'man everyone is completely separate from each other living their own lives and only interacting with each other at the hall or perhaps elders meetings.' No wonder everyone looks so zoned out at the meetings. Of course, there are the cliques that still get together, but they refuse to widen out so they're association is limited to a specific few, which only makes everyone else feel worse.
Alright, I guess I covered more topics than I intended but I feel refreshed now.