Witnessing to witnesses tips

I've just registered on this site. I'd like to kick off by asking this wealth of experience what your most successful witnessing to witnesses tips are. So if you're a non-and-has-never-been-a-JW, what stops them in their tracks? As an Ex-Dub, what subject or bible verse did you fear most? And if you're still a witness, is there anything that would make you want to run and hide?

My "Top 3" are:

1. Johannes Greber and the WT Quoting his bible translation, even though he was a spiritualist and his wife was a medium.          

2. The Bulgarian OK to have a blood transfusion with no religious sanctions fiasco.

3. Quotations of the OT referring to Jehovah being directly applied to Jesus in the NT.

I look forward to your posts!

SpannerintheWorks

 

                                               

WT member of UN for 10 years

Nordic, do you think Happyman is watching?

Two JWs came to my door a number of years ago just when there was an article on the "glorious ones".  I had read that magazine a couple of days before. For once I had perfect timing.

They presented me with the magazines, and I said "Can I show you something in there"?  She said "Sure" and handed me the Watchtower.  I said, "Before I show you this, can I ask you a question?" "Sure" she said.  I asked " Who do you give glory to?"  She said " Jehovah God"  I opened the Watchtower, and asked "Then why would your organization say you must give glory to these men?", and pointed to where it said they must give glory to the elders.  She was obviously new, and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. She stuttered and stammered, and said "I don't know"  I told her maybe she needed to look into that.  Her partner jumped in and tried to say it's not like that. I just asked her why her magazine would say such a thing then.  It happened so fast that they had no time to rationalize it or put up any kind of defense. It gave them something to think about.

You can't give them too much info to deal with at once, because the wall goes up. A simple question that gives them pause works best. The object is to turn on the thinking process and get them off of auto pilot.

cb

Hi, coffee_black.

Yes, getting them to admit to something first before showing the contradiction is a great idea.

I'd like to kick off by asking this wealth of experience what your most successful witnessing to witnesses tips are. So if you're a non-and-has-never-been-a-JW, what stops them in their tracks?

To get the best advise on how to stop a dub would not be to ask a non dub.

The best advise comes from those with experience with the dubs or those like them. Freeminds has a good list of subjects and one of them is how to talk to a witness. There are many things........you DON'T say.

Do x-witnesses want to run when they see them coming? Sometimes....only if I'm not in the mood. Other times I love it. I have ran into them going door to door on jobsites I  have talked to them on a few occations. I always love to ask....."don't you believe God will kill everyone on the earth except Jehovahs witnesses? They hate answering that.

Arguing over doctrine usually dosen't work..... 

Hi, gumby

You're right - the best advice is probably from ex-dubs, but non -dubs may approach things differently. If a JW smells a rat, you won't see him/her for dust, whereas a non - dub can sometimes get away with more.

Hi and welcome here.

I never was a JW but I am a householder with a front door.  Non-JW's are more of a target for recruit since most don't know much about the JW's history, scandals and strange doctrines.  As soon as a Witness learns a "worldly" person has been on the Internet looking at anti-JW sites, most discontinue any further religious discussions.  A few persistent ones will defend the Watchtower but most won't because they don't want to hear what we have learned since they are in denial. They are now competing with the Internet.

Bringing up the Wt's child abuse policy has been very successful in stumping the Witness. As a matter of fact, as soon as it's brought up, they tend to freak out on people. 

Just my own opinion and experience.

Devon

I hope he is

Quote:  "whereas a non - dub can sometimes get away with more".

99% of the time.....a dub will tear up a non dub..........Why? Because they don't know what questions to ask, or how to respond to the dub.. Most Christians, also,  have no idea how to talk to a dub.

You are correct though....sometimes a non- dub, can come up with things we never thought of.....like children do. Witnesses are trained to stick to topics they are prepared for and they use it to their advantage. A person needs to learn how to get them off their turf and on to a subject they are not prepared for.....to make them think.

No matter how you do it...it should always be done in love and, with the idea of not wanting to just prove them wrong ( although it's fun).....but to free their lives of bondage to men.

For Christians...using Romans and what it says about salvation is good

For others....knowing their backround ,and learning from others who have experience will really help.

Hi, Devon.

I've not had a chance to bring up the child abuse policy yet, but it is definitely top of my list next. When the Catholic bishop and priest paedophile scandle came out, a witness that I was in conversation with just kept repeating how "disgusting" these Catholics are. I wonder what she will have to say next time we talk? 60 Catholics, 23000 JW's. And the ratio of Catholics to JW's is huge.

My "Top 3" are:

3. Quotations of the OT referring to Jehovah being directly applied to Jesus in the NT.

My moms new dub husband quoted the NT about blessed is he who calls on the lord...a quote from psalms. It is easy to show jesus was meant here.

"Which one of you is the pedophile?"

 

I suppose you could follow that up with, "Oh, that's right.  You wouldn't know, would you?"

For Christians...using Romans and what it says about salvation is good

Yes, gumby e.g. Rom.10:9   "For if you publicly that "word in your mouth," that Jesus is Lord...you will be saved" Using the KIT, the greek word for "Lord" is exactly the same greek word translated Jehovah in other parts of the text. And 10:13 is useful "For everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved" where the context is salvation by Jesus. Compare Acts 2:21.

Actually, Dia, your odds aren't bad if you ask that at random - about 250/1 and that's based on those who have been caught out! You know, had 2 witnesses watching them, that sort of thing...

Here is my personal list.  If any of you can improve on it, please speak up.

Don't get in to the typical tangle talks about opposing beliefs.  Who cares about the trinity?  Who can really establish the nature of God anyways without asking Him?  ...and besides, they have a ready made checklist to oppose anything you might come up with.

Here are some test questions:

• If I read the bible without the assistance of the Watchtower and accepted Jesus as my savior, would Jehovah reward me with Eternal Life?
• In my present condition, do you think Jehovah will reward me with Eternal Life?  No?  Why not?  What about my children?
• If you don't think I will be rewarded with Eternal Life, what do you think my future is?
• If I showed you something from the Bible without the assistance of the Watchtower, that I earnestly believe, would you believe it is the truth?
• Do you think some of the modern-day Christian heroes will be rewarded with Eternal Life (such as Mother Theresa)?
• Do you think a prophet whose prophecy is proved wrong is a false prophet?
• Only 144,000 to heaven! Wow.  I thought they were to be as numerous as the sands at the sea.  Then why did Jesus talk so much about the Kingdom of Heaven when it was for only such a small group?
• Why don't you eat the bread and drink the cup at the Memorial as Jesus instructed?
• You mean there are two classes of Christians?  Why didn't Jesus talk about that?
• Do you believe that some of the promises of God are only for the Anointed class?  If so, could you point those ones out for me?

By the way, don't say--

•  Heaven - Eternal Life
• God - Jehovah
• Hell - the grave
• Trinity - Jehovah, Jesus, or Holy Spirit

 

It's hilarious when you're talking to a Dub who doesn't know that you're a Dub, and you actually chat with them for a while, all the time pretending to know ZIP about Dubland et al, then, as they walk away, shout out "Oh, and ask the Elders why I haven't gotten my Kingdom Ministrys yet the next time you go to the Kingdom Hall!" That'll learn 'em!

... and

christmas, easter  the holidays

a Jehovah,s Witness  one of Jehovah's Witnesses

the tetragrammaton   the Divine Name

 

I suspect it might be wise to point out to them that they have put their relationship with the WTS over their relationship with God.  And that they have more trust and respect for the WTS than they do for the Bible.