Is it mandatory for Jehovah's Witnesses to answer up at there meetings?

Question

Someone told me that it is mandatory for JW's to answer up at there watchtower study.

I thought, that is hard to believe.

Is it true?

Answer 1

No it is not mandatory. The purpose of you answering at the meetings is to encourage other brothers and sisters. If you are a baptized Witness and are not participating in the meetings, you do need to evaluate yourself as the Watchtower on Sunday suggested....has something made you feel spiritually weak and therefore you do not answer???  

Answer 2

I find it interesting how many people use words like "mandatory" or "required" when it comes to our beliefs and practices.

All Jehovah's Witnesses have a choice in this matter.  If the Bible doesn't say it's required, it's up the individual to reason on the issue.

I will say it's nice to hear comments from many people and makes it much easier on the brother handling the meeting part. :)

Answer 3

Hi, No it is not mandatory to answer up, otherwise I would have been approached long before now!

I live in France and find answering really difficult, so I only do so occasionally.

It is an encouragement to others when one responds, so someone may approach another and suggest a way to answer that makes that person feel a little bit better.

Answer 4

no but it is encouraged

Answer 5

Encouraged..Not Mandatory. Answering at Meetings is an expression of one's faith. At christian meetings there are those who are both shy & outspoken, having said that if someone had a Speech impediment it would be unfair to demand an answer from them.Common sense- dont you think?

Answer 6

Nope. Conundrum is right. Encouraged but not mandatory =)

Answer 7

No, it is not a requirement.   Many don't have a problem commenting or giving talks.   Personally, I don't have a problem commenting in smaller groups, like the book study, but I can't seem to get my hand up at the other meetings.   I'd rather give a talk every week than comment at the big meetings.

Then we have a brother who is the total opposite of me, he gives the best comments during the meetings, but is terrified of giving talks or even saying pray due to anxiety problems.    

So we're all different, but thankfully there's enough of all personalities to keep the meetings going.   Commenting at the big meetings is  something I'm going to really work on for the next few months, since the "bible study" will now be the same night as the Theocratic School and Service Meeting.     A comment doesn't have to be big and elaborate.   One C.O. we had recently raised his hand and answered "Jehovah", just to show those who are shy or nervous that our comments should be short and sweet to allow others to comment on the material also.  

Answer 8

No.

That's why the JWs at the Russian Hall think Vot is a very quiet person. I sit there, like a mouse, speaking only when spoken to, and smiling all the time.

Well, I have slipped a few times, so at least three people there know Vot is "quiet" just coz she don't speak Russian too well.

:-P

Answer 9

It is not mandatory, but if you are a child being raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, this is likely to be one of the many expectations that JW parents have of their children.

Since the JWs don't truly accept that we are not saved by works, they are constantly burning themselves out with obligations such as coming to each meeting "fully prepared" (studying their publications, highlighting answers, key-points, etc), attending every meeting they possibly can (3 nights a week, total of 5 hours not including prep and travel time), commenting at the meeting, several hours of door-to-door "field service," etc.  Because they start to doubt their own salvation when they are unable to accomplish their goals, this creates feelings of depression and hopelessness.  They fear that their children will suffer the same fate (falling away from "Jehovah" and being destroyed at Armageddon) if they do not pressure them to do more, as well.  This would including pressuring them into baptism, at the risk of being shunned later in life.

These words are not mine, but I hope you'll find them helpful! :)

All religions have one thing in common: they encourage their members to work as hard as they can to gain everlasting life, the celestial kingdom, nirvana, or whatever else they want to call it.

Biblical Christianity, however, is different. Instead of earning our goal as a reward, it is offered to us freely as a gift through Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice, whose offering of Himself was complete to earn our way to everlasting life with God the Father.

As Jesus Christ was dying, he said “It is finished” because from that point on, all anyone had to do was to trust His sacrifice to cover their sins. Everyone needs this sacrifice because the Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that we are all sinners.

We are in such bad condition that when we try to earn favor with God through our good works, Isaiah 64:6 tells us that our righteous deeds are like filthy rags to God. In Mark 10:27 Jesus is answering His disciples’ question, “who then can be saved?” He said, “with man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

God realizes that man cannot possibly save himself through door-to-door preaching or ordinances of a church. That’s why God did not send an organization or a church to offer us peace with God, but He sent His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me.”

Answer 10

No, it is not.

We gather together for upbuilding and encouragement.

You never know how your comment or answer

may encourage another person...

so of course it is encouraged.

Some encouragement for you

and some for the person sitting 3 rows back,

and two rows up from you.

Answer 11

No it is not required

Answer 12

No, it is NOT mandatory.

We participate in our Bible studies together... most do, even the children.

I thoroughly enjoy it.

Answer 13

No, of course not.  I seldom answer.  I always think someone else can answer better than I can.  They would like us all to answer because by doing that we are declaring Jehovah's name and sovereignty.  But, it is not mandatory. Some are too shy to answer.  

Answer 14

Its not mandatory but pretty close to it. I rarely answer. Not because i don't want to, but because I'm shy. Only the people that raise their hand give comments at the meetings. Anyone can comment, even someone that goes to the meeting for the first time.

It is different for a baptized JW. If we don't answer regularly people start to question our spiritual progress and our spiritual health. Sometimes its true, some people don't answer because they don't prepare for meetings, but sometimes the person is afraid of answering in front of everyone.

Answer 15

As judgemental as JWs are ...the REAL answer is YES!  Unless you have no intentions on being a publisher, then a baptized publisher, and have no desire to have privileges in the congregation as a MS or elder!  If you do....you'd better grab that mic and read your answer out of the Watchtower...even if it's word for word!...otherwise forget it.  You'll be considered  bad association in no time for NOT making spiritual progress!

Answer 16

Not a mandatory at all but encouraged.

Answer 17

Someone misinformed you. I have gone to literally 2500 Watchtower study meetings and NO ONE is required to give any comment.

Answer 18

Who cares? they are a cult!

Answer 19

If you are a Jehovah's Witness,

please read this first.

If you are a Jehovah's Witness please understand that I am not against you as an individual. I am not an apostate from the Watchtower organization and, of course, I was never baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. However, when I was 17, I studied with the Jehovah's Witnesses for a couple of months, but quit. Unfortunately, they used the Watchtower Magazine equally, and sometime more than the Bible and they couldn't answer all my questions. All I wanted to study was the Bible since that is God's word.

As a Jehovah's Witness you have been taught from the Bible and the Watchtower organization. You’ve attended numerous meetings, and are convinced that what you believe is the truth. You also believe the Trinity is a demonic doctrine and that Christendom is an apostate group preaching a false gospel. Additionally, you are taught the Watchtower organization is the true channel of God’s revelation to His church on earth. You are taught that you are in "The Truth."

But believing it does not make it so. I am sure you agree with this and respond by saying that your beliefs are in agreement with the Bible. After all, you study it deeply and often and have validated your beliefs with the word of God. I don’t deny that you study. But when you study, you study under the Watchtower's guidance and allow it to shape your understanding and thinking of the Bible and its doctrines.

Please consider these quotes from the Watchtower Magazine that verify what I am saying:

"All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave." (The Watchtower; 10/1/1994; p. 8.)

"Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587.

In short, you are led by what the Watchtower says the Bible says. But if the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is from God, then...

Why has it made false prophecies?

Why has it altered the translation of the Bible?

Why does the Watchtower say you will fall into apostasy if you read the Bible without the Watchtower? See their quotes

Why are you not allowed to examine your own organization and its problems?

Why does it tell you what to think and do?

Have you checked the documentation from the Watchtower Magazine? How do you know that the Watchtower is correct? Because it says it is?

Please don’t be offended by this. But when a group claims to be the prophet of God, yet mistranslates the Bible, takes verses out of context, makes false prophecies, and misquotes authorities all to make its position valid, its credibility is lost. It cannot be from God.

But you will never know that unless you "examine ALL things." Unfortunately, as a Jehovah's Witness, you are only encouraged to study what the Watchtower and Awake magazines tell you to study. That means you can't really check up on its false prophecies on your own. Instead, you must trust what it tells you about its own false prophecies. In addition, you are instructed to not take any literature from "apostate Christendom." This way, you will have far less opportunity to be challenged, something the Watchtower organization doesn't want to happen.

The Watchtower Magazine teaches by asking the questions and giving the answers. Sometimes it even uses a Bible reference (often times out of context) to back up what it says. It all looks good and sounds good from your perspective. But it is a false method of study. The Watchtower organization tells you what to think and what to do. If you say that is not true and that the Watchtower Organization is God's organization on earth, then you are simply repeating what the Watchtower tells you.

The Bible alone is sufficient. But the Watchtower denies this:

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." The Watchtower, August 15, 1981. (Emphasis added)

What are the apostate doctrines: Trinity? h**l? Jesus is God? Funny thing is that, according to the Watchtower, if you study the Bible by itself, you will come to believe these things! Could it be that apart from the selected questions, answers, scripture quotes, and direction of the Watchtower teaching, that the Bible actually does teach these "apostate doctrines"?

Answer 20

No, "commenting" as it is called, is not a "requirement" however it is strongly suggested.

Those who do not "regularly" participate in the meetings are looked upon as spiritually weak.

As someone mentioned, in the JW World, "commenting" is considered a "show of faith", therefore if you don't comment, how do you think other JW's view you.

I can tell you from personal experience that I am very shy and commenting was downright nervewrecking for me, however I was always "encouraged" to try to comment more.

Not only that, but don't dare read "directly" from the Watchtower, you should be commenting "in your own words", in order to show spiritual progression.

In my hall "commenting" was so seen as a sign of "spirituality" so many young people would try to comment at every meeting in order to make an appearance of "spirituality" even though they were leading doubles lives.

I knew of several young people at my hall that would do this and I would often joke with them and ask them why they comment about things they know they don't apply, and they said it was because their parents hassled them about it.

So I ask, how upbuilding is it to hear comments from people "showing their faith", when you know good and well they are doing the EXACT OPPOSITE of their own comments.

Answer 21

The JWs are actually answering honestly and correctly on this question. They are right, you do not have to answer or comment. As for answering up", I don't know what that means. Also, answering down" is a stumper too. Answering sideways? That I know!

Answer 22

They will tell you that it is not manditory...but.....just try dedicating yourself and being baptized without going out in regular service and answering at the meetings...it is not allowed,.

conundrum is the most honest of the witesses answering these questions...non witnesses have it right too.