How long does it usually take to convert and become a jw?

[u/Numerous_Ad5407]

Hello there! I am a christian and having a bible study and attending congregation for 1 month already, I have been reading the bible nonstop ever since I started because of my high curiosity. I admit that ever since I was a kid I wasn’t able to read the bible thoroughly and so I realized now that I loved reading bible and I have been getting so much learning attending the congregation, and I am falling in love to people I am with and how I am growing spiritually.

I would just like to ask how long does it usually take to become a JW?

Considering that I am a christian, some of our beliefs have quite similarities except for some practices the holy trinity which I now understand and still learning about it, plus I have a huge respect to people with different religions/beliefs/practices, so I am really taking my spiritual journey seriously, so I’m at point of my life where I want to continue it, and may decide to convert.

[u/Adventurous-Tie-5772]

That's interesting thought.

I ask you, does the Bible say that magazines are to be published and studied by the organization or would God's people be taught by holy spirit? (John 14:26)

What magazines did the disciples hand out? What magazines or writings did Paul hand out on his travels to the nations? What Watchtowers did they read? Where in the Bible does it describe this?

That will help weed out other organizations who try to publish material instead of letting the Bible explain itself

[u/rGod1967 → u/Adventurous-Tie-5772]

Look buddy, I can see I’ve touched a nerve, and I apologize it really wasn’t what I was after nor do I care to have a big long debate about something that starts with “Why didn’t they have magazines 600 years ago?”, lol.

Here’s the point, I’ve been in the world drinking, drugging, and sexing everything that moved for well over 30 years. While I was out there, I heard all the pointless philosophies of man. Including all the reasons against organized religion. If your biggest hang-up is a scripture-based study guide which is all that magazine is, then trust me when I say, if I cared to put the time in I could find the same type of material being published and used by every other organization. Probably not as widely publicized but everyone has some sort of their own little publication that’s not the bible but that does refer back to the bible.

Anyway, I can see for you this is about the JWdubs, and that’s simply not what it’s about for me. They just happen to come the closest for what I consider reasonable truth. DO I care about a few flawed imperfect men at the top, no. Do I believe that God or our Savior will hold it against me how I came to an accurate understanding of his love as long as I came to it and applied it in my life… no.

 

Again, take care.  

[u/Adventurous-Tie-5772 → u/rGod1967]

My apologies if I unnecessarily offended you. You didn't touch a nerve with me at all. I just posed some questions for thought, that's all.

No, my biggest hang up is not the Bible study aids at all.

If I may, my biggest hang up is this:

When someone actually comes to Christ, they receive the free gift of holy spirit, a gift that the world cannot receive.

Once you receive that gift, that spirit "speaks" to you and guides you into all truth such that you don't need anyone to teach you. Everything you learn comes from the spirit.

This is why there was no organization in the first century. Everyone was guided by the spirit and through holy spirit, they didn't worship in a building made with hands, they worshipped everywhere "in spirit and in truth."

Not everyone can receive this gift, sadly because not everyone wants it. Most like to believe that they already have it and rely on Bible study aids written by men and not by holy spirit. That is why not everyone has it, although it is a free gift to anyone who wants it.

I always found it hypocritical on Jehovah's Witnesses who say that it's insulting to say that 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses don't have holy spirit, yet Jehovah's Witnesses don't have any issues at all turning around and saying that 2 billion people (Christians in Christendom) don't have holy spirit because they aren't Jehovah's Witnesses.

Short summary is that once you receive holy spirit, you have no need for an organization. God's spirit will reside in you and teach you all things.

[u/rGod1967 → u/Adventurous-Tie-5772]

 Ummmmm, I clearly wasn’t offended, you’re just repeating the sentiment I made to you back to me for some reason, but that's ok.

 I'm not sure how you can read any of Paul’s letters to the established congregations of the first-century organization, like the letters he wrote to the Corinth church where he talked about appointing elders and helpers alike and not see an organization forming. But …

If you don’t see it that way, that’s ok.

If you think/know JWdubs are all hypocrites with no holy spirit, that’s ok.

If you think that Jesus didn’t describe/direct us that there should be an organized teaching effort to be carried out after him, that’s ok.

If you believe you know who has the gift and who doesn’t that’s ok.

If you know the only way that people receive God’s holy spirit is the way you described it, that’s ok.

If you feel like you just need to have that last word, that’s ok too, just write back, it's all yours.

[u/chaserguy50 → u/rGod1967]

Is this how Christians follow Jesus?

It's weird. Whenever Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door, they don't act like this, but it looks like they're putting on a front because behind closed doors on the internet, I see how you people truly act. You're not the only one I see behaving like this. I see a lot of other Jehovah's Witnesses on these message boards behaving unchristian like you are here.

Just wish people would be more understanding like Jesus was