‘I have never met one of Jehovah’s Witnesses I haven’t liked’

HAVE you ever met one of Jehovah’s Witnesses face to face? Have you ever had the opportunity to find out what they really believe? Probably you have had a brief encounter with a Witness on the street or at your door. But often that fails to allow time for a real meeting of the minds.

George Plagenz, a U.S. religion columnist, wrote about his experiences with Witnesses: “To paraphrase [American humorist] Will Rogers, who said he had never met a man he didn’t like, I have never met a Jehovah’s Witness I haven’t liked.”

Then Plagenz quoted the Irish author Alan Bestic: “The rank-and-file of this much-abused movement are gregarious, cheerful and happy people. At their international assembly in London [England], I was treated with the utmost kindness, gentle courtesy and genuine friendliness by every Witness I met.”

Plagenz says that former aggressive door-to-door methods of some Witnesses created a lot of ill will. “But most of that has changed.” Then he quotes a Witness spokesman: “Most who are Witnesses today once slammed the door in the face of a Witness caller.” Why is there a more positive response nowadays? “It is beginning to dawn on people . . . that there is no human solution to the enormous problems the world faces.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the only complete answer to mankind’s problems is indicated in Jesus’ prayer: “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matthew 6:9, 10) Rulership by God’s Kingdom, acknowledged by an obedient and meek human family, is the only solution to the violence and hatred presently racking the world. If you would like to know more about the Bible and its teachings, please contact Jehovah’s Witnesses at a nearby Kingdom Hall, or write to the nearest address indicated on page 5.