Have you been to your first meeting yet? Was the Kingdom Hall warm and friendly? Did the witnesses come up to you and introduce themselves? Did this warm reception surprise you?
I’m afraid this warm reception wasn’t due to your "magnetic" personality. This apparently spontaneous friendliness is, in fact, choreographed. Members of the congregation are specifically assigned to greet new ones "in a warm friendly manner to give a good witness", - so that you will notice it.
All members of the congregation are trained in how to greet people and show interest in them as part of the "Service Meeting", so that they can "place" more literature.
No doubt in the beginning of your study, the odd Sunday meeting seemed such a little thing. But as your study continues, you will be expected to attend all of the meetings, and take part in them.
Have you been introduced to the "Book Study" yet? What about the "Theocratic Ministry School and Service Meeting"? Combined with the Public Talk, WatchTower Study and your own weekly Bible Study, the hours are starting to stack up aren’t they?
But there’s more. Each witness is expected to prepare answers for the meetings, prepare for their parts on the programme, spend at least ten or twelve hours per month in the house to house work and do their own personal Bible Study.
Where is all this time supposed to come from? Witnesses are told to "buy out the opportune time" from recreation, hobbies, sports, interests and time with "worldly" (non witness) friends and relatives. When even that fails to provide enough time, then the witness should look for part time rather than full time employment.
There is no such thing as "spare" time in the organization; time spent on yourself in any non organizational activity is selfish.
Witnesses are told that balance is the key. Not balance in the usual sense of having time for the organization and then equal time for yourself. Balance in the Watch Tower society means putting the organization first in your life, and then whatever time is left over can be used for other things such as work and "selfish pursuits" such as hobbies and recreation. This is not my opinion this is Watch Tower policy.
Does this sound reasonable to you? Is the amount of time you devote to the organization really the most important thing?
Does this sound like an organization led by a loving, generous God? Or a greedy, multibillion dollar publishing company wanting to extract the maximum from its employees?
