Jehovah's Witnesses in Bruchsal, 20.10.2012

Jehovah's Witnesses are very nice people, too.

On Saturdays, Jehovah's Witnesses do their mega sermon service. They draw support from it, and can draw from this cycle of Saturdays something that suggests to them that they have done something for their good standing before Jehovah. I seem to be quite well adapted to that, and Saturday's routine actually becomes a very nice hobby. One has spent one's time sensibly. That alone gives pleasure.

But no one can add anything to the work of Christ without invalidating it at the same time. If I were really on the road on Saturdays, conscious that I could improve my standing before God, I would no longer have salvation through Jesus. As soon as people completely or partially replace Salvation through Jesus with their own works, they have in principle already rejected Jesus. Those who rely on their own works can no longer rely on Jesus. No one can serve two masters. If Jesus is my Lord, I can no longer obey the slave driver, but the good works are only the fruit of my faith in Jesus Christ. With Jehovah's Witnesses and with many other people as well, it is the case that they devote themselves to all possible possibilities of salvation, but fail to completely rely on Jesus.

On 20 October 2012 I was first in Speyer. In the pedestrian zone of Speyer there were no Jehovah's Witnesses but only Christians who invited to an ecumenical service. One of them and I talked briefly and had no faithful separation, although there should have been plenty of reason to do so. It was so clear that Jesus is Lord for both of us that no discrepancy in content was sufficient to disturb our peace through Jesus and our fire for Jesus.

Then I went to Bruchsal. The pedestrian zone was much more lively than the pedestrian zone of Speyer. In Bruchsal I also met Jehovah's Witnesses again – a couple pushing on duty, of whom I know quite well that they have already recognized at the bottom of their hearts that the doctrine of the Watchtower literati is only half silk.

Since about two or three weeks there is the directive from above that Jehovah's Witnesses have to ignore me completely. I can talk to them, but they can't react. This always causes funny situations, which of course I don't take advantage of and don't consciously bring about. The bottom line is that a status has finally been reached in which I can be the preacher and the Jehovah's Witness cannot close himself off. For my words are not deceptive, but well-founded. They say nothing other than the Bible says. As a result, many a call will probably move many a Jehovah's Witness.

And the beautiful thing is: If my words are not unbiblical, they will move these people for a long time. I know that from experience! Some things still moved me after many years, although I should have forgotten them long ago. There are things in life that you don't simply forget.

Shortly after 12 o'clock the couple, who were very sympathetic to me, packed up the untouched heap of literature, but the little cart could hardly be packed with it. Several attempts failed and in the end the whole thing looked more like an egg dance. First they went in one direction, then they suddenly turned around and walked to a bakery. The poor man had to manage the distance with the wobbly literature stuff on the wobbly cart. In front of the bakery I told the man: With Jesus you don't have to deal with such stuff anymore. With Jesus you are free. No longer behind bars."

And I add here: If anyone believes that he can improve himself before God through human ballast of a religious nature, he has already rejected Jesus. Religion cannot save. Jesus says, Whom the Son makes free, he is quite free.

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