by Truth.Seeker 15 Replies latest jw experiences
The internet is a funny thing.Funny, how? How is it funny? You know what you said? Does it amuse you? Make you laugh? What's so funny about it? Come on, tell me. What is SO FUNNY about the internet? You might be genuine but you don't sound/write like any JW I've ever come across.
haha just in case u think he's being a jerk truth.seeker, he's not. it's a quote from one of the best movies ever
bethel
Appreciate you sharing so honestly.
Growing up with a witness mom I learned there is a certain skew to everything a Jehovah's Witness is taught. For instance. I was taught that people in churches went out and sinned during the week and then repented on Sunday figuring it was a free ride. I was taught that all of christendom keeps pagan holidays. I was taught only The Watchtower Society was the one God worked through. Witnesses were different cause of the love between them, and they weren't hypocrites, and they were sincere and on and on.
What I learned is that this is true for some in "Christendom", but it is also true of some Jehovah's Witnesses.They are not exempt from any of the problems the rest of the Christian community deals with.There is a great variety of groups that believe in the sacrifice of Jesus and the Bible who don't do the things I was told they all do. "The Organization" has problems with drunkeness, child abuse, pornography and self righteousness just every body else, cause they are no different. None of us is. It's only through grace we are forgiven. No amount of Bible study and service will save you. Conversely, no minumin hours will keep you from God.
I also learned that just a because I was hoping there was an organization that would answer all my questions and was the only one, and I was mistaken, that doesn't discount the Bible or Almighty God, or Jesus. I learned that Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the light, no one comes to the father but by me". So I realized Jesus is entry- not a man made organization. Once that truth sunk in, things started getting clearer for me."Jesus said there is no other name by which we may be saved" So then why was I always talking about The "Organization" The "Society" The "Watchtower Bible and Tract Society".I came to see it as The Vatican for witnesses.It was between me and God, and we know only Jesus is supposed to hold that position.
Sorry-got carried away!
Hope you find some answers as well.
Reading through the bible I learned that just because a King was evil did not mean that all of the inhabitants of that kingdom were evil, many still clung to what was good and kept doing good in God’s Eyes. And the opposite was true, if there was a good King, not everyone was practicing ‘good’. So as today when people in the leadership positions of the Jehovah’s Witnesses do sin against God, it does not mean that the entire believers are also doing what is bad.
I always found it strange that in the O.T. even thought it was the King who was "evil" it was for the most part the common people who suffered and died for the King's sins. They could not and would not speak against the "King" as he was Jehovah's representative for the nation.
JW's today are instructed the same way.It is a "sin" to talk out or disagree with the GB,WTBTS,Elders etc. Who will bear the punishment for not speaking out against the "evils" practiced by the GB in charge.I have a feeling it will be the R&F again.
Hello Everyone,
Your kind words of encouragement are a blessing. I really do appreciate the wisdom that has been displayed by all of your comments and suggestions. I will take them to heart and allow them to make me stronger. I wasn't raised as a witness so I have some sense of what it was like before I was baptized. My wife, she was raised with similar experiences I had so I was in awe when I met her and we were married.
I have friends who are still very much a part of the org and when I tested one of them to talk about the things I was feeling, I was flooded with comments like, "oh no, there was some strange apostate typing on your instant messenger". Needless to say I didn't pursue that topic with him. I remember an elder friend of mine who told me that the congregation that I just left had some problems. For instance regarding our publisher record cards for my wife and I, I was told that the secretary had removed them and other inactive publishers from the list of publishers before the arrival of the CO. The secretary was trying to make the congregation reports look good to the CO instead of reporting the truth that people needed some spiritual help and guidance, not dismissal. My elder friend had told him to put back our cards, but later he left that congregation and moved on to another one. It's just like the few good elders, have a hard time finding a good congregation to settle down in. There is just too much hypocrisy. I don't want to stop meeting with fellow Christians but I find it hard to decide who to trust or where to go. I feel like there needs to be a cleansing because the truth has been muddied so much and I know who really is doing these things. But I have to believe that there is a place where the purity of God's Word hasn't been tarnished.
TruthSeeker
Welcome TruthSeeker!
But I have to believe that there is a place where the purity of God's Word hasn't been tarnished.
If you will consider that God's Word is Christ rather than a Book then I believe you will find something of purity that has not been tarnished or tampered with. If he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life then you need no other mediator but him.
Here is an interesting link on how God has worked more through individuals than through organizations:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/94276/1.ashx
~Merry
Welcome Truthseeker, I can relate well to how you're feeling. It wasn't long ago I was there myself. The fact is there is a place God's word hasn't been tarnished. It's all to close and it's called your heart! The very thing they teach you not to trust. You're intellect can be fooled but not your heart.
Simply ask yourself how something makes you feel. For me if it's true or from God :
God, True : you feel joyous, happy, strong, peaceful, free, alive
vs.
Man,false: you feel sad, guilty, weak, anxious, fearful, bound, dying
Or just make comparative statements and reason on which rings "true"
Example: God is not partial, loves all his children equally
or
God is partial, has favorites, loves some more than others
Another: God's love is unlimited and unconditional
or
God's love is limited and conditional
For me finding "truth" is easier than ever. Trust yourself! No one else.
