Perhaps he feels like he wants to save your life and he really cares. But, really, why care if he's a good or bad elder? One way or another, he is trying to mislead the weak. Don't fall for it again.
Good Elders and Bad Elders, how do you know which is which?
by JH 16 Replies latest jw friends
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JH
That elder is in his mid 70's, and I think that he does care a bit, but he is first of all, a Watchtower man. He always says, "we have to do this or that, because the Watchtower Society says so".
That's true Minimus, they are out to get the weak ones....maybe like me, because I'm too soft.
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FairMind
I’m sure that there are good elders who genuinely care about people. Still, never tell an elder anything that can be used against you or that you want held in confidence. Being burnt by elders who I trusted and viewed as friends is one of the many things that started me questioning the organization.
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ocsrf
Depends on who you talk to. If you ask the CO it has more to do with how things are running, are the numbers up. If you are talking to the teenage boy who could use a little direction and an occassional pat on the back, you will get a whole other story! OC
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fullofdoubtnow
In my kh there were a couple of elders who I would describe as caring, but neither of them are elders now. They have been replaced by clones of the po and school overseer, total organisation men who care more about their position than the r &f, judgemental, self righteous and self opinionated.
When I first started having doubts, I approached one of them in what I thought was in confidence. Within a few days the po came down on me like a ton of bricks, warning me against "independent thinking" and daring to question wts doctrine. That blew over, but when I flatly refused to shun dedpoet, they really went for the jugular. That's why I'm out now, really, how can anyone trust such men?
So, in answer to the question on this thread, the difference between good and bad elders is very well defined, at least at my former kh.
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daniel-p
No such thing as "good elders" and "bad elders."
It's how people rationalize their opinions and actions and how far they are willing to go doing this.
Most elders believe that what they are doing is right, and thus the 'good' and 'loving' thing to do. -
clear2c
back in the day.. early 60s elders used to be chosen or moved up ranks and most of them where OKay, well marginal. now a days it seems like any taco breathed construction worker can become a elder if he.
1.plays his cards right (kisses ass).
2.gets his whole unemployed family to street work (all 12 of them).
3.moves up through the ranks promoting other taco breathed construction workers.
Honestly the people on here (however dubious) seem to know a hella lot more about the bible than most of the elders I have seen around the last few years.. (blondie comes to mind) and a few of you guys know a hella lot more about faith and healing than ANY elder I have ever met...
Its almost funny in our area to see the old school rich/semi-educated people mingle with the mostly third world new converts to jw's. recently I was given some advice from an elder it was funny how he actually belived that he was educated enough to advise me.
clear2¢