A number of you read how, last week, I finally told my mother everything about no longer attending meetings. For those who want to read of it, go here... http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/18/109852/1.ashx
Follow-up: Both my daughter and I received letters from her. I would very much appreciate your thoughtful comments as to how to respond to her. Here is what she wrote...
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Dearest XXX,
You can imagine how Dad & I are feeling. We are stunned, I more than Dad because he didn't hear your voice and the things you said. He says you will realize and feel differently after a time. But I know from the things you said that that seems unlikely. I am writing this in hopes of helping you see things from my point of view. Please read it all.
The idea that you felt was wrong, that one organization has no right to claim that they are the only ones to have the Truth. What other one teaches the Bible truths about Jehovah's name, the Trinity, [I know some don't believe in the Trinity but do they preach the truth about it to all the world?], Hell fire, the soul, the 2 resurrections, the paradise earth, just to name the main ones. Eph. 4:4-6 tells us there is only one faith. Didn't Jehovah have only one organization in King David's day? He also told them not to associate with any of the non-Israelites because that would cause them to fall away from the true faith. So when he finally would not forgive them as a nation anymore because of the repeatedly forsaking his laws, a new organization of Christ's followers came into being. Jehovah & Christ made a covenant with them to be his people but to carry the Good News to everyone, everywhere. One Organization. Two groups but one fold and everyone is invited, almost begged, to join the 'great crowd' and learn the Truth about all the false teachings of Babylon the Great. For free. This Organization is supported by Jehovah's spirit, that's why Satan hasn't been able to destroy it, and is governed by Love.
The ones who are trying so hard to disgrace it and spend so much time trying to convey to others how terrible the WT Society is, aren't governed by love, but by hate and that hate and discontent will eat them up. You agree that Christians are to spread the Good News and tell people the truth about the false teachings but how are these people doing that? If not house-to-house, how? Are they mailing or E-Mailing the Truth to all they can? Or is all their time spent in trying to reach all they can with the slander of the Society. Do they pray fervently for Jehovah's guidance in how he wants them to serve him? Do they have an organization that has over 5,000 peole a week joining them [the new Year Book] and thousands spending full-time trying to reach the sheep-like ones before the time is up? You can't think that all those people are so blinded that not one of them could see if the organization wasn't what it claims to be. So when the apostate's manage to get ones to listen and believe their information, where do they go from there? That only prevents them from getting everlasting life in paradise. Is that love?
The point about having to go to the elders to confess one's sin.
When King David sinned so gravely, even having Bathsheba's husband killed, he didn't at first go to Jehovah & confess but married Bathsheba & had a son. Jehovah gave him enough time to repent on his own but he didn't. So He sent the prophet Nathan to him and through the parable of the little pet lamb, told David he was the one, symbolically, that had stolen & killed the pet and would be punished by Jehovah for his crime. He had despised the word of Jehovah and although he would be forgiven and not killed, he would be punished, and he was. 2 Sam. 12:7-13.
I know that all Witnesses are sinners and sin every day but I also know that Jehovah forgives them if they sincerely repent.
What you said about Bro. Rutherford and having proof of his infidelity and, of course, I have no proof to refute it, if it is true. Do you think that what he did was worse than David's sin? But how do you know that he didn't go to Jehovah in prayer, confess and was forgiven? Or that he didn't go to the elders and was forgiven? Even if it is all true, all the things you said about the Society, they are still the only ones teaching the Bible truth. I'm sure that if things were not theocratically done at that time, they are now. If some things aren't, Jehovah will correct them. It will take 1000 years for Jehovah's people to get to perfection, even with Satan gone, so we are bound to make some mistakes at this time.
I am so greatful [sic] that Jehovah has allowed me to be a part of his organization of love and that we could share it with our children. I will pray always for you, my beloved son, that you will come back to the only organization that has Jehovah's support today with the hope of life in the Paradise. You still believe in the paradise don't you? Where else can we go except sleep in the grave forever? Please, please don't go along with the apostate's thinking and working against Jehovah, you can't win, my son. Think of all those that have tried in the past and where are they now? Jehovah's Organization is stronger than ever. Think of your sweet daughter and the example you are setting for her. She deserves to get life and I know she was happy when she was going in field service and the meetings. Are you both happier now that you don't go? Really happy?
I don't want to tell the rest of the family how you feel, hoping that you will pray for Jehovah's guidance and realize he loves you and wants you to get life and will forgive you if you will stop believing all that the apostates are telling you. I don't have to tell you how I love you and the tears I am shedding over you. You say you love me and I believe you do so please believe me when I say we aren't deceived by a bad organization but serve with it with open eyes to any misdoings, knowing Jehovah will correct them. As Peter said at John 6:66-69, 'who would we go away to?'
Loving & praying for you,
Mom