Visiting my parents...

by mrsjones5 8 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  mrsjones5

  This post is inspired by another that was about jws and apostates working together.

  In June my family and I will be visiting my parents, who happen to be jws. I was baptised as a Christian last year, my parents aren't very happy about it and for the most part seemed to be tolerent of it, I guess because I was never baptised as a jw. Recently we have had some minor run-ins about my new found faith and I know it might pop up again as a topic of discussion because I wear a cross. My parents don't know about the cross. I have a few crosses, one hangs by my front door, I just bought a really cool one for my living room, and I have a rosery. I don't plan on removing my cross.

  Opinions, comments, and suggestions are very much appreciated.

  Josie
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  EAGLE-1

  My mom saw me wearing my Celtic cross.She even knew about the legends of it.She even thought it was nice.Stange.Even knew that it was pre-Christian.Maybe I should wear a Rosery.Wish I could find a German iron cross.Really push it.....hehe...nah.......Hey you could wear a stick around your neck....a stake ..get it..

  Stick by your guns.Its your right baby.Wear what you want but not too 'showy'
• 

  LDH

  As JT would say,

  I spent 23 years of my life wondering whether Jesus died on a cross or a telephone pole....

  That's why I love this net THANG.

  Lisa

  Misses JT Class
• 

  EAGLE-1

  Telephone pole.LOL---that hurt.I havent laughed this hard in a while.Thanks for that.I think I need the er.

  Thats a visual that I will never forget.
• 

  Carmel

  Ditch the symbol and live "the life". That's better proof of faith than controversial symbols relating to someone's death!

  I only have a $1 bill. Can I get 98 cents change?

  carmel
• 

  sass_my_frass

  Your house and your neck = your rules! Don't rudely flaunt it, but don't let them control your faith either.
• 

  Sad emo

  Tricky situation - I'd be inclined to agree slightly with carmel, maybe for slightly different reasons though.

  My view of JW's at the moment is that we're still brothers and sisters in Christ (although the feeling probably isn't mutual ) so I would stick to Paul's counsel of not upsetting a fellow Christian if at all possible. In this case then, I'd probably remove the cross for the visit or keep it out of view. It's respecting their beliefs in their space.

  If on the other hand it was them coming to visit you, I wouldn't remove anything from the house or the cross from your neck as now they would be in your space so you're entitled to respect for your beliefs.

  I realise this might sound a bit contradictory to some but it makes sense - honest!
• 

  luna2

  All you can be is who you are, Josie. The only suggestion I have is to be as respectful of your parents' religion as you wish they were of your own and treat them as kindly as possible.

  I wouldn't not wear your cross as its important to you but I wouldn't necessarily call attention to it either. JW's can be difficult, that's for sure, but hopefully you'll have a pleasant visit and not hit too many potholes.
• 

  Honesty

  There are some Scriptures you can share with them about the cross.

  I let the bible do the talking to my son (being dominated raised by his JW mother) when he wanted to know why I all of a sudden do not abhor the cross as I once did when I was a JW. He seems to be very OK with it now.

  1 Cor 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied [of its effect] . For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power.

  Gal 6:14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

  Eph 2:15-16 He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.

  [He did this so] that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.

  Phil 3:18-20 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

  Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.