Bloodguilty

purplesofa

The Christian Greek Scriptures outline three distinct ways in which a Christian could become bloodguilty before God: (1) by bloodshed, murder —this would include those actively or tacitly supporting the activities of a bloodguilty organization (such as Babylon the Great [Re 17:6; 18:2, 4] or other organizations that have shed much innocent blood [Re 16:5, 6; compare Isa 26:20, 21]); (2) by eating or drinking blood in any way (Ac 15:20); and (3) by failing to preach the good news of the Kingdom, thereby withholding the lifesaving information it contains.—Ac 18:6; 20:26, 27; compare Eze 33:6-8.

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I remember being filled with panic, if I did not take every opportunity to preach to others. Not only was I responsible for myself, my children, I felt a responsiblity to everyone I came in contact with.

I would think to myself, should I say something or not........if I don't they might lose their life all because I did not take the opportunity to preach to them. It was a horrible... guilty ..... helpless, anxious feeling........scarey is more like it......I was fearful all the time in almost any situation I was in with someone.

It was like there was always a voice in my head never giving me relief.

As time went by I did not feel that way anymore. Did you feel that way ever and what effect did it have on you? and do you think it is true?

purps

YoursChelbie

The only time I started feeling bloodguilty was when I realized that by their flip flops with the blood docrine, the Watchtower Society has been directly responsible for the deaths of innocent children. When I realized how unfounded their beliefs are, I decided I could not be a member of that cult.

YC

purplesofa

I must have been a freak in my thoughts, the lady I studied with really put alot of emphasis on this.

purps

AudeSapere

That guilt played deep in my heart, too.

I just couldn't preach so emphatically to everyone. I could speak with conviction when confronted and I would do my part at the door - but towards the end of my active jw tenure, it was just me and my Bible. And only to people who wanted to talk. I had desire to convert anyone.

My serious depression was only just starting to be very apparent.

That guilt was horrible.

-Aude. (still feeling a little guilt for much more insignificant things but not one drop bloodguilty anymore.)

JamesThomas

It was like there was always a voice in my head never giving me relief.

That, is called insanity; and it is very much perpetuated and sustained by beliefs; be they religious, political, social or racial...

The good news is you see it. See it more. Nonjudgmentally see and watch the voice in your head -- even though it may not seem as intense and threatening as it once was.

There is the voice/the thoughts/the beliefs/the commentary and story weaved by the mind, and there is the healing sweet purity of that which sees it all. Keep watching and you will discover what you really are.

j

Abandoned

I would think to myself, should I say something or not........if I don't they might lose their life all because I did not take the opportunity to preach to them. It was a horrible... guilty ..... helpless, anxious feeling........scarey is more like it......I was fearful all the time in almost any situation I was in with someone.

I couldn't have said it any better. One time when I was first studying and was still in the army and living in the barracks, I couldn't sleep because I had this "vision" or something that the guy across the hall was needing someone to preach. The guy in question was a sergeant who didn't like the way I'd been preaching around the barracks.

I was up all night and I felt like the biggest loser because I couldn't muster the courage to knock on this guy's door in the middle of the night and offer him a witness. I was afraid to tell anyone this story because I thought they'd find out what a fraud I was and that I really didn't have the love of my fellow man that I claimed I'd had.

cognizant dissident

Hey JT

Like the new avatar. Is that really you in the picture?

Cog

purplesofa

Keep watching and you will discover what you really are.

will do JT:)

purps

rebel8

Here in wt's home state (at least in my area), we were not only told we'd be bloodguilty for not preaching at all, but we'd be bloodguilty for not preaching as often as we could.

Have a cold and decide to "be kind to yourself" and nurse it at home instead of going out preaching in a blizzard? Bloodguilty.

Don't bother a coworker or schoolmate with incessant preaching until they tell you to shut up? Bloodguilty.

Don't overcome every single objection at the door or let yourself be scared off by laws (i.e., not sneaking into locked communities, not ignoring "no trespassing" signs, not ignoring laws about proper use of mailboxes)? Bloodguilty. (Don't you know Satan put those laws into place to steal your soul?)

Don't pioneer as often as you can, even if it means neglecting your own health/well being/financial stability, or that of your family? Bloodguilty.

You get the idea. Guilt trip to say the least.

dedpoet

I doubt if anyone who truly tried to live the jw life hasn't felt this way at times.

I used to feel bad about missing opportunities to witness to my family and friends, often thinking of something I could have said but didn't that would maybe have got them to think my way. I sometimes used to think stuff like "if I never see this person again, and they miss out on paradise because I said nothing, where does that leave me?"

When you leave the wts, you realise, looking back, that this is exactly how they want you to feel. It keeps you busy trying to promote their bullshit. The more guilty you feel about not doing enough, the harder you try to do more.

Bloodguilty

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