I can remember when I was a kid and in elementary school, and there would be a simple little Christmas activity in where we would exchange gifts in the class. I was not allowed to participate due to my (or should I say, my parent's belief) in not taking part in such events. The pain that I would feel from the other kids making fun of me was immense.
This was the usual for all holidays, birthdays, sporting events, and whatever else the Watchtower Society has deemed unworthy and worldly. I think that growing up as a Witness was persecution enough.
Did You Feel "Good" When You Were Being Persecuted?
by minimus 25 Replies latest jw friends
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karnage
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Beer Connoisseur
Can anyone show me a bible verse in the New Testament that says we should suffer pursecution for the name of Jehovah? Even in the Watchtower Bible no such verse exists. Sadly, being pursecuted because one does not celebrate a birthday or salute a flag is not based on scripture, but Watchtower Dogma. The Apostle Paul wrote that we would suffer for someone. Philipians 1:29 If you have time, read the first chapter of Philippians esp from verse 12 thru 29 and note who Paul says was preached, suffered for, etc. If you have a Watchtower Bible note how many times the name Jehovah is mentioned.
( JW's look up in the Watchtower Index 1930-1985 the bible verses 2 Corinthians 4:4, 5 You will find it interesting how few times the Watchtower quoted verse 5 over 55 years of printed literature. And please note the message in verse 5, does it sound like what the Watchtower preaches?)
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mouthy
Before I was a JW my kids used to attend school & at Christmas would have to take a gift to exchange .One year my 9 year old son ( now dead) came home with nothing!!!!! I went to the school to ask why!!!? They told me there was a JW in his class he didnt bring a gift but he took oneWell I was mad phoned his parents to tick them off they told me there was more happiness in giving than receiving,!!!! so my son had learned a lesson!!!!! Well a few years later I became a JW,,,, That son NEVER became one ....He said he would never forget the humilation he felt to be the only kid to sit with no gift
But he was really angry when my husband would stand me up against the wall & bash me to stop being a JW.....Yes I was so proud to be persecuted !!!for I now realize a bunch of horny old men sitting in Brooklyn.... Who I believed must hate women....Had their revenge on women because they evidently tried to "get some "once & was refused....So they punished all the women they knew. -
minimus
Mouthy, that "horny old men" comment sounds a bit over reactional, don'tcha think?
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mouthy
Mouthy, that "horny old men" comment sounds a bit over reactional, don'tcha think? Thats what I said & thats what I think.....Sorry if you were one of them horny old men sitting at Bethel
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blondie
(1 Peter 2:19-20) 19 For if someone, because of conscience toward God, bears up under grievous things and suffers unjustly, this is an agreeable thing. 20 For what merit is there in it if, when YOU are sinning and being slapped, YOU endure it? But if, when YOU are doing good and YOU suffer, YOU endure it, this is a thing agreeable with God.
There are scriptures but it depends on who is interpreting what God requires of us.
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minimus
Nah, Mouthy, I was never sitting there.
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OUTLAW
Go to school and get harrassed for being a JW..Come home and get harassed for not being a good enough JW..Life was a bowl of cherries..LOL!!...OUTLAW
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SacrificialLoon
Not standing for the pledge or anthem.
Not going trick or treating, and hiding in a dark house on Halloween.
Not singing Christmas songs during chorus.
Not playing Christmas songs in orchestra.
Not going to school dances.
Not saying yes to the cute girls asking you out.
Not going to various other worldly social events, and quickly no longer getting anymore invites.
Etcetera... etcetera...
Feeling that I was serving Jehovah, and being "no part of this world" when I was ridiculed for.. well for being a weirdo. Man, I was a righteous loser.
Thank you WBTS for ruining my childhood! Bunch of numbnuts.
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ex-nj-jw
It made me feel like a worthless piece of garbage and is the main reason why I grew up having no self-esteem. I hated it and certainly never felt "good". Probably because even as a child, I never understood their warped logic for banning all these things
Mary, Hit the nail on the head!!
nj