Here's an experience from the June 1, 1995 Watchtower that really made me gag (even at the time, I think). It appears in the article "Gilead Graduates--Real Missionaries!":
Next came some admonition by two Gilead instructors. Jack Redford urged the graduates to maintain a positive attitude. He told of a missionary who left her assignment in reaction to some teasing by fellow missionaries. The Scriptures, however, warn us against taking needless offense. (Ecclesiastes 7:9) "Have the right attitude," he exhorted. "Be forgiving of the mistakes and imperfections of others around you."
So, Sister Missionary was teased and left her assignment. Considering a) what a dedicated Witness she must have been to undertake missionary service in the first place b) that she was in a foreign country and probably a long way from home, isn't it reasonable to suspect that the teasing was both extensive and nasty?
Of course, if this had happened to her in some worldly organization, it would just have been an opportunity to quote 2 Timothy 3:1-5. "What else would you expect in this loveless world?"
But, because it involved the Society, the organization and the group representing it could *not* be blamed. If Sister Missionary didn't provoke the teasing, well, she was still at fault for her reaction to it.
Now think about this: Jehovah's Witnesses are already subjected to enough teasing. For not saluting the flag. For not celebrating holidays. For going door to door. The list goes on and on.
Would it really be too much to expect that the one place all Witnesses could be safe from teasing would be in the midst of the "loving brotherhood"?
Apparently it would.
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