Getting "Weak JW's" to "Open Up"

by JH 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  JH

  Often I meet JW's that faded away for some reason, and they don't say anything about the religion. They will talk about anything else.

  When I ask them if they still go to meetings, although I know they don't, they just say that they work, or haven't been there lately, although it's years they didn't go...

  I talked to a brother yesterday, that I rarely saw at the meetings, and I asked him about his work and seeing that he said nothing about the JW's or meetings, I asked him if there was anything new at the hall. He just replied, "I work midnight to 8.....meaning I don't go.

  He wasn't able to say, "I didn't go in so many months or years", but just said, my work stops me from going.

  He knows that I don't go, and that I'm inactive since so many years. It's written on my forehead "Weak Unfaithful JW".

  But I always thought that it would be easy for a weak brother to talk to another weak brother and be more open.

  Each time I meet a JW in my situation, that either is inactive or misses many meetings, they don't open up...
• 

  Junction-Guy

  It's because on a subconscious and conscious level, they still feel that the religion is "the truth" and they dont ever want to say anything negative in fear that they could be committing major apostasy and never be forgiven. They are referred to as "walk away believers"
• 

  JH

  All I wanted was some juicy gossip..........like so and so got disfellowshipped for so and so reason....and that this elder doesnt serve anymore for x reason.....
• 

  Junction-Guy

  By the way, my grandma is one of them. She hasnt regularly attended meetings, nor been in field service since 1980, yet she still believes it to be the "truth" and will not listen to one word otherwise.
• 

  WTWizard

  All too often, it is because they are afraid you are going to another congregation and still "strong in the Troof" there. If they think you are or may be going elsewhere, there is a good chance that they are worried that you will rat them out by calling your hounder buddy in their congregation and then Brother Hounder will be stopping at an inopportune time.
• 

  kls*

  All jws are afraid of Squealers , and many jws as we know feel all Jah powerful, when they get the dirt on what some jws are really thinking.
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  It's because on a subconscious and conscious level, they still feel that the religion is "the truth" and they dont ever want to say anything negative in fear that they could be committing major apostasy and never be forgiven.

  Yes, it is a fear factor. Fear of Jehovah's everlasting displeasure with them.
  Fear that they let Jehovah or the WTS down, and saying something to stumble another
  is that much worse.

  It is also fear of the other weak JW turning them in for what they say. This religion trains
  people to be loyal to the organization ahead of family or friends. They know good and
  well that another "weak" JW might suddenly decide to go back, and actually report them
  to the elders for their lack of faith.

  I started to approach a weak JW about 9 or 10 months ago, while I was still attending
  meetings. He made about 3 or 4 total meetings a month, usually the TMS, Serv. Mtg
  when a family member (wife and kids) had a talk. I was going to tell him that he had a
  fairly nice balance, living his own life, just coming barely enough to keep his family
  happy. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't take the chance that he might be totally in belief
  harmony with the WTS and just hates going to meetings. I was a former elder, I knew what
  his problems were, but I never heard him say any doubts, so perhaps he couldn't do it,
  either.
• 

  JH

  Since there aren't 2 witnesses listening in, they should feel free to talk more.

  If they are afraid of anything being said to the elders, they only have to say they never said that.

  As for being afraid of Jehovah, I doubt that because they would be at their meetings more often.
• 

  tribalgirl

  Is it just me, or is anyone else tired of being referred to as "weak" for having the intestinal fortitude to walk away from something that is SO wrong (my opinion).

  I believe that each of us have the right to believe what they want to, so why am I "weak" for believing something other than what they preach?

  And, for the record, no one in my congregation ever said that to my face. I'm sure it was said behind my back.

  Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread, but this is a major pet peeve of mine. (I know, my problem)

  I don't get many opportunities to talk to other "weak ones". It's been so long since I have even been to a meeting, most of the peeps there don't even know me. The ones that do, run the other way when they see me coming, I must have 666 tattooed on my forehead. LOL