This is something that I feel really passionate about. I hate being labeled an apostate by JW's. I don't like the term and even they themselves have the definition wrong according to the bible. It is an extreemly loaded word as far as JW's are concerned & it is effective in stopping JW's considering certain peoples experiences & opinions. So the next time a JW tells you that you are reading 'apostate' websites/books or that you are yourself an 'apostate', can we tell them that the websites etc are merely the opinions & experiences of ex-JW's. Literally using that expresion has helped me discuss matters with JW's. In their mind, they are more willing to listen to you after giving this brief description/explanation of those whom you have came into contact with in the EX-JW world. Anyone else feel that this is effective?
Can we all be a bit more pro-active in this one area? PLEASE READ...
by jambon1 20 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
BabaYaga
Interesting point, Jambon.
I remember being "in" and hearing that a once-elder was now an apostate!!! I was shocked!!! Anything but that... is nearly the reaction.
That reminds me, I ought to look him up.
:) -
avishai
I agree the term as they use it is offensive, but I don't think anything we can do will stop them using it. Here's an interesting thread on the subject
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/62936/1.ashx -
avishai
I agree the term as they use it is offensive, but I don't think anything we can do will stop them using it. Here's an interesting thread on the subject
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/62936/1.ashx -
journey-on
Here is something I wrote to my JW sister a while back. Like most things I write to her, I did not mail it. I guess
these letters are just a way for me to vent. If I actually sent them, she would cut me out of her life in a heartbeat.
Dear Sis,
Regarding our recent conversation, I would like to explain my view.
First of all, apostasy refers to rejection. I don’t reject anything! I’m still on my spiritual quest.
I love my Father, my Eternal Creator, who created us all. He is the One I look to and pray to fervently, deeply, and sincerely.
I try to live my life in His Light and Love. I don’t allow Man…any man….to override that!
One’s spiritual path is personal. The Bible teaches the Way, and it is important that you search, pray, and depend on His guidance. If you allow Man to dictate to you what your path must be, you are going against everything Christ Jesus taught us. Even as he taught, he warned that sects and groups would rise up claiming to represent him. But he told us to not be fooled. He said that ‘in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Your personal search is of utmost importance. It’s all about the journey and the search and your sincerity and love. It’s so important that Phillipians tells us to ‘keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Corinthians tells us to keeptesting our faith and Ephesians says to keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord.
So, it’s not wrong to question anything!!! It’s wrong not to.
If you put your spiritual self in the hands of imperfect men, you are treading on serious ground. You might think it’s the right thing to do because you’ve been indoctrinated by one of these groups Christ spoke about, but your loyalty had better be to Him and not the Pope or the Dali Lama or the Governing Body, or for that matter, any organized religion that imposes itself authoritatively. It’s okay to examine these things, but you better be careful when you put God and Christ aside for an organization of imperfect men who make claims to be the sole channel of God’s Spirit. The Bible tells us there is one mediator between God and man, and that’s Christ Jesus.
You can be so indoctrinated that you become closed to real spiritual TRUTH. You can allow your ears to be tickled and allow the blind to lead you. This is dangerous and it’s no excuse. You can’t stand before Him and say ‘didn’t I do this or that in your name?’
Christ even warned about those who try to take away the key of knowledge or hinder those that seek it. Power-hungry men who seek to control others and take away their freedom to search for Truth are spiritually dangerous. They cloak themselves in sheep’s clothing, but they are actually wolves. And wolves prey on those who are spiritually weak and unable to "see" and "hear" the Truth of Christ Jesus’ message of the Kingdom, preferring instead to listen to the doctrines of these men. It’s easier to be spoon-fed by those who place themselves above others than to search out and find real spiritual food.
You can take the Bible and twist it anyway you want to by picking and choosing a scripture here and there and forcing it into some sort of preconceived context. All religions do it. Their power and control is dependent on their holding on to whatever doctrine they espouse. If they lose power and control, then they loose support…not just support in the number of members but monetary support as well.
Losing one’s faith in a man-made organization/corporation does not mean one has lost faith in God and his Word. But, the minute you figure out that something is not right to you in a particular religion, they want to put a label on you saying that you are apostate. Apostate is the wrong word if you still believe in God and his Word. Perhaps a better word is "enlightened" to describe when one leaves a failed religion or organization professing to be God’s single channel of Truth. Yes, I like the word "enlightened". Another way you could describe it is "revelation." "Yes, now I see the real Truth. What I’ve been allowing myself to ingest is against everything Christ stands for. I’ve been allowing a group of men to convince me that they are the Way, the mediator between me and God. I now have a revelation that this ‘whore’ has enticed me into buying her lies."
I hope this clarifies my position. Before you discount it, think about it....maybe even pray about it.
-
jambon1
Avi; I will read through that later & it seems an interesting thread. I am advocating using the term ex-jw in conversation with JW's because I have found that it has an astounding effect. Rather than telling you that "I will not listen to apostate propaganda", they seem more willing to listen to what you have discovered whilst talking with "other ex-jw's just like me". I find it works.
-
ldrnomo
That is an excellent point, if I do speak to any borg members I will use the term "people who used to be Jehovah's Witnesses" this I'm sure will dignify all concerned.
-
ldrnomo
How about setting up our own group of words like the witnesses for instance
Borg=the organization
Kingdumb hall=Kingdom Hall
Circus Overseer=Circuit Overseer
Field Circus=Field Service
Not the truth-the truth
Or any other suggestions
-
inkling
Anyone else feel that this is effective?
It may indeed be somewhat effective, but I can't help
thinking that it is also somewhat disingenuous... Apostasy is simply defined as: 1 : renunciation of a religious faith 2 : abandonment of a previous loyalty : defection Witnesses define it more specifically as defecting and then speaking against the
WT teachings. Christians define it as once being a Christian and rejecting Christ,
Muslums as denying Allah, etc... The fact is, many if not most of the people (including myself) on this and other like
websites ARE rejecting the teachings or at least elements of the teachings of the WT
and/or the Bible, and broadcasting such criticism to the world. I'm sorry, but the term "apostate" (though maybe distasteful and loaded) seems to fit. It's sorta like the word "atheist". It has become loaded and distasteful, but that
doesn't make it inaccurate. [inkling] -
WTWizard
What they don't recognize is that they themselves are apostates. Many have left other religions, and that makes them apostates in their former religions (those who were Catholics, for instance, become apostate Catholics when they disassociate and become witlesses). Additionally, the whole organization has left its original roots when they split off from the Adventists. That makes the witlesses the apostates. (In addition, they further deviated once Booze Rutherford banned so many normal things).
Interestingly, they make apostates out to be oppressive. Anyone that compares the witlesses with the Adventists knows that the witlesses are more oppressive, with the demands to pioneer and quit college and work part time. And, they have become more oppressive since Booze Rutherford took control even than they were when Russell was in charge.