Just heard a great one from my JW brother...

tenyearsafter

One of my nephews just was married and I was invited to the wedding on the day of the wedding (not the reception of course)! I thanked him for the invite but declined so as to not make the day uncomfortable for my nephew and his new bride. My other nephew (the brother of the groom), who is DF'ed, went and said he was treated like a dead man walking. He told me that people would not even make eye contact with him. Of course both mine and my "bad" nephew's gifts were accepted without hesitation. All of this was to be expected, but here is the kicker:

My brother said he loved and missed me...and he wanted us to be a family again. He then said that he wanted us to be able to celebrate the next wedding (my last nephew's) completely and as a family. How does he see that happening? He said, "I should take immediate steps to get reinstated so that I could make the family "whole" again"!!! Sheesh...I was kinda blindsided by that one and didn't have a snappy response to that comment.

My brother is a great guy (ex-elder) and very intelligent. I have my suspicions that he is primarily in still to keep harmony with his wife and kids, but he would never directly admit it. My question to the group is:

How would you respond to him in a kind and loving way to get him thinking of how irrational his suggestion is?

AnnOMaly

"You want me to be reinstated just for the sake of the family? But aren't I supposed to want reinstatement for the sake of Jehovah and because of wanting to repent 'in a godly way'?"

mouthy

I was deeply moved by your expression of loving me .Shows the LOVE of Christ ,
that we were told we should have.( scriptual) It hurt me also not to see my nephew get married.
but I did it out of love also. I knew I would be shunned ,as you are ordered to do.
so thought it kinder to deprive myself of the joy, rather than spoil THEIR day.
I wont be coming back to the Organization,as I believe it is wrong to teach hate.
The most important teaching I get from scripture is LOVE,even enemies.....
I will love you till the day I die ,Truthfully
----------------------------------------------------------------

Thats what I would respond.

passwordprotected

"Jesus said he was the way, THE TRUTH and the life and that only by accepting him would I be pleasing God. Accepting Jesus isn't dependent on me being reinstated as a JEHOVAH'S Witness. My love for you is without condition, as was Christ's for me. It would be great if you felt the same way."

BluesBrother

to get him thinking of how irrational his suggestion is?

it is not irrational to theactive dub. Indeed it is exactly the kind of moral blackmail that the WTS uses in order to justify their stance. It often works too. The idea is that shunning by the congo and particularly the family will pressure the errant one back to the fold. How many d.fd ones did we know who came back, some only so they could be with family 'cos they instantly faded again.

Your brother is just reaching out in the manner of his parent organization whose words he follows. BTW I love Mouthy's response . That would put a reasonable person to shame . Well done Grace..

Billy the Ex-Bethelite

He said, "I should take immediate steps to get reinstated so that I could make the family "whole" again"!!!

A whole family, huh? So, should you call Watchtower Corporation "Big Brother"?

Sorry, I guess that doesn't sound so kind and loving. I'll give it more thought...

B the X

Quirky1

If my brother chose to shun me over religion I guess I wouldn't have a brother but that would'nt ever happen in my family no matter what. How can one choose religion over family? I cannot understand that concept.

civicsi00

I loathe the way the WT organization inserts itself into FAMILY like this. Since when does being a family member dependent on which religious organization you belong to?

I liked Mouthy's response best...

Billy the Ex-Bethelite

I suppose you could reassure him that these truly are the Last Days before you return to Botchtower (but don't call it "Botchtower", I guess). Yes, very soon now, you will pursue reinstatement. Within this generation you will be back in the fold.

Or you could tell him that indeed you must return since you are a member of the ever-increasing "little flock". Let him know you'll be bringing your own wine and crackers to the Memorial next year, since you are sure they aren't using suitable "Jesus Juice" in their ceremony.

Hmm, I'm still not much help. Well, Mouthy did take the best answer it looks like.

B the X

out4good3

He then said that he wanted us to be able to celebrate the next wedding (my last nephew's) completely and as a family. How does he see that happening? He said, "I should take immediate steps to get reinstated so that I could make the family "whole" again"!!! Sheesh...I was kinda blindsided by that one and didn't have a snappy response to that comment.

OH boy.......you really should've seen that one coming a mile away.

That being said, how about they just invite you without following all of the WT "BS bible-based" protocols.

Just heard a great one from my JW brother...

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