Hey cognacs husband!
I have not been a jw, or a member of anything that i now know is known as "worldly religion". I was only introduced to jw 5 months ago by someone i love dearly, so i have looked at it "as an outsider". I tried to evaluate it. I tried to say: "it would be better if this was true". I tried to listen to her and make myself agree, i tried to read your material and i PREFER, in every way, if there is an earthly paradise waiting, and i know i would do my best to accomplish any king of work or task if it meant i could be there with those i love.
Unfortunately, i mean that, i have come to the conclusion that it is not the truth.
People here are asking you to do various things.. this is what i suggest for you:
open a beer. Then think of the following christian value that, allthough im not a christian, i very much agree with as a guide in life: allways search for truth, no matter how painfull, allways search for it, never just let yourself be satisfied that you know everything, but be active in that search. try to meditate over that, and how you do it in your daily life.
i know there are ways of searching you wont do because your conscience wont allow you, at least not for now... like i will never, ever walk in to a scientology office and take a test, or live with the moonies just one week, because i know those things are *bad* and i dont have to do it to know they are full of worthless information and distortions and will try to desieve me in an unethical fashion. similarly, i assume you feel about apostates - i will ask you to think a bit on what you *think* apostates may say that are so bad, but that is not so important. What i think you will be amazed to consider is that most here came to the realization that the organization has very little to do with god by reading what the organization itself writes. yes, no long discourses over material written by worldly religion, or slander, or "OMG all witnesses are pedofiles!!", simply reading what the watchtower has considered. So just make a descision only to consider litterature out of the watchtower itself, it wont make any difference!
Now here is the study question i invite you to look into with just witness material, no worldly propeganda: it is clearly stated in eg. the proclaimers book that jehova selected his organization in 1919 based on what spiritual food the organization served at that time. this is not something im making up or they puplished in 1938, see:
wt january 15, 2008: When Christ inspected the faithful and discreet slave’
in 1918, he found those anointed ones on earth to be
faithful in providing spiritual ‘food at the proper time.’
Hence, Jesus was pleased thereafter to appoint them
“over all his belongings.” (Read Matthew 24:45-47) -
p. 24 – See Appendix, p. 150
or gb member/leader frederick franz himself in " gods kingdom of a thousand year" 350-355:
The serving of food, the right sort of food at the
proper time was the issue. It had to be according
to this that a decision must be rendered by
the returned master [Jesus]…On inspecting [the Society]
in the year 1919 C.E… Jesus Christ did find the
appointed ”slave” faithful and discreet in the feeding
of his [disciples].
...
Could they, by even their latest record [of teachings]
down till 1919 prove that they themselves were the
composite “faithful and discreet slave” class of Jesus
Christ?… The quality of the food itself was to be considered.
– para. 40
So this is where i ask you to start: go in jesus footsteps, back in 1919, and examine what JESUS saw the WATCHTOWER WAS TEACHING that MADE HIM select them. notice that you dont have to examine teaching after 1919 - as it clearly states he selected them for the quality of the food served prior to 1919, so if you think about it, that is what you should consider.
And by consider, i dont suggest you do it by looking at apostate litterature - just find those old books and magazines! they are avaliable as scans for free, or simply read in the history book! here is a starter you should be able to answer quickly: when did rutherford and russel realize this inspection was going to happend in 1919 and that it had happened? how long time did jesus have to "knock on the door" for the "watchfull slave" to open it?
thanks for your time. i wish you the best of luck in your life. your family is the most important thing.
