Hi TTE,
Thanks for the thanks! :) I'm just glad to help.
I read the thread again. I found this is so poignant
They say "EXERCISING faith in Christ's ransom" is doing alot for the WTS, that pisses me off, so bad that I get up 4 or 5 times a meeting to get some air, cause I feel like I'm gonna puke
I think it is just as well I never got to go to the kingdom hall. I would have probably grabbed the mic and got myself killed like my namesake Acts 7
Anyhow, even though you are riding the rapids right now, at least you are paddling hard to get out of the smooth flowing water that is the serenity of being a JW. The truth is, the current is strong and the going is hard. Those around seem unconcerned of the warning signs they have seen along the way and ignored such as "waterfall ahead", "exit via the safety path". You might be able to help them, or you may not but for sure, you need to follow the signs and heed the warnings for yourself. There will be no helping them staying around and as you go over the waterfall saying "I told you so".
I feel this, you need to not write off your wife yet. I understand your situation, sure it seems like she is inseparable from the WT right now but rest assured, that situation can flip around so quick you won't quite believe it! I was faced with a similar situation about three years ago. I had been reading my bible for a while but when I started going to church my wife really started flipping out. She gave me plenty of grief and some ultimatums like "its me or Jesus" and such. I had already decided change was long overdue and there was no turning back. However, I kept some verses from this passage in my heart.
1 Corinthians 7
Marriage
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Do not leave her. If she leaves you then OK, you are not bound by marriage.
17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
Same message again. That likely does not mean God wants you sit in the kingdom hall, least you puke up all over the place!
However, I feel that you should neither flee like Jonah from the place and people God has called you to Jonah 1
You are going feel like you are dead for three days but you are going to be liberated like you never thought you could be soon.
This also stuck out for me.
Also yeah I'm not sure where I wanna head next far as faith goes, but I am curious to know what a real christian is, the more I see that JW's are NOT chrisitans the more I wanna learn you know?
I would persure that. You have pretty much already worked out what Christianity isn't. I want to say again what I have found it is about Ephesians 2 Galatians 6:14
The warning signs are good, 607, 1914, 1975 etc. but I do not think most of them point the way or the appropriate action to avoid the waterfall, they just warn.
Some argue there is no clear path around the waterfall. Other say there are many paths. That is for us all to find out. For sure, there are those that make it to the bank and are lying there, half dead through exhaustion. Others get caught in the strong undercurrents of the stream and are dragged helplessly back into the flow. There is one reaching out to you, calling your name who will make it easy to get to the bank. He will show the path through the jungle that takes you straight around the waterfall. I cannot help you like He can, I am "just the voice calling in the desert" Isaiah 40:3 John 1:27 Mark 1
Blessings :) Keep in touch.
Stephen
