Never Wake Up (page 8)

brotherdan

What about saying something like this:

I know that you can't be feeling good about our conversation the other night. I think the point is that we both stop criticizing each other where our beliefs are different. I wrote a LONG email about the specific things that bother me about the organization and why I feel so strongly about it. But I didn't send it. We know each other. We know that we don't always agree with each other...and that is fine. But we also know that that doesn't mean either of us is an evil person. We should never try and turn the kids against each other either. I would hate that. It can't be "Daddy doesn't go to meetings because he doesn't love Jehovah."

For my part I need to step it up in the husband category and help you out WAY more than I have been. You need to have a DEFINITE break every day/night. I can't sleep when you need help with the kids or with help around the house.

As far as meetings go, I'm having a tough time. I want to help with the kids, but the more I study the bible the more I disagree with so much at the meetings. I think I need a little break from them. I want to still help with the kids. I can go to some of them, but I'm really just having a tough time and need to figure things out. I know that this isn't ideal for you. But I've gotta try to keep a clean conscience. I felt so good while I was reading the Bible and talking to Jehovah everyday and being reassured by Him that was doing the right thing. I felt I was doing really good, and then I stopped thinking about things that I feel are important and gave up bible reading so that I could try and justify things in the organization and sure enough I feel like I'm back in the gutter again. I need to get my spiritual legs firm, and the meetings aren't helping right now. I walk away discouraged and questioning things more than ever.

sabastious

^ Good letter dan.

Very heartfelt and genuine. I think it has a great chance of being accepted.

-Sab

brotherdan

Cool. Just sent it with this last paragraph:

I only want to be a strong spiritual husband for you and a strong spiritual father for the kids. That, above all else, is my goal. I've gotta know that what I'm doing and supporting is what is right. And right now, it doesn't feel like it has been. I just need to get my head straight with Jehovah and make sure that my family is cared for in the way that HE wants. Not the way that I want or the way that we were both taught growing up. Maybe the way were both taught growing up is right. But maybe it isn't.

Regardless, please just pray the same prayer that I have been praying for virtually every day. "Jehovah, PLEASE show me the way to go. I want to follow YOUR truth, no matter where it takes me. I'm not afraid."

I love you!

tec

I like the letter also. Honesty and sincerity is always best, though sometimes the outcome is not as we hoped. But I have also never been in your situation and there are others with more experience than me in this matter.

Tammy

tec

I wanted to add that more than liking your letter, I also agree with it, especially the part about you finding your spiritual legs. You have to be certain in your faith, wherever it leads you, or how can you hope to help and guide your children?

Tammy

Ding

It's very tough when God opens your eyes but your loved ones still see everything through Watchtower glasses.

Undercover has some good suggestions.

I would just add that if you think that directly pointing out the inconsistencies, flip flops, and fallacies you hear in the meetings would be counterproductive (i.e. just leading to further fights with your wife defending the WT and maybe even reporting you to the elders), you might take a more subtle approach.

This is where the "headship" concept can come in handy.

Create a Bible study time at home with your wife where the two of you study the Bible and only the Bible in context. You don't even have to describe it that way. Just tell her you want to just study the Bible itself together at home. When you hear heresy or nonsense at the KH, make sure that during the next week you and your wife read relevant parts of the Bible that refute the WT's position on that issue. For example, if they rail against holidays, make sure you include Romans 14 that week. Don't criticize the WT directly. Just let the Word do its work and be praying silently for God to open her eyes.

Make sure you cover passages dealing with coming to Jesus for salvation, salvation as a free gift, Jesus as the only way, the identity of Jesus, etc.

In fact, you could do some topical studies. Both of you use a concordance and come up with all the verses you can find dealing with, say, the Holy Spirit. Read them out loud together and discuss them. Don't try to teach your wife. If you really want to press a point, such as the personality of the Holy Spirit, you can ask your wife if she's ever had anyone at the door cite that passage to claim that the Holy Spirit is a person. Don't argue with her. Just ask non-sarcastic questions.

Let her pick topics for this type of study. Let's say she picks "God's organization." Fine. Both of you come up with passages. For example, read through Acts 15. Why did they have this meeting? Who presided? What was James' role? What was Paul's role? What does Paul say about this meeting in Galatians 2? Look at Acts 17 and study why Paul said that the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians.

What you'll be doing is studying the Bible in context, something the WTS doesn't do. Model how to study the Bible inductively in context rather than just using WT proof-texts. You don't even have to tell her the WT is wrong. Make some rather unobjectionable observations and ask her to say what she gets out of that text. Be praying that God will take her WT blinders off as He did with you.

Never Wake Up

brotherdan

sabastious

brotherdan

tec

tec

Ding

brotherdan

watersprout

brotherdan

Sam Whiskey

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