Ever heard that phrase? "He is his own worst enemy.."?
Of course, the meaning is obvious: some persons do themselves far more harm than a dedicated enemy could.
Are YOU your own worst enemy?
Do you talk when you should listen?
Do you look for offense in the words of others and leap in to complain?
Are you quick to turn any disagreement into a fight?
I think such things are a habit....a bad habit.
I know people who do this constantly. It causes me to examine my own behavior and check my habitual reactions for signs.
For example.
I was a sweet kid. I was quiet and shy. I got picked on. I just drew that upon myself by being meek.
When confronted I would passively try to avoid trouble. Even to the point of backing away and taking scorn.
Now, as I got a bit older and involved with Jehovah's Witnesses I think some of that bullying drove me to embrace "the TRUTH"
because it was covert hostility and passive aggressive in tone.
Using a powerful weapon on others was intoxicating and filled me with a sense of power and purpose.
That weapon, of course, was THE BIBLE. I drove that sword in up to the hilt quite often :)
Ironically, I ended up in prison as a JW for refusing induction into the military. I stood up to the Draft Board, the F.B.I. and a Federal Judge
with just my bible in hand and a bad haircut and baggy suit.
Federal Prison was filled with bullies. But, the JW brothers stood together. We brought ATTENTION on ourselves and faced it like it was persecution.
It set me thinking......ARE JW'S their OWN worst enemies rather than Christendom or Satan or persecutors who hate god?
Weren't we trained by the Watchtower to BE OUR OWN WORST ENEMIES and them blame others when it came?
Russell and Rutherford painted targets on their own ass with public hatred disguised as bible truth. They made fun of Catholics, Big Business,
Patriotism--you name it! If people in society held something dear and precious the JW'S were out to desecrate it in the name of Pure Worship!!
JW'S don't go out of their way to be meek, mild and even-tempered when they are attacking the cherished beliefs of others.
They JAM IT IN and break it off at the hilt! Then, they cry "Persecution!"
Sure, it was okay to mock, belittle, decry and condemn others to death at Armageddon....but, wow! When it came their way...JWs howl like pups.
But, really....they were their OWN worst enemy!
Now that we are no longer JWs.........have we found------yet and still...another way to be OUR own worst enemies here on JWN?
Do we pick fights by polarizing each other with Atheist/Christian baiting, mocking sincerety, drawing a line in the sand just to bring on the rain?
Or, is there something more constructive in what we say and how we post? Does everything have to end up US vs THEM?
I'm just wondering...............Do you feel like you've made ANY PROGRESS AT ALL??