"You're Stumbling Me"

by Ding 21 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  No Room For George

  NoRoomForGeorge:

  Hmm. Nobody seemed to be concerned if they were stumbling me. I actually considered it the height of arrogance on anybody's part that other people should be expected should put up with their idiosyncrasies or "issues". What about reining in your bad behavior??? Has anybody ever thought of that? Isn't it more Christian for everybody to watch themselves instead of acting like petulant, despotic delusionals?

  I got so tired of this behavior and as far as I was concerned, only somebody of extreme age or terminal illness would be humored by me. I was not emotionally blackmailed by anybody and there were some people I refused to be around.

  Thanks for posting the flipside of that coin! Usually when I think about people being stumbled, I think of overly sensitive types looking for a reason to get offended, but as you pointed out, it goes both ways. There are those JWs out there with poor behavior who aren't even aware of themselves. Funny how those same ones will be the first ones pointing their finger at what somebody else does for recreation, or how that person makes a living.
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  Yan Bibiyan

  You just stumbled me!

  I have a near death intolerance for the word "stumble" and when I hear or read it, I have to stop working immediatelly and spend the rest of the day with my shrink ($250)

  Since it's your fault, you should pick up the bill.
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  poopsiecakes

  I've said before and truly feel that this religion is ONLY about appearance and show. Anything that the WT concedes is a 'conscience matter' is not about the individual making a personal choice, it's about the conscience of the individuals in the congregation who are most likely to get stumbled by your conscience and everyone MUST take into consideration everyone else's conscience in the said 'conscience matter'. What a joke...

  I was once counseled by an elder to not sit with a single brother in the hall because 'some people' are wondering what the nature of our relationship was. I told the elder to tell those people to mind their own business and that maybe they need counselling on meddling and gossip. He insisted that unless we're seriously dating or engaged, we have no business sitting together. I just looked at him and asked where may I please find this in the bible...he kinda left me alone after that but it also put a kink in a perfectly innocent situation, and made me and my friend uncomfortable to just sit and enjoy one another's company at the hall. grrrrr.
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  cofty

  Good point Ding, you are right it was very manipulative when people claimed to be stumbled by somebody else's choices.

  One of the public talks I used to give regularly was the one on conscience and I used to enjoy making this point. I used to enjoy giving that talk, my main theme was how we all needed to allow each other to exercise our individual consciences.
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  sabastious

  Congregation members are so frightened of stumbling others that they will hide entertainment cases of works they consider perfectly conscionable in fear of inducing this mystical "stumbling" effect. They are walking on eggshells for their religion.

  -Sab
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  Scully

  Nowadays I love, love, LOVE turning that little phrase against them whenever a JW behaves badly toward me or my family.

  Snub me at the grocery store? I walk right up to them and say Hello, and ask them why they'd ignore someone who was nothing but nice to them when I used to go to the KH, and say something like "It's no wonder people like me are reluctant to go back with an unloving attitude like that. You really should watch that you don't stumble anyone else."

  JW family member leaves me out of a "family business" type email? I usually find out when others realize I haven't chimed in and forward the email to me. I'll fire off an email to the offender and say that I hope it was just an oversight and not deliberate unloving meanness to exclude me, because I'd be very stumbled over that.

  Once I realized that far too many self-righteous JWs use that phrase to manipulate and control others in the congregation, I started turning it on them. It was great for my self-esteem to make them squirm for a change.
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  Band on the Run

  I feel so bad when I drink wine with a meal with an alcoholic. When I ask if they will mind, I am reassured. Some Twelve Step groups want to return to Prohibition.

  I love the scriptural rejoinders to the WTS doctrines. They are usually pithy and from important Bible books. I had no idea how many there were until I came to this site. I love them!
• 

  exwhyzee

  If you stumble someone....you're bad,

  If you're easily stumbled or let someone stumble you....you're bad.

  He who is easily stumbled, becomes overly strict and sets the rules for everyone else and expects everyone else to tip-toe around him.

  The super strict overly sensitive ones are usually the ones who are 2 seconds from "falling out of the TRUTH"

  The reason they are so sensitive and easily stumbled is because on some level they know the whole thing is a sham.
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  Dark Lord of the Evil Slave Class

  The original post is the single-best comment on stumbling I've ever seen, and nails what I hate about the concept.
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  OUTLAW

  Stumbled?..

  Too Bad..Grow the Eff-Up!..

  JW`s are Children..

  They stomp and cry to get what they want..

  ..................... ...OUTLAW