How did I view them?
As a child like role models.
As a person who has been through several years of elders meetings trying to get reinstated, liars.
It really is not that hard to keep matters confidential yet they failed. For years I wanted to sue them for breach of promise. Never did because they would lie.
Strange but only original JC are suppose to know why some was dfd but when someone moves letters go out expressing the details. Prior to my reinstatement, I changed KH and I let them know that I was not going to confess my sins of 20 years ago to them and really their was something wrong with the other KH who would not forgive others. Anyhow, the new elders promised that they would never find out why I was dfd and only the original elders only needed to know. After reinstatement,I was on the phone with one of the new elders and he confessed talking with one of my original elders! I guess he was trying to clear his conscience by trying to convince me why he did it was to help me out. JOKE on me right! Not only was he a liar but shared it with his wife. I noticed how she treated me and his face broke every time he saw me!
It just something I never got over! I am sorry for bringing this up again but for years I wanted to sue them for breach of contract. They broke a promise to me. Not just one elder but I went to another hall for years that was not the original elders they claimed new original elders and never got in contacts ever with the original elders. A part from sin, they deliberately refused to reinstate me. Yes they keep people out! These elders went along with this 80 year old elder who was the first elder in these parts. Anyhow, it was a mess and the old guy held a grudge against me that had nothing to do with me getting reinstated. The problem was that he was a an elder all of us admired and trusted growing up. Him and his wife studied with a lot of people. It was known who he studied with and who he didn't. Fifteen years later I found out that there is no such thing as inventing a new original elders,JC, to take the place of the old original elders. Another elders committee let me know the rules which they in return broke.
I learned about the elders manual online, I did not know they had a manual. How can people know the rules if they do not have the book.
SO how I viewed them as a child with false respect.
Now I view the JW elders as not just imperfect people but practising the art of deception. They are taught extreme excuses for their behaviours. Do they ever take responsibility for their actions. I had one elder who had a pornography problem while getting me reinstated. He always looked down the sisters breast and down their blouses. Crazy! Most practice lying, dishonesty, depression, and one pornography. NOT FROM GOD! But from the food of demons.
They do more long term damage. They are like contacting a virus. Some viruses stay in your body for twenty days but the long term harm is a life time of illnesses.
Hope this helps some naive person who thinks of confessing one's sin! Elders and Hitler have a lot in common.
