by turtleturtle 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I will never get the chance, and if I did I wouldn't get a sensible answer, but I would love to ask a JW :
"What is so wrong with being an Apostate ?"
and then I would love being able to reason with them on their answer, but no, it ain't gonna happen.
"Persons who deliberately spread (stubbornly hold to and speak about) teachings contrary to Bible truth as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses
If you avoid doing this, you can avoid the accusation.
At what point is someone meeting this criteria. For example, if I share with my JW friend that I disagree with a certain stance, is that apostasy? I would think not, since I have known Elders that voiced their disagreement with certain doctrines (e.g. shunning).
Don't share your disagreement with them. They will see that as apostasy. Instead, ask questions based on information they already know and have been suppressing, without expressing your own opinion. If you appear to be a nutter for for holding on to two conflicting notions, that's ok. Especially if they realise that they are doing exactly that themselves.
Don't feel you have to out yourself as an apostate and debate them into submission, when all you really need to do is present them with a problem that will make it difficult for them to sleep at night.
I had my elders "shepherding" call the other week, it all came out. It's all about the manner in which you express yourself, and especially if you talk about it to other JW members.
Apostasy to the elders only really comes under their radar if someone approaches them with concern about what you've talked about. That's when it's considered "apostasy" (creating contention in the congregation).
The apostacy comes in many forms - obviously the biblical version (questioning Jesus etc), and then the societies version of questioning the GB.
The elders will try to determine whether you believe that God is directing the organisation (in other words, whether the GB are blessed and God’s organisation on earth today). That was asked to me THREE times, and I kept dancing around it (saying stuff like I’m not sure yet, haven’t made up my mind etc).
At the end of the call, they wanted reassurance that I would not talk about my “doubts” to other Witnesses. That’s the key part (and the deciding factor of whether you get disfellowshiped for it). A letter to the society would be another form of “talking about it” (or “disassociating” yourself).
At what point is someone meeting this criteria.
JWs are by definition apostate. They are teaching things today that are contrary to what they said the Bible Truths were years ago.
Example is the blood policy. When I was little, blood was absolutely forbidden. Now they allow fractions. Go figure.
In this instance 'Apostate' is cult loaded language. It labels a person in a perjorative manner.
It is an imaginary enemy that gets the JWs to rally together against this 'enemy'. It helps feed their persecution complex. It's the stuff of fairy tales and adds credence to the JW dreamworld they live in.
It's just more proof the JWs are in a CULT!!!
