My husband MISSED the meeting today! AGAIN!!!

by Julia Orwell 25 Replies latest jw friends

  • Resistance is Futile
    Resistance is Futile
    He got very confused to say the least, asked where I think we should worship and some other questions, the answers to which I honestly confessed that I do not know.

    This issue is a huge hurdle for JWs, or anyone else in a religious cult for that matter. In a cult, salvation is dependent on association with the group, therefore anything wrong with the leader/doctrine has to be reasoned away. Because, where else will we go? Point out that the Bible is referring to Jesus, not an organization.

    You've made great progress. If he brings up this issue again, emphasis that you are not advocating that you guys need to run out and join a man-made group. Look to the scriptures, live a good life, treat others will love and respect. Is that not enough for Jehovah? If your husband asks about "who else is preaching", ask him if it's important that truth be taught, or if salvation is simply dependent on the ritualistic behavior of going door-to-door?

    You would have to tread very carefully, but you can also ask him if it matters to Jehovah that JWs have gone door-to-door teaching falsehoods? Is it important to teach truth, or to simply teach?

    I just talked to a JW, and she claimed Jehovah has always had an organization. So I politely asked her which organization Jehovah was using in the 1800s? She gave me a deer in the headlights look, and then changed her tune and said that Jehovah has always used individuals. You need to really impress on your husband that you're worried that by following imperfect men (The Governing Body), or an Earthly, man-made organization you might put yourselves into a position of being led away from the truth of the Bible.

    Ask him if it's more important to be obedient to the organization or the scriptures? Some of my JW relatives refuse to even answer this question, because their mind simply doesn't want to go there. But just bringing it up might get them thinking about it. They can't acknowledge that there could ever be a discrepancy in the two, because they've essential been taught that the Organization=Jehovah.

    I almost forgot, you shouldn't really be "telling" him anything. Ask him questions, make him explain it. You can't do the thinking for him.

    Ask him to explain John 6:68. When he drifts into the Watchtower explanation, kindly point out that you don't want to go beyond the things written, that you feel there's danger in being led away from Bible truth by doing that.

    Open the Bible Teach book to pg. 183, and have him explain what baptism signifies. It specifically says that baptism is to Jehovah God alone, not to an organization. Have him explain the discrepancy, ask him if he thinks that paragraph would be misleading to interested ones.

  • mouthy
    mouthy

    Could you work on MY family also PLEASE!!!! That is great.
    Yes he is closer to God at the beach than in the KH as someone said.

  • Honesty
    Honesty

    Have you figured out how you are going to deal with the inevitable

    'shepherding' calls if he misses 3 or 4 meetings in a row?

    The elders are going to 'remind' him where he learned the truth.

    They are going to ask him if he still believes that God is using the organisation.

    Just a friendly heads up so you can get prepared.

  • Gojira_101
    Gojira_101

    Great news Julia, I'm so happy to hear there is progress.

    Your hubby's question about how to worship is something my hubby and I had a hard time working out also, because we were both born-in and didn't know anything else.....What we have been doing is worshiping at home, we pray before every meal (which is funny because as JW's we never prayed before meals), we read our bible's, and when the opportunity comes, we speak to others about Christ. We are still living our life as followers of Christ and trying to do God's will as best we can.

    It's a hard journey, but with Christ's help you and your husband will find your way.

    It's always a good idea to go to the beach!!!!! I hope one day we can meet your hubby on here

  • NeverKnew
    NeverKnew

    Ya, Julia!

    Does he seem nervous at all?

  • Julia Orwell
    Julia Orwell

    The calls r beginning...an elder called hubby's phone after the meeting to ask if he was ok because he's missed quite a few lately, and he told the elder he was fine, and just working through a few things.

    The memorial is tomorrow and as the fade is just beginning I can't really avoid it. Damn. And the CO comes next week or week after so didn't I pick a bad time to leave! My biggest concern is they'll undo my husband's progress. He knows I got traumatized that time by those elders so hopefully he'll think twice.

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