by Faithful Witness 43 Replies latest jw experiences
Black Sheep,
i know you are right. I got too confident, since he was so anxious to come back, even though I was asking questions and making statements that revealed me as an opposer. thanks for reminding me I have a long way to go in this learning process. I don't want to totally blow it, my first time trying to reach someone. Thanks for the advice!
A warm welcome Faithful Witness.
What a wonderful calling and so too your embracing it.
I like Vanderhoven7's suggestion of getting them to use scripture to validate their assumptions.
Many have observed that simple questions work best.
The simpler the better.
The fewer the better.
This helps them focus - something the WBTS tries to avoid at all costs.
Asking them to explain "law vs grace" from their heart, might for example be broken down into stages over time.
They first need time to reflect on why they have no idea what "grace" is.
So one might ask them to explain "grace" from their heart.
They wouldn't be able to.
You might gently and patiently introduce them to their own "Watchtower Library Online" and how to use its search facility.
You might get them to search for these key words: grace boast gift
WOL (library) search link for "grace": http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=grace+boast+gift&p=doc
You might even go much simpler.
For example inviting them to "help" you figure out if it is true that more than half their Bible's references to "Good News" are by Paul.
If your JW "friends" are at least able to read, and count up to 152, this could be a real confidence and morale booster for them as they get to "help" you answer your "difficult" question.
Of course this begs the question why the "Good News" according to Paul is not in their hearts or on their lips.
WOL (library) search link for "Good News" in the NWT alone: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=%22good+news%22&fc[]=bi
May your patient efforts be rewarded, and encourage others to demonstrate the same care, concern and compassion for our dear lost ones.
Greetings and blessings
Fernando
South East QLD, Australia
(Left the WBTS for Jesus and the "gospel of grace" mid-2009. Now identify as SBNR.)
A friend of mine told me that her brother, an athiest, kept two young JW men coming back for two years. He knew nothing about JW, or their doctrines, he just kept asking questions. Eventually they left the church.
My point is, it's not a quick process. Most JWs have been indoctrinated for their whole lives, so don't expect to see a result in a thirty minute conversation.
Good work FW, keep it up....
Anything that makes peoole think is a good thing. Don't worry about what we people say here, you do what feels right to you x You sound like a very freindly and affable [edit] woman, wanting to encourage thinking not tear down belief. I respect you for that, I sometimes let my emotions rule and I am envious of your approach.
well done friend x
snare
Thanks for the encouragement! I have a confession to make... I'm actually a woman. :)
overall, I am very happy with the way it went, as long as he comes back. He seemed to be looking forward to it, kept saying he wanted to bring his wife.
Is that because I'm a woman? My husband is going to try to be home also. He supports this effort, and he also doesn't want me letting strangers in the house. Lol.
I threw a lot of questions at him while he was here. He kept looking into his little binder, but never came up with what he was searching for...
I told him I'd been doing some research about TTATT, and that my husband and I are closely following the new things that have been coming out these last couple of weeks in particular. I hope to get his perspective on some of that. He started talking about the "feeding many with the hands of a few," reminding me that Jesus used the disciples to feed the crowd. I asked him if the JW's simehow inherited that responsibility and he said yes.
I can say that he got me thinking, and hopefully I did the same for him. i will definitely be writing down some of my many questions, and choosing carefully. I liked the story of the atheist who got the JW's to leave, although i also don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water either!
I am appreciative of all the great insight I'm getting here... Thanks so much for the input
Another thing I'm wondering about the wife... Is she going to be a well-spoken American woman, who will intimidate me?
This man comes from cambodia. Even though he's been here a long time, I still find that to be an advantage For me.
Hello Faithful Witness,
I don't think anyone has said anything about the 7 million OR he said 8 million.
I have only heard the #7 figure , not the #8.
I would hate to think they now have 8 million, take me to your Leader(s), drones... Sad.
LoisLane
PS I like the picture of your dog.
Do not fear anybody. If you are determined to help those people calling on your house, do so in confidence and with assuritY. For they are simply mistaken and misled. Do not be intimidated, if they try it, tell them so ...'please do not try to intimidate me, i think this point is important' they can't avoid it then.
Hi Faithful Witness, If you are a women and he is a man, doesn't the WTBTS require bible studies be done by either the same sex or two witness of different sexes? A former friend who is a "Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking) JW always wanted me to study with a brother instead of her because she was either afraid of her feelings for me or it was the rules in her congregation. Just thought that you should be prepared for the possibility of reverse witnessing to two JWs or to a woman.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
I told him I'd been doing some research about TTATT, and that ...
Resist the temptation to show your hand.It is better to appear naive than to try and impress him with your repository of anti-JW 'propaganda'
Write your questions down by all means, but don't ask them. The only questions worth asking a JW are the ones you already know their rote answers for, and how to expose those answers as fraudulent. If you don't know what his answer should be, research it in their literature, or here, whatever, just don't ask him.
If his answer isn't in keeping with WT doctrine, don't ask us if he was correct until you have sent him off to get the evidence to back up his assertion. It doesn't matter if he is correct. He needs a few 'wins' to keep him coming back, but if he is wrong, he needs to do the research to prove it to himself far more than he needs your reasoning for why you don't believe him.
