by minimus 96 Replies latest jw friends
The elders were informed and they called the Society and were told that something in print will soon be available regarding this subject
Well, they already have had this attitude about clapping for or showing any sign of gratitude to a person being re-instated.
There reason............" Why clap for someone who is doing what their SUPPOSED to be doing anyway. Why rejoice for someone who erred and is coming back....they should have never erred in the first place".
Gumby
graduation parties "honor" the person by name, do they not? everyone comes and gives presents to the graduate....i dont see the difference?
aa
Hi Minimus,
I wish your family no ill-will, but in the outworking of time, this may be a good thing.
As one of our more insightful members pointed out not too long ago, the average Dub begin to doubt WHEN IT BECOMES PERSONAL.
The dry sacks of dung in Brooklyn that run the lives of six million people worldwide will leave this world a much better place if they'd step out of a high window and go to their "reward."
What do ya think???
I think that Theodore Jaracz is still very much in control of policy-making.
HS
It boils my blood to read about, but it doesn't surprise me in the least. It is their policy, even if they haven't laid it out specifically. Are your in-laws spiritual senses really so dulled that they couldn't discern the wishes of the governing body on this?
There has been a steady smashing down of all parties since I went into JW hell in 1984. They started having articles about JW DJd house parties even when chaparoned, they began a campaign against JWs going to clubs even in large GROUPS and with ELDERS there, they started squashing "congregation picnics" which mine had had every year at an elders home, they dutifully squashed Witness Bands, then dancing at clubs, then having ANY kind of gathering that was too big and could lead to illicit behaviors, then articles were out about wedding receptions being too much FUN and whether having alcohol there was a good idea at ALL...and ON and ON and ON. And yeah...those reinstatement parties. They happened anyway. They also clamped down on handing out invitations to ANYTHING at the hall including Tupperware parties because they were like the money changers at the temple commercializing Gods Home for their own benefit. Just when you think they couldnt possibly RIDE these poor people any harder...they find some new and inventive way of destroying their spirits.
This is such a regional thing. When living in Hawaii, parties like the above mentioned were regular and LOTS of fun. I had a joint HS graduation party with my best JW friend Jason Nakamura. Many of the other JW kids did the same thing. (We had a big graduating class that year with lots of JW kids.) Also, every Sunday night there was a park where HUNDREDS of young brothers and sisters would gather to play volleyball and basketball and just hang out. It was always well chaperoned and elders, nor the COs didn't frown on it. Beach parties were also regularly scheduled, many attended, and well chaperoned by the elders. Part of the reason I think I enjoyed being a witness so much in HS was because in Hawaii, it was truly fun! (There were other major issues, but the fellowship was great!)
When I moved to Kansas immediately after HS graduation, things changed drastically. NONE of the above parties were allowed, even on a small scale. We invited three families one Sunday for lunch after the meeting. Daddy had the elders down on him faster than white on rice. I remember being dumbfounded and I think even Dad was, but he followed their directions. We didn't have more than one family over at a time after that. ANY type of fellowship - even in the congregation - was monitored and severely limited. Is it any wonder I went to my worldly friends for friendships? I could barely have them at the Hall! It's no wonder that after my DFing my parents moved back to Hawaii. I wonder sometimes if it's still like that there. Maybe that's what's keeping them "in".
I do believe that these types of things HAVE to make a person see that this control group is so so bad. The organization CONTROLS EVERYTHING YOU DO. Applause, don't applause. Have fellowship and welcome one back with no strings attached, don't make them feel TOO good. I told my SIL that what I've been saying isn't so wrong after all, is it? She said that my brother said last night, "Now I know why my brother thinks the way that he does".
I remember back in the early 70's a family was going to have a "Prodigal Son" party for their son who had been reinstated. Same thing happened. It got cancelled. No one understood that one. If they claim to follow the Bible, why not?
The explanation was that a reinstated person has been reproved, so if someone had just been reproved, would you throw them a party? Dumb.
I've been to a DF'd party before. I bet it was way more fun than any reinstatement party.
