How would you reason with a JW that it is okay to say Good Luck? (page 2)

carla

I often say good luck to my jw, because I do he slips up and says it too. I'm sneaky like that

KiwiBoy

Normalfulla:

Its the same as saying i wish you well. Its just one of those things people say....

And the same as everyone says when they great you: "Hello..How are you"?

Oh the Pharisees had nothing on JW's....and their heavy load of demands.

I just took the other side of the coin with brothers and said can a person be unlucky? If the person said there is no luck involved, then I quoted the scripture that says "time and unforeseen circumstances befall us all." Take it to a different level, and argue that if you are unlucky that Satan and Co. are not involved.

As mentioned above, the common reference to "luck" or "bad luck" is just the common usage of the language today. I think if you asked 100 people if the person had good or bad luck that Satan was involved. I doubt that anyone would think so. Nothing more than if a person said "I was fortunate ....." about something that some spirit medium was involved.

Just anal repressiveness.

Rub a Dub

vienne

I wouldn't. With my Witness acquaintances I just say it. They're smart enough to know I'm not worshiping the 'god of luck.' I am just wishing them well or success in life.

NewYork44M

I have the same question about saying "God bless." You will never catch a JW saying "God bless."

I usually avoid saying good luck. To me, this implies that success is outside a person's control. I prefer saying, best wishes. Do JWs, have a problem saying "best wishes?" Strange enough, I also say "God Bless" a lot. I am not sure why, given that I don't believe in god.

Vanderhoven7

No reasoning would be effective. You might try the scripture that says "time and chance happens to all men". Eccl 9:11 But the retort would be that it doesn't happen to Christians because God works all things together for good to the called who love Him. Roman's 8;28

Substitute "Best wishes" and I think you'll get away with it.

blondie

That's a case of straining out the gnat but gulping down the camel

ScenicViewer

How would you reason with a JW that is okay to say Good Luck?

We can start by showing them what their own literature says.

(W 9-1-1980 QFR p30, par4) "Gamblers often magnify 'Lady Luck.' For them "luck" is not a word merely meaning good results, but is a superhuman influence like a god. Greed and pride move gamblers to trust in "luck."" (bold added)

It seems that saying 'luck' to simply mean good results is alright, but to rely on the God of Good Luck in serious ways, such as gambling, is off limits.

I don't know if Watchtower actually taught at one time that saying 'luck' in any fashion was bad because it was pagan, and later backed up on that, or if it was simply a myth that arose among Witnesses to begin with.

At any rate, when we say 'good luck' to someone, or 'wasn't I lucky because I found a dollar,' we simply mean good results.

careful

"How would you reason with a JW"—about anything? That notion has the premise that you can reason with them. Isn't that a false premise? They only recognize their own authority.

"At least we can try!" Well, if you're into frustration and wasting your time, have at it. Most here have other ways to spend their limited amount of time.

Iamallcool

Careful, I wouldn’t try too hard to the point of frustration. All I can do is plant a small seed. We were once brainwashed witnesses. I would never try too hard to scare them off!

How would you reason with a JW that it is okay to say Good Luck?