by Balaamsass2 20 Replies latest jw friends
LHG;
This religion is almost kaput.
It is now evident by the a$$emblies or CONventions. You'd see arenas prior covid with rivers of empty seats.
Now smaller venues,, much smaller venues.
They were saying on SixSreens recently,,,, I think it was Gilbert Gonzalez that you can tell by how a circuit is performing. Is by how well attended assemblies or conventions are.
I'll also point out:
I have plenty of classmates I graduated High School with that I'm friended with on Facebook. They've got children, younger and also teen. Some of them are very active in their churches. Why? Because they aren't total borefests and offer upbuilding, uplifting, and positive things to do.
Mid to late 2000's, after I was first married, I started to visit some of my in-laws local churches. Advent Lutheran, Methodist, etc, etc. Just visiting, kind of to satisfy my curiosity and also to see how services were. Ya know, see if Satan was really running the show?
I tell you all, it was like a breathe of fresh air! Everyone was cordial and welcoming. I was probably the only person in their 20's in a full suit and tie except the Old Wanzzz. Most people were what I'd call "business casual", which is now what WatchTower has adopted. Anyway....there were separate services for the children, teens, etc. However, they could also CHOOSE to stay with their parents. Afterwards, they had their own age-appropriate activities. There were adult classes, other types of classes and courses throughout the week focusing on the bible, health, finance, helping the needy, etc. Also, there was a printed report, EACH WEEK....detailing out ALL of the accounts for the Congregation. What bills came in, tithes that came in, bills paid, money given to the needy, the poor, assistance, and also a separate line item for their Missionary Work/ers in a foreign land. Everything was out in the open for people to see.
People enjoyed being there. There was actual WORSHIP. The sermons were def more UPLIFTING and positive. There was a focus on God, Jesus, and the FRUITAGES OF THE SPIRIT.
Now there's a long-since dead term in JW-Land. The "Fruitages of the Spirit." This is not to be confused with the McCallens spirits that flow free at WT HQ. No!
Those Fruitages are now completely absent in JW-Land. They've been replaced with, "Listen, Obey, and be Blessed!" Oh.....and "Give until it hurts, then give some more!"
The youth at the churches I visited were involved, volunteered, had fun together. They're now adults with children of their own, and are continuing on. So really, which religions are being shown favor? Which ones are displaying Christ-like qualities and the Fruitages of the Spirit? Not the JW's, that's for damn sure!
So yeah, this cult is hemorrhaging youth from the self-inflicted death of a 1,000 cuts that it committed upon itself. If only they would accept transfusions?
Wing Commander, I completely agree with you. I brought my daughter to church, toddler through teen. She made lifelong friends there, she THRIVED as a teen, involved with projects and mission trips through the church. She helped with Hurricane Katrina cleanup, and helped build an orphanage in Ecuador. She chose a Christian college to attend, married a Christian man. She is a happy Christian, unburdened with the FOG that I had growing up.
WING COMMANDER:
All so true! Other churches have activities for all ages and are pleasant to attend. What a contrast to the *dead* JW religion that has nothing but gloom and doom and a toxic environment! I don’t believe the Witnesses ever had Fruits of the Spirit.
I guess being Catholic and then making the mistake of getting involved with the JWs turned me off.. But, even the Catholic Church has come a long way and those I know now who attend are content.
Again, other churches have social programs for the needy.. In contrast, Witnesses have none.. This is too bad in light of all the needy it created by telling them not to get careers.. I feel it would be the ‘Christian’ thing to do to help their people out in some way (the many who reached retirement age unprepared thanks to never getting those careers or decent jobs).
I’m so Glad today I followed my gut and never fell for anything they said.
LHG
You did exactly what what the Borg did NOT want you to do.
You came to your senses & developed critical thinking skills..
Good on you!!!!
BETH SARIM:
It is enough to make me cringe if I think about what horrible predicament I would be in today if I had caved in to pressure years ago by the Witnesses to quit my full-time job to do housecleaning/pioneering!.. Thank God I resisted.
I am sorry I missed the opportunity to tell off certain older Witnesses who have passed away. I would have rubbed this in their faces.
This would have been no laughing matter for me if I were gullible. The JW religion would not be supporting me in my senior years.. I would be knocking on Christendom’s doors for help.. JWs have NO social programs to help the needy which is ironic in view of their contributing to this ‘neediness’ with telling people not to get college or careers!👎
I firmly believe that religions should be required to have some programs to help the poor and needy if they want to keep their tax exempt status!
Again, I am thankful I did what I did and listened instead to the wisdom of my (non-JW) Catholic family and friends!
Some of us dont check our brains at the door..
Critical thinking,,,, skills.
....and some of their brains & souls too.
BETH SARIM:
We are going to hear more and more about the ramifications on this topic as yet more JWs either wake-up or get kicked out of bethel…..There is another thread by some innocent person asking about People who Worked Free for the Cult for Many Years, etc.
IF the religion sells off halls and goes online at some point - I think this will be devastating to many JWs as they realize they cannot depend on their religion that they saw as a ‘Rock’.
This is ALL a horror story and should serve as a cautionary tale for gullible people who did not work/prepare and made the mistake of trusting in any religion for important things in their life. 😮 God gave you a brain and capabilities and never told you to trust in someone else to think for you!
