My question is... Were YOU loyal to the death for Jehovah God or if push came to shove, would you have “compromised “ yourself??
Fortunately I never was in a position where it was a life or death matter but both my my non JW father and my wife's elder father died early (48 and 62) because they didn't take a blood transfusion. (My father was only studying with JWs)
I struggled as a child with this issue because we were told that we would most assuredly be persecuted and would likely have to face dying for our faith. I never could understand why failure to do so would result in me receiving the same punishment from Jehovah (everlasting death) as would be received by the one persecuting me.
We were told that our non JW family members would even turn on us. I tossed and turned many a night because I had 2 little sisters and since my father wasn't a JW, I figured he'd be against us and I'd have to get my sisters through the tribulation.
Fast forward a couple of decades, I struggled with this regarding my own kids. Would I let them die over the blood issue and how would I cope with a situation where they were taken by the "authorities" during the tribulation.
At the time I liked to think I wouldn't compromise but who can really say until it happens nonetheless, however I truly believed I SHOULD be willing to die for Jehovah and that he expected it of me.