by ellderwho 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
What has irked me lately is the way my mothers husband (elder bob) treats mom. In typical Jw fashion subserviant, always careful in speaking out of turn esspecially our weekly study( "bible study") er book study.
I have to find a way to work in the reference of treating wives the way Christ treats the church and let elder bob stew on that, but being careful not to plant seeds of resentment, with mom.
A lot of JW men, at least where I grew up, treat their wives like door mats. I remember my husband (now ex) telling me about a brother he knew who had his computer boot up with a message telling his wife to remember her place and that she is to serve him. I was always hearing that my father in law thought I should be turned into the elders for not being submissive enough. I was so submissive my work mates used to throw up when they heard the things I did for him.
Hi Elderwho,
Yes, there are some JW men who treat their wifes as you say.
I think there are many, who take the bibles words concerning the matter and abuse it. I know of many baptists who really push the man is the HEAD of the household beyond what even the bible encourages. Other faiths are guilty at it themselves.
What gets me is the amount of encouragement dubs get........NOT to act that way. Time and again they are reminded through various publications and Watchtower studies, to treat the wife as christ treated his followers and others. They do the same with gossip. They are reminded not to gossip, more than other groups I feel, ......yet they are some of the worst gossipers on the planet! Why does a group with so many reminders seem to have as many problems......or more,..... than one's who are NOT instructed on these matters? Beats me.
Gumby
What gets me is the amount of encouragement dubs get........NOT to act that way. Time and again they are reminded through various publications and Watchtower studies, to treat the wife as christ treated his followers and others.
I've noticed this as well, whenever I attended a witness wedding the one conducting it would always go on and one about how the husband is supposed to honor his wife and not act like he's some sort of boss or tyrant, while barely mentioning anything about the wife having to obey her husband.
Perhaps so many ignore this counsel because they know they can get away with it.
Why does a group with so many reminders seem to have as many problems......or more,..... than one's who are NOT instructed on these matters? Beats me.
You know the answer Gumby. More and more it is becoming clear that being a Jehovah's Witnesses, is to be one of the most psychologically and spiritually abused people alive. The pressure is intense and nonstop, far worse than any other main stream Christian organization I know of. These poor folks are cracking at the seams. It's unwise to expect them to act happy, normal or sane. They need our understanding and compassion. I feel little anger towards them anymore. It's more like I just want to walk up and hug them. j
Gumby,
Both my wife and I are Christians (trying not to use"born again") and what the bible teaches as far as husband/wife relationship hinges on the positional aspect of man/wife. I, in no way feel I am "better" than her, in fact I am nothing without her. I feel this ties in with Christ' relation to the father while he was on earth, a positional reference to the father as being "greater than I." Not better than or more important.
But this is not the case from what I see in my mothers house. Sometimes I feel like giving elder bob the ole "nose in the book treatment" from "Yosemite Sam" cartoon.
Mr. elderwho, how about sharing the story of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, and instructing them to go do likewise? A Christian man who wishes to lead must be the servant of all.
Hey James,
The pressure is intense and nonstop, far worse than any other main stream Christian organization I know of.
Perhaps this explains why when(some) Jehovah's Witness children goes bad............they REALLY go bad! It used to always blow me away how far out in left field many would go once they left.
I suppose having your future, and your thinking, all laid out for you, takes it's toll on many. When I left.....I didn't have a desire to try all the things I hadn't done and I doubt I would have acted different had I got out at an early age. Some do. I think there are a whole lot of dubs that do not have 'dubdom' deep in their souls as others. It seems to me these are the ones who go ballistic when they crack.
Wow.....did I get off the subject or what? Oh well...too much typing to erase it.
Gumby
Why do they treat women as they do despite the repeated talks to follow the example of Christ?
Well they get a dopuble message - love your wife as Christ loved the congregation but they also hear - "women be in subjection", "women as a helpmate" (notice he isn't her helpmate), "women wear a kleenex on your head to show subjection", "women be in subjection to the 14 yr old in charge of the service meeting because he is a HE and is baptized" and on and on and on. This is a misoginist organization who uses the women to do the slave labor and wash the toilets. No voice in any decision-making whatsoever on a congregational level. The men are copying not only what they are told but what they see within the cong.
Why do they gossip?
I would suspect that in the absence of any real information about what really goes on people are forced to talk and make things up. Perhaps if things were more out in the open and honest people wouldn't feel the need to talk.
Add to that the limitations on thinking, participation in normal activities that most people are busy with, lack of education, and hobbies and what they are allowed to talk about - what the heck is left? "How I fudged my field service report?"
Agreed,
I feel elder bob would explain away as Jesus just being a "good man" example. I feel I have to hit with a concrete point " love her as christ loves the church. But trying to be subtle, as moms been sitting in on our bible er book study.
