Love Is The Watchtower's Greatest Weakness

by metatron 14 Replies latest jw friends

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  metatron

  I recently attended a Witness get-together and found that despite my fake hours and lack of nearly all meeting attendance,

  I had no trouble 'blending in' - even with committed elders. I'm not a social genius by any reckoning - but a smile, a few jokes,

  and expressing genuine concern about suffering people can go along way towards breaking down the mental barriers they

  may have erected.

  Do you still have Witness friends? Can you improve relations with your Witness relatives?

  Don't try to beat them down with a lot of Watchtower exposure - Remember your Witness training about teaching?

  "I have many things to tell you but you are not able to bear them at present" is a valid principle, in the "truth" or out.

  "Converting" your relatives - especially older Witnesses - may not be a realistic goal. Getting them to give a little - in the

  realm of kindness and unconditional love - IS a worthy objective.

  If they would find offense at receiving a gift on Christmas, would they accept it two or three days afterwards?

  How about a nice card once in a while?

  Take the lead in any act of charity or generosity they are likely to observe. Build yourself into an example of cheer

  and optimism - that may contrast with the darkened mindset of most Witnesses. Make honest compassion

  the centre point of your life.

  Don't get discouraged in this pursuit. REMEMBER you always have a strong ally in the Watchtower Society!

  They drop sharing of meals at assemblies, take away a hundred and twenty year tradition of mailed subscriptions,

  offer dead meetings, and make endless DEMANDS for more, more, more --- all the while offering less, less, less.

  As long as they are dominated by cold hearted and meanspirited old men, you will ALWAYS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE!

  ...... as long as you remember to reach out and love.

  metatron
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  Will Power

  Beautiful post ... this is my sssshhhh ... new years resolution.

  I'm having such a hard time getting started tho, would you be interested in writing a generic (huge) ice (berg) breaker?

  WP
• 

  micheal

  I recently attended a Witness get-together and found that despite my fake hours and lack of nearly all meeting attendance,

  I had no trouble 'blending in' - even with committed elders. I'm not a social genius by any reckoning - but a smile, a few jokes,

  and expressing genuine concern about suffering people can go along way towards breaking down the mental barriers they

  may have erected.

  Yes, you may have done this but make no mistake, many if not all spoke behind your back saying in a very arrogant tone something to the effect, " Isn't it funny metatron can come to get togethers but can't make it to the meetings". Which really proves your point regarding the lack of love they feel.
• 

  Flowerpetal

  That was a really great post!!!

  Since I am an only child, and my parents are dead, and my cousins live in other states, I don't have that pressure of trying to convince my relatives that I have the "truth." I did visit some of my cousins and an aunt early in December, BUT witnessing was the last thing on my mind. What I want to do is have a connection with family.

  My mom was a witness since 1941, and she loved reading the Bible. I would say she was like some of the people mentioned here by former witnesses, who know older ones at the hall who are kind. My mom only has one living sister, in Maryland and a brother in California. I want to visit both real soon. Family is important, no matter what their beliefs are--and for an only child, I think it's imperative to connect with whatever family you have left because you never know how life will change or what circumstances will come about that you need your family around you or you with them.
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  Room 215

  That may be true Micheal, but I agree with Metatron that taking the ``high road" and exuding a considerate, thoughtful, optimistic personality is not only the most principled course, but may well be the most effective way of puncturing the WT's stereotype of a skulking, bitter, self-important ``apostate" to anyone who shows signs of disaffection, fading or slowing down.

  Bravo, Meta; it's one of your best.
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  minimus

  Lack of Love seems to be the reason why jws leave. If we show them love, especially if we're not df'd, then, we might be able to show them the difference! Met, I know what you're talking about regarding just saying a few of te right things and the ole boys treat you like you're still one of them.
• 

  GentlyFeral

  micheal said,

  make no mistake, many if not all spoke behind your back saying in a very arrogant tone something to the effect, " Isn't it funny metatron can come to get togethers but can't make it to the meetings".

  In a liberal church you wouldn't necessarily get that kind of snide crap.

  When I was a Unitarian, one of my church friends told me that when she resigned from the church temporarily, she felt obliged to skip all the social gatherings too. But by the time she told me that, I'd already come to feel that "the social element" was also a vital function of congregational life, and that by staying away altogether she was depriving the church of her personality. I think (I hope) I told her so.

  Reminds me of another incident early in our family's Unitarian period. Hubby missed church one day because he was working for a friend without pay, trying to help him salvage a failing business. A church friend asked where he was, and I explained.

  Friend said, "Oh, so your husband is doing his spiritual work somewhere else this morning. Tell him I said hi."

  Husband was floored when he heard that.

  GentlyFeral
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  micheal

  That may be true Micheal, but I agree with Metatron that taking the ``high road" and exuding a considerate, thoughtful, optimistic personality is not only the most principled course, but may well be the most effective way of puncturing the WT's stereotype of a skulking, bitter, self-important ``apostate" to anyone who shows signs of disaffection, fading or slowing down.

  I agree 100%. But it must be natural and real and not a typical jw "love" that is forced and put on with only conversion in mind.
• 

  metatron

  Well, a few may have felt that way but in many congregations countless Witnesses are having doubts themselves.

  If they see people who 'drift away' being happy and successful, it will have an effect.

  When I go to a Kingdom Hall these days, what do the attendees make me think about?

  Wilted plants - lots of them. Like pointsettias that haven't been watered.

  I aint wilting!

  ... and YES, you must make your compassion sincere, not fake/plastic/Witness-like! I agree!

  metatron
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  concerned mama

  A wonderful post, Metatron.

  You can't force information on those who don't want to see, but perhaps a softer approach opens their eyes.

  There was a time when the softer approach was encouraging a rapport with someone, but I lost my temper in frustration over the blood issue, and the level of communication never recovered.

  I have very little contact with active Witnesses now, so when I do, all I hope is that they come away with the idea that there are some kind, trying to be good, ordinary "worldly" people.