My niece is working toward baptism :(

by Nosferatu 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  Nosferatu

  First of all, here's what the family's like. My brother is by no means a JW. He's incredibly happy that I never got involved in the religion. His wife, however, became a JW after they were married. She's also not a very good JW since she has taken up smoking again. She's become a secret smoker (even her son knows that) and she tries to hide it from her children (obviously not working).

  Anyway, we went to visit my parents last night. My mother told us that my niece (who is 11 years old) is considering working toward baptism. Also, nobody is supposed to tell my brother that she is considering this. She's such a wonderful kid, and neither me nor my wife are happy to hear this.

  Me and the wife were talking about this last night. She suggested that I tell my brother and hopefully he'll put a stop to it. However, my brother has very limited knowledge of the religion itself, and I don't think it'll work. I think my best avenue is to go through his wife, who isn't a very good JW anyway.

  I smell a breaking up of a family in the future. Any ideas on what to do?
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  under74

  Well, I'm not sure if this will be helpful to you but when my mom started pressuring me (around age 13) I used the "spiritual maturity defence." It goes like this-when you're pre-teen to teen you're too immature to make decisions. you're not allowed to date until you're mature enough. You're not allowed to drive until you're mature enough. You're not allowed to pair-up with another young witness during field service until you're mature enough. I was told that being baptised was a major life decision and at 11 years of age how is that mature enough? I wouldn't get into how "it might be a mistake" with your sister-in-law if she's a JW but I would point out to her that your niece might not be able to comprehend the power of baptism and it might be better for her to wait and have a better understanding of what she is doing.
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  funkyderek

  I'm inclined to agree with under74's suggestion. Baptism is supposed to be symbolic of a lifetime dedication, more important and unbreakable than marriage. Clearly, your niece is too young to get married. Similarly, she's too young to make a spiritual commitment of this magnitude. Jesus waited until he was 30.
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  Mary

  She suggested that I tell my brother and hopefully he'll put a stop to it. However, my brother has very limited knowledge of the religion itself, and I don't think it'll work. I think my best avenue is to go through his wife, who isn't a very good JW anyway.

  I'd tell them both and fill your brother in on the religion. It never amazes me how Dubs criticize the Catholic Church for infant baptism, stressing that "Jesus was 30" when he got baptized, yet they turn around and let children get baptized.........makes perfect sense eh?

  It's pretty obvious why they allow/encourage kids to get baptized so young. It's so they get get you before all the "troubles of youth" start---usually around 15 or 16 and where they can hold you accountable for your actions and hold the threat of disfellowshipping over your head. If JWs didn't get baptized until they were adults, you could conceivably date worldly people, smoke, go to university and have sex before marriage and they couldn't DF you. As we all know, it infuriates them when they don't have total control over your life, and what better way to do that than to let them get baptized as a child.
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  mkr32208

  They dont want you to tell her FATHER! WTF is the matter with this religion? Yes tell BOTH her parents explain that this religion is sick and wrong and this KID is to young to make this call!!!
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  A Paduan

  Who has been on her case behind her fathers back? Tell him, and make sure he fully appreciates the lessons she will be receiving in deviousness, dishonesty and plainly reprobate behaviour (as her 'new light').
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  AuntieJane

  I would give the girl a young person's Bible in any translation except the NWT. I would tell her that I am glad she is wanting to be a Christian, but to know God and be a Christian one does not have to give up celebrations or refuse blood or hand out magazines. She needs to hear from someone who can tell her w/out putting down JW's. Her mother could definitely be told the same thing.
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  Nosferatu

  Well, thanks for the advice everyone. I can't tell my brother until he calls next time. He's a truck driver, and he doesn't have much control over what goes on in his house, let alone with his children. I've signed my sister-in-law up for silentlamb newsletters. Is there any other newsletters I can sign her up for? She became a JW only because her mother is a JW.