Posts by grace4u

18

God's name

by freedom96 in

jw
friends

ever notice how as a witness, you could not say "god" by itself.

always had to be preceeded by jehovah, or just say jehovah.

i remember my ex telling me that was the first sign that they knew i was on the way out, because i would refer to god simply as, "god".

grace4u

Jesus was the example, He called him Father when He prayed. It's not disrespectful, but based on a loving relationship, which is why I call him Father, also.

Besides, Jehovah is a man made word. We only have the tetragrammaton. The Hebrew word for God. YHVH was all there was, because it was unholy to say His name. It was unpronouncable. Man put the vowels in it. So it could be lots of different things- such as- Yohovih, Yihaveh, ect. For the JW to say that they are the true religion because they use Gods true name is a bunch of hooey. No one really knows for sure!

31

what kind of mind-control ?

by grace4u in

jw
friends

i need help in finding out just what kind of mind control the jw's use on their members.

i have never been a jw, and need some specifics on this to help my sister, who is a jw.. just what kind of fear tactics did they instill upon you, and other ways of mind controlling?.

i know all the doctrines from research i have done, but not really sure on the specific things they said to keep you in, not listen to outsiders, and fear from leaving the orginization.. you all are so helpful in these posts, and i know you all will give me some great info.. thanks so much, grace4u

grace4u

Maybe I have used the wrong word-"mind control". I just know that my sister and her family ( and many other JW's)would do ANYTHING for the organization. If they said that the black book in front of them was red, even though they KNEW it was black, they would still agree and say it was red. I just feel that is kind of a mind control-=out of fear. Or maybe it is just the whole fear thing itself. And that was my whole question of this post anyway. How do they keep people in with this fear stuff. What do they say that makes people so controlled by what they are being told, even when they know its not right. What makes them give up family members and loved ones----it's fear of something.I just can't understand it. Thanks for everyones response.

grace4u

31

what kind of mind-control ?

by grace4u in

jw
friends

i need help in finding out just what kind of mind control the jw's use on their members.

i have never been a jw, and need some specifics on this to help my sister, who is a jw.. just what kind of fear tactics did they instill upon you, and other ways of mind controlling?.

i know all the doctrines from research i have done, but not really sure on the specific things they said to keep you in, not listen to outsiders, and fear from leaving the orginization.. you all are so helpful in these posts, and i know you all will give me some great info.. thanks so much, grace4u

grace4u

I need help in finding out just what kind of mind control the JW's use on their members. I have never been a JW, and need some specifics on this to help my sister, who is a JW.

Just what kind of fear tactics did they instill upon you, and other ways of mind controlling?

I know all the doctrines from research I have done, but not really sure on the specific things they said to keep you in, not listen to outsiders, and fear from leaving the orginization.

You all are so helpful in these posts, and I know you all will give me some great info.

Thanks so much, grace4u

169

X-JWs Who are now bible Christians

by clash_city_rockers in

jw
friends

hi folks,.

i'm just sort of taking role call to all those x-dubs who are now brothers and sisters in christ.

i think it is wise for us to rise up and be counted so that we know who each other are.

grace4u

Clash-

I too, am devoted to Christ. I do not follow any man, or religion, or organization, only Christ. After His faithfullness to me in my life, how can I not be? Through His spirit, only He directs me and guides me. I'm glad you posted this thread, because I was wondering if there were any bible believing Christians here!! A couple of books I'd like to recomend to anyone doubting faith in Christ or in the divinity of Christ, these two are excellent reads from an athiest who set out to disprove Christianity just a few years age:"The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith" both written by Lee Strobel.

Thanks to all who have given me GREAT advice on this board!!

With love to you all, grace4u

10

Only time will tell

by kenpodragon in

jw
friends

so many times when i was in field service, i would run across people who wanted to argue scripture.

some were pretty good, they knew their stuff and we would spend hours going over this point and that point.

it was some times, kind of educational on both sides, but more often then not ... it was a waste of two hours.

grace4u

Beck

You certainly weren't butting in!! I need all the advice I can get here!I thank you so much for what you had to say, and it helped me in making my decision on how to converse with my sister. My next step is trying to get her to even speak to me, or opening any of my e-mail's to her!! Maybe I will have the same experience you had with your sister.

Once again, no need to apologize, I appreciate that you responded. Thanks- grace4u

10

Only time will tell

by kenpodragon in

jw
friends

so many times when i was in field service, i would run across people who wanted to argue scripture.

some were pretty good, they knew their stuff and we would spend hours going over this point and that point.

it was some times, kind of educational on both sides, but more often then not ... it was a waste of two hours.

grace4u

Dragon- thanks.

I will try to hold back. It is very hard. But, bringing up the truth isn't working, so I guess I need to just keep it all inside. Hopefully, like you said, she will be able to see "something" in my life as I live it well, and above all, show her the love I have for her.

kenpo--as in a type of karate??

grace4u

10

Only time will tell

by kenpodragon in

jw
friends

so many times when i was in field service, i would run across people who wanted to argue scripture.

some were pretty good, they knew their stuff and we would spend hours going over this point and that point.

it was some times, kind of educational on both sides, but more often then not ... it was a waste of two hours.

grace4u

kenpo, your thought please-

I have never been a JW, but my sister and her family are. Should I keep my mouth shut whenever we are around each other? Should I keep quiet about the truth of the organization? Should I never bring up false things about the JW's? She gets very mad at me and won't speak to me for many months. Whenever I do bring up anything of that sort, your right, it turns into a two hour debate. But, I want her out of there so bad, it's hard not to say anything! Should I keep quiet for the sake of sisterhood and watch her suffocate herself for years?? Just need some thoughts.

By the way, do you think that any of those debates you had with householders ever got you to thinking, and actually led you to wonder if you WERE 100% sure? That maybe they had a point to whatever it was you were debating.

I love your posts, and look for them whenever I sign in. Thanks for all the insight you have.

grace4u

61

Please forgive me...!!

by ELON14 in

jw
friends

i'm new here and this is the first post i make (i promise that more will come).

i have been following most of the posts made here quietly for about 4 months and i would like to thank all of you who are called apostates for the well documented and researched material you have presented here.thanks to you i know now the truth about the wt organization and i'm no longer blind and misled.

i disassociated myself about 2 months ago after 15 years of very "faithful" service to the society.i was regular pioneer for 12 years and an elder for 8 years, i served mainly as the service overeer.my experience was published in the 2 of the society's magazins.. as i was a very zealous and prominent elder in my circuit i zealously promoted the organizational rules and i allowed myself to be fully used by the society to promote those mind controle techniques that now i know hurt those who were my sheep.

grace4u

Hi Elon

I, too, have been reading posts here by the droves the last few months.I am new here myself.

I have never been a JW, but my sister and her family are. I came here to learn more about the "Borg"( boy, have I learned alot of new terminology!)as you all call it. Even though I have studied it for many years and thought I knew most of it, boy, was I wrong!!!! I was wanting to find out how exJW decided to come out of it. I have learned alot by reading stories here. They all seem so sincere and compassionate. A good debate is also fun!!

I know nothing of your story, but my sincere condolences to you and your family. There is nothing worse than losing your own child.

More than anything out of this, I hope you remember to give thanks to God for opening your eyes and heart to the truth. I hope you don't mind if I pray for you and your family during this hard time in your life. And now that He has brought you out of that mind controlling place, that He will guide and lead you where He wants you spiritually.

I hope your story also leads many others to think about whats going on, maybe even my sister, huh??

God bless you, ELON----grace4u

25

A Question for the Males on the Board

by teenyuck in

jw
friends

as i went about my wifely duties today, i had a thought and would like the imput from some former brothers and/or elders, ms, po, co's.. since leaving the borg, has the way you view your wife/companion/daughter/sister/mother changed?

let me elaborate.

while being brought up a dub, i was taught that women were in subjection.

grace4u

I believe many people interpret what Paul was saying as being a "women hater". We have to put everything in historial content. Women at that time were not educated (most of them), they had their "duties" in that cultural society. They were looked down upon, and and really thought of as usless, except for all the "wifely duties". So when Jesus started teaching EVERYONE, not to exclude women and children, the women were excited and interested in His teachings. They had so many questions, as did the men. In that particular church paul was writing to where the women were told not to speak, to ask their husband and to be quiet in the church, I believe the women were making a noise about getting some answers to their questions. Therefore, AT THAT TIME, they were told to be quiet. Women were not to be listened to in that day and age. They didn't know anything(!!??) So I believe, looking at what Paul said about women, must be looked at with historical knowledge. Besides, it wouldn't make sense that he was a women hater, when he himself talked of women deacons, and praised so many of the women who worked by his side for the sake of Christ!! I think it was all instructions for the church of that day.

Anyway, these days, the Holy Spirit guides and directes us all, male or female. We are All equal and can stand up to any task God has for us. I don't think He see's us as fleshly beings, only spiritual.

My humble input-----grace4u

17

Do Jehovah's Witnesses turn God away from you

by kenpodragon in

jw
friends

i have a lot of friends in my life.

some are real close and some are casual friends.

in all, i still enjoy my connection with them and i enjoy the time i get to spend with them.

grace4u

Kenpo-

Shunning makes me sick! I have never been a JW, but my sister is, and she has shunned her whole family because we don't believe the same way, and I am from "the Devil". OOOOHHHH I think it is most destructive for the shunned(me-I'm thinking, isn't everyone a sinner?why can't you even talk to me?) AND for the shunner(?)surely she can't feel good about that what she's doing??? I'd like to know how any of you ex-JW felt when you had shunned someone. Did you feel like God was telling you in your heart that it wasn't right?

All I can say -from my own life experiences- is that Jesus is all forgiving. No matter what I have done, if I repent, He always welcomes me back with great love. Why do I repent? Because He breathes down my back about the things I do that are wrong, and until then, I feel awful and I don't feel good about it. When I go to Him, He is always there to listen, and says He still loves me, try better next time. Then obedience comes into the picture. I don't WANT to do things wrong, but do the things HE wants me to, then He is so faithful to me, and I can always count on His guidance. A RELATIONSHIP with Christ is what God is after, not a RELIGION or CHURCH. I have certainly learned that hard lesson.

Just my small bit of opinion!!

grace4u