Posts by ezekiel3

183

It is finished, or is it just beginning?

by IP_SEC in

jw
friends

well i am no longer one of jehovah's witnesses.

i had fully intentioned to disassociate myself from the platform today, but i decided that if i wanted a chance to save my marriage that i'd better tell my wife.

she immediately went to to one of the elders.

ezekiel3

Matt welcome to the light.

For those of us still trapped on the other side we salute you.

30

Read this on another board!..No longer D.A or D.F. ?

by Golden Girl in

jw
friends

they claim that the jw's... as of the new organization book ...no longer announce someone is disfellowshipped or disassociated.. .

but rather they announce " they are no longer a jehovah's witness.

anyone that can shed light on if this is true or not?

IF THE DECISION IS TO DISFELLOWSHIP

In some cases the wrongdoer may become hardened in his course of sinful conduct and thus fail to respond to efforts to help him. Fruitage, or works, befitting repentance may not be in evidence, nor may genuine repentance be apparent at the time of the judicial hearing. What then? In such cases, it is necessary to expel the unrepentant wrongdoer from the congregation, thus denying him fellowship with Jehovah's clean congregation. This is done to remove the bad influence of the wrongdoer from the congregation, thereby safeguarding the moral and spiritual cleanness of the congregation and protecting its good name. (Deut. 21:20, 21; 22:23, 24) When the apostle Paul became aware of the shameful conduct of a member of the congregation in Corinth, he admonished the elders to "hand such a man over to Satan ... in order that the spirit [of the congregation] may be saved." (1 Cor. 5:5, 11-13) Paul also reported the disfellowshipping of others who had rebelled against the truth in the first century.?1 Tim. 1:20.

When a judicial committee concludes that an unrepentant wrongdoer should be disfellowshipped, it should let him know of the decision, clearly stating the Scriptural reason(s) for the disfellowshipping. When informing the wrongdoer of their decision, the judicial committee should tell him that if he believes that a serious error in judgment has been made and he wishes to appeal the decision, he may do so by writing a letter clearly stating the reasons for his appeal. He will be allowed seven days for this, from the time he was notified of the committee's decision. If such written appeal is received, the body of elders should contact the circuit overseer, who will designate elders to serve on an appeal committee to rehear the case. The elders selected to care for this weighty responsibility should be men who are experienced and qualified. Every effort should be made to conduct the appeal hearing within one week after the written appeal is received. If there is an appeal, announcement of the disfellowshipping will be held in abeyance. In the meantime, the accused person will be restricted from commenting and praying at meetings or from special privileges of service.

An appeal is granted as a kindness to the accused and allows him a further hearing of his concerns. Thus, if he deliberately fails to appear at the appeal hearing, the disfellowshipping should be announced after reasonable efforts have been made to contact him.

If the wrongdoer does not wish to appeal, the judicial committee should explain to him the need for repentance and what steps he can take toward being reinstated in due time. This would be both helpful and kind and should be done in the hope that he will change his ways and in time qualify to return to Jehovah's organization.?2 Cor. 2:6, 7.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF DISFELLOWSHIPPING

When it is necessary to disfellowship an unrepentant wrongdoer from the congregation, a brief announcement is made, simply stating: "[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses." There is no need to elaborate. This will alert faithful members of the congregation to stop associating with that person. (1 Cor. 5:11) The presiding overseer should approve this announcement.

DISASSOCIATION

The term "disassociation" applies to the action taken by a person who, although a baptized member of the congregation, deliberately repudiates his Christian standing, rejecting the congregation by his actions or by stating that he no longer wants to be recognized as or known as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Because he is disassociated, his situation before Jehovah is far different from that of an inactive Christian, one who no longer shares in the field ministry. An inactive person may have failed to study God's Word regularly, or because of experiencing personal problems or persecution, he may have lost his zeal for serving Jehovah. The elders as well as other concerned members of the congregation will continue rendering appropriate spiritual assistance to an inactive brother. (Rom. 15:1; 1 Thess. 5:14; Heb. 12:12) However, the person who disassociates himself by repudiating the faith and deliberately abandoning Jehovah's worship is viewed in the same way as one who is disfellowshipped. A brief announcement is made to inform the congregation, stating: "[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Concerning those who renounced their Christian faith in his day, the apostle John wrote: "They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us." (1 John 2:19) For example, a person might renounce his place in the Christian congregation by his actions, such as by becoming part of a secular organization that has objectives contrary to the Bible and, hence, is under judgment by Jehovah God. (Isa. 2:4; Rev. 19:17-21) If a person who is a Christian chooses to join those who are disapproved by God, a brief announcement is made to the congregation, stating: "[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses." Such a person is treated in the same way as a disfellowshipped person. The presiding overseer should approve this announcement.

40

Four Years Ago Today, May 28, 2001

by blondie in

jw
friends

i made my first post on jwd and was ignored.. .

i was so afraid.

i was still attending meetings and my husband had no idea i was posting on an apostate site.. much has changed; we are both inactive faders and much happier.. thanks to all of you along the way that shed light on the darkness in my life.. love, blondie

ezekiel3

So glad to have you!!

I also think it is appropriate that a woman be a leading voice in opposition to man-ruled cult.

((((((Blondie))))))

46

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 5-29-05 WT Study (Apostasy; Inactive)

by blondie in

as the foremost person in the bible who let gods word light his roadway, where is jesus in this article?

wts reminders; otherwise you will not be heard and will not enjoy divine favor.

(psalm 119:175,176) some who have wandered away from the christian .

ezekiel3

9, 10. How do we know that individuals dedicated to Jehovah can wander from
his orders, but how can this be avoided?

For instance, a former associate may try to induce us to wander off the pathway of spiritual
light into the darkness of apostasy.

Ohh, the boogey man. If there is one consistant and successful programming on JWs it's the dread "apostate".

Funny how the major apostates of Isrealite times were the kings and priests of the nation. What should that tell the rank & file today?

10

Keep On the Watch - Week of May 30

by ezekiel3 in

.

for more information on this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/91009/1.ashx

ezekiel3

Simon,

I apologize if I have transgressed in some way. My intention in posting the weekly studies of the Keep on the Watch! brochure was to provide fodder for others to comment on.

I hope to continue with this series of lessons from the brochure with your blessing. In the future, I will include my comments in the post as well.

3

What's New with "Quotes"?

by ezekiel3 in

just curious what the latest news is regarding the wts battle to elimate http://quotes.watchtower.ca/ ?.

has anyone heard from quotes since the site went on line?.

for more info http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/9/91228/1.ashx

ezekiel3

Just curious what the latest news is regarding the WTS battle to elimate http://quotes.watchtower.ca/ ?

Has anyone heard from Quotes since the site went on line?

For more info http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/9/91228/1.ashx

10

Keep On the Watch - Week of May 30

by ezekiel3 in

.

for more information on this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/91009/1.ashx

ezekiel3

sf: Would you like me to scan a piece of Kingdom Hall toilet paper to go with that?

12

GIVING A WITNESS THIS WEEKEND?

by Outaservice in

jw
friends

how many of you brothers and sisters in the united states will be going to the cementaries to hand out literature at the gravesites this year?.

this was always my favorite form of witnessing unless of course 'street witnessing'!.

outaservice

ezekiel3

Get 'em while they're down, classic cult recruitment. If you don't believe it yet, here's the proof:

*** Watchtower 1958 10/15 p. 624 Comforting All That Mourn ***

Comforting All That Mourn

TO BE faithful to his commission a Christian must "comfort all that mourn." (Isa. 61:2, AS) In the United States it is a custom for mourners to decorate the graves of loved ones on what is known as "Decoration Day," May 30 each year. So Jehovah's witnesses made it a point to visit cemeteries on that day with the comfort of God's resurrection hope, as contained in special issues of The Watchtower and Awake! That they succeeded in comforting mourners is apparent from the following experiences:

"I saw a man standing alone, looking into space. As I began to speak to him his face lighted up. He told me that his wife had died two years ago, took me close to her grave and then said he would like to ask me a question: 'My wife was ten years younger than I and very well educated; I'm not educated. Why did God take her instead of me'? I answered his question from the Scriptures, using among other texts Hebrews 2:14. He readily accepted the magazines and was glad to have me call at his home to comfort him further."

"When we asked the caretaker about witnessing to the people in his cemetery, he replied: 'Why certainly you can-I'd like to see more preachers doing that, but it seems they're just too busy.'"

"After I told a family group about the Scriptural resurrection hope, the wife proved so interested that she desired and obtained a copy of the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, the Bible-study aid "Let God Be True" (both of which I happened to have with me), two magazines and a booklet. I was also able to arrange to call at their home for the purpose of starting a Bible study with them."

"One young woman had just placed some flowers on a grave and turned back with tears in her eyes. I told her my name and that I was a minister bringing comfort to mourners by means of two magazines that contained the articles 'The Memorial Day for Rejoicing' and 'Where Are the Dead?' She eagerly accepted the magazines, smiling through her tears. Later, in passing by the same place, I saw her reading The Watchtower with two young men, one on each side of her, to whom she was pointing out things in the magazines."

"A group of six persons were putting flowers upon a grave as I approached and asked for a moment of their time. After we had introduced ourselves to each other I commented on the beautiful day and that, while it was a day to be thankful for, there could be no real joy so long as death was in view for all mankind. However, I continued, we could be truly joyful for the promised 'Memorial Day' of rejoicing close at hand. I offered the magazines telling about this hope, which they gladly accepted. As I was preparing to leave, one of the men, with tears in his eyes, told me that he was very grateful for the message of hope he had received and that it made what had begun as a day of sadness a day of hope in God's promises."

"I approached and struck up a conversation with a caretaker to sound him out about witnessing in his cemetery. He proved to be a Unitarian and told me that he was a social outcast among his friends because of his occupation, as if they were afraid death would rub off onto them. I told him, among other things, that Jehovah's witnesses did not fear death of the body but only the second death and that to them he was no outcast. Upon asking him if we could destroy the fact of his being a social outcast by calling at his home with this message, he fairly jumped for joy. He also readily agreed to my suggestion that I speak to others in the cemetery."

Among the various other comments heard by those witnesses who visited cemeteries on that Decoration Day were:

"I think it's wonderful that you came out to the cemetery today. Our people ought to do that."

"This thing proves you people are Christians. . . . I think people don't appreciate Jehovah's witnesses as they should."

"If my departed loved one had known you he surely would have wanted you to come here today and say what you did to me."

"God must have sent you here today, because you brought me real comfort from the Bible."

***

km 8/98 p. 8 Use Brochures to Appeal to Both Mind and Heart ***

-When Someone You Love Dies. Many funeral directors appreciate having copies of this brochure on hand for bereaved families. Publishers who witness in cemeteries use this brochure to comfort mourners. Two sisters approached a family of seven who were praying at a grave. As a result of sharing the comforting message from the brochure, a Bible study was started with the mother the next day!

***

km 5/70 p. 7 Announcements ***

·

The world's "Memorial Day" holiday comes on Saturday, May 30, this year. Where appropriate, special witnessing may be arranged at cemeteries; otherwise, congregations may find it advantageous to share in regular magazine day activity.

***

km 10/94 p. 7 Using the New Brochure Effectively ***

6

Keep an extra copy at hand, and use it for informal witnessing. You may wish to visit local funeral homes in your territory to see if they would like to have copies on hand to comfort bereaved families. Or you might tactfully approach grieving ones in cemeteries on occasions when they return to visit the grave of a loved one.

*** w82 4/15 p. 26 Enduring Joyfully Despite Persecution ***

23 Where it is not advisable to go from house to house, the "good news" can be preached in other ways. Possibly isolated calls can be made in different parts of the territory, so as not to cover any buildings in a consecutive manner. But we do not need to wait until people are behind doors. Our brothers in many lands are having marvelous success in talking to people wherever they are to be found--on the streets, in cemeteries and parks, or when traveling. Some have even gone as tourists into areas where there are no Witnesses, and there they start conversations with people wherever this is possible. There is absolutely no way the enemy can prevent our talking in these different ways, so long as we have breath and there are people to whom we can talk.

10

Keep On the Watch - Week of May 30

by ezekiel3 in

.

for more information on this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/91009/1.ashx

ezekiel3

For more information on this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/91009/1.ashx

37

HATING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

by marianne in

jw
friends

from what i have gathered, you all were once jw's and now hate them or the organization?

do you still believe in jehovah and love jehovah?

i have to admit i dont like, actually i rather dislike, some of the sisters in my congregation and i know that's wrong of me, but some of them really think they are better than me and are quite judgemental.

ezekiel3

Marianne, welcome to the forum! Not all of us here are ex-JWs - me for one. Still counting time and placements.

Are you from the Lone Star state? If so PM me.