i think many jws enjoy not having to think, make crucial decisions or dwell on what life is all about.. it's much easier to follow orders and be a "sheep".. when you were a witness, were you independent or did you feel most comfortable being in the middle of the pack?.
This is what's so ironic: my son was very independant & head-strong growing up and had a hard time obeying the rules of our household. (no one in our family were JWs)
Now, he's a member of the Watchtower cult that dictates to him what he can & can't think, what he can & can't say and what he can & can't do.....and swallows it hook, line & sinker!
Go figure......
matt 15:8-9. this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
but in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.. matt 23:2-6. saying, the scribes and the pharisees sit in moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, [that] observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
for they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matt 7:23
as reported elsewhere on the forum, there were 12 ex-jws at our baptism service yesterday.
twelve.. it was quite an experience to hear about an ex-jw who had moved to another part of the country and had written down 150 names of jws in the area of glasgow she was originally from and had started praying for all those names last summer.
two of the people on her list were at the church yesterday, with their wives and children.
That's such GREAT news Password! I love hearing things like this, as it gives me HOPE for our family member to be set free!
Our family member attends a KH that I drive by every day on the way to town. Every time I drive by, prayers go up for him & for EVERYONE in that hall. I believe God will open their eyes someday. Nothing is impossible for God......
Lavendar
I don't want to go this year. I went last year; just to pacify my relative. I am an "opposer", but my relative doesn't know that. If he knew, he'd never speak to me again.
I just about died of boredom last year at the Memorial. What a dead, dried up "service". There is no life there; no spirit there. I assume that's how ALL the JW services are. I thank God I've never been a JW! I would honestly rather die than ever be involved in that group.
I hope & pray my relative wakes up someday.......
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Is Obama the One all will follow?
I SURE HOPE NOT.
Subject: A quote by the late Dr. Adrian Rogers , 1931-2005
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.
You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
so, i was minding my own business washing the family laundry and talking with my youngest son when a jw (without a tie) comes into the laundromat and starts passing memorial invitations around.
mostly poor illegal aliens besides me and my son were who the folks were from what i could tell.
well they all accepted them and chatted with him a bit and i was just trying to avoid him because for some reason i get really mad when these people get near me.. well here he comes and asks if i speak spanish, so i lie to end the thing quickly and tell him no.
You're my HERO, panzer!! Wish I could have been there to see that!!
i read a lot of the topics and subjects in this forum, and can't help but to ask, if the witnesses ideas are not the way, then which way is?.
i was a witness for over 25 years and have been out of the organization for over 3 years now.
yet, i have a hard time seeing anyone else's way as the right way to go.
Hello Maryacclaim,
You said:
"You have liers, steelers, cheaters, gays, molesters, good, bad, drunks, drug addicts, dumb and smart. No matter where you are, what you believe, people are people."
You are right.... there are some of these kinds of people in EVERY religion. Not one church or organization is void of them. That's why it's so important to keep your eyes on GOD. Humans are fallible....but God is not. God wants a RELATIONSHIP with you, through His son Jesus Christ.......not your religion. There's a huge difference between RELIGION and a RELATIONSHIP with the Lord.
The JW's god is NOT the true God of the Bible. He would never be part of this destructive cult. There are many, many people on this board who have been hurt by the WTS. I don't blame them for feeling the anger, resentment, and bitterness towards an Organization that broke up their families, stole precious years from their lives, lied to them, and perhaps even caused the death of a loved one.
I truly hope you find peace someday, Maryacclaim. All the best to you. :o)
"When our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside of the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult."
Deborah Layton, Jonestown survivor. (Jim Jones; People’s Temple)
N-kiki - I truly hope & pray that someday you'll realize in your heart that the WTS is not what it claims to be......and that you find your freedom. All the best to you......
Lavendar
i have a new radio interview on my site with ruth baker, a former jw.
ruth lost her 15 year old son because the family denied him blood at the hospital.
you can listen to or download the mp3 of her personal story at: http://www.towertotruth.net/audio.htm#radio.
The WTS cult cares more about the SYMBOL of life (blood).....rather than the ACTUAL life itself (a human being)! Sickening!
how would you respond?
you have been out for the day and upon your return home you find the jw's came around and they where at your home talking to your kids(teens, one 20 year old).
the kids where never jw as the householder never was but lost family to the cult and of course is bitter.
Hi Megaflower - I would say you and your sister NEED to educate the rest of your family about the WTS. That's what I did....when we lost a family member to the cult. I made sure the rest of my family understood that the WTS is nothing more than a manipulative, mind-control group masquerading as Christian.
I wish you all the best.
