Posts by passwordprotected

49

Can't believe I am doing this

by rockmehardplace in

jw
friends

i am shocked i am even writing this.

for about a year or so, i have hid in the darkness peeking at this site and following everyone else's story.

i have learned more than i expected from so many.

passwordprotected

@Piercingtheveil81 - great to see you here too! Great additions to the community.

49

Can't believe I am doing this

by rockmehardplace in

jw
friends

i am shocked i am even writing this.

for about a year or so, i have hid in the darkness peeking at this site and following everyone else's story.

i have learned more than i expected from so many.

passwordprotected

Fantastic to have you here and to see someone with intelligence, compassion and faith. PM me anytime.

21

The Bible or the Watchtower--by request!

by Atlantis in

the bible or the watchtower--by request!

request from researcher: i know i read it somewhere but can't remember exactly where.

wouldn't jehovah want those he trains to be studying his word the bible instead of a watchtower or awake!?

Question about "marking" in the congregation

by Olin Moyles Ghost in

can one of the resident scholars settle a disagreement about the current jw practice of "marking"?.

my understanding is that marking works this way: suppose annie is a jw who persists in an activity that is strongly frowned upon by the society--but is not a df-ing offense (for example, she is dating a non-witness), then annie gets counseled by the elders.

if annie continues to date the unbeliever, then the elders may decide to "mark" her.

passwordprotected

From what I was told, by an elder in reference to a specific situation he was dealing with, if the person married the non-Witness they would be, for all practical purposes, unmarked (or is it demarked?). Since dating was the offense, after the couple was married it was, " clearly evident that the individual has abandoned his disorderly course "

And here-in lies the problem with marking; inconsistency.

Marrying the non-JW does not lift the marking. The marking stays in place until the elders start inviting the person to their homes or include them in some social activity. That serves as a sign that the person is no longer marked.

So, what lifts the marking on a person who married a non-JW?

Public testimony that they regret disobeying Jehovah.

If there's a WT article on only marrying in the Lord, the marked person could answer that the best course is to obey Jehovah and only marry another Jehovah's Witness. This would serve as public acknowledgement that they regret their course.

However, that would also mean that they're publicly saying they regret marrying their spouse. Side-point, I know of sisters who've married fantastic guys, really great people who are good husbands. However, because they aren't JWs, the sister has to publicly state regret over marrying them.

One sister in our former congregation was marked for dating a non-JW. She's been married to him now for around 3 years. She's still marked. This means that, other than the meetings and ministry, she has no social contact with her "Christian brothers and sisters".

Once again, true Christian love in action.

It should be noted that marking is mentioned once (?) in the Christian scriptures, but the WTS has created a whole doctrine and law out of it.

22

Question about "marking" in the congregation

by Olin Moyles Ghost in

can one of the resident scholars settle a disagreement about the current jw practice of "marking"?.

my understanding is that marking works this way: suppose annie is a jw who persists in an activity that is strongly frowned upon by the society--but is not a df-ing offense (for example, she is dating a non-witness), then annie gets counseled by the elders.

if annie continues to date the unbeliever, then the elders may decide to "mark" her.

passwordprotected

"because I'm marked....brian and sharon gault won't allow their kids near my house......even though all the other kids at the hall are allowed....not to worry....their kids are a couple of brats anyway.....he he"

Yeah, sounds like you had a lucky escape.

22

Question about "marking" in the congregation

by Olin Moyles Ghost in

can one of the resident scholars settle a disagreement about the current jw practice of "marking"?.

my understanding is that marking works this way: suppose annie is a jw who persists in an activity that is strongly frowned upon by the society--but is not a df-ing offense (for example, she is dating a non-witness), then annie gets counseled by the elders.

if annie continues to date the unbeliever, then the elders may decide to "mark" her.

passwordprotected

Here's a story about marking.

A young girl in our area started dating a guy whose parents were JW and he'd studied over the years but had never been baptised. When it became time for her to marry him, she was 'marked' for not marrying in the Lord, and this caused all sorts of problems in the congregation and in her family, as you can imagine.

Sadly, just a few short months after their wedding, he was killed in an accident.

So, was she still marked? Afterall, she wasn't married to an 'unbeliever' anymore. How could she express regret (yes, that's what's expected of JWs who marry outside 'the truth'; they need to publicly express regret or remorse for getting married to a person who doesn't follow the Governing Body. In other words, they need to make it know where their loyalty lies; not with their spouse (with whom God yolked them together), but with the Organisation) when her husband was dead? The answer is yes, she was still marked. So, at a time when she would surely need the full support of the local congregation, all JWs were still to withhold fellowship from her.

3 years later, her younger brother is getting married. Most in the congregation are invited to the wedding reception. But, his sister - the marked one - is going to be there! Agh! What should we do? Letters to the Society from the body of elders ensued, elders meetings were convened, and was decided that a definite ruling cannot be made. However, all appointed men and their families should be united in not going to the wedding, as there would be a marked person in attendance. This would then, in turn, set the example for the rest of 'the flock'.

So, because this young widow who had married a non-JW years before was going to be at her brother's wedding, 95% of the local congregation did not attend the wedding.

Such a display of balanced, Christian love.

22

Question about "marking" in the congregation

by Olin Moyles Ghost in

can one of the resident scholars settle a disagreement about the current jw practice of "marking"?.

my understanding is that marking works this way: suppose annie is a jw who persists in an activity that is strongly frowned upon by the society--but is not a df-ing offense (for example, she is dating a non-witness), then annie gets counseled by the elders.

if annie continues to date the unbeliever, then the elders may decide to "mark" her.

passwordprotected

What's amazing about marking, and OMG used it as an example, is that people are marked for not marrying "in the Lord". To marry in the Lord is about as close to a direct command as you'll find in the NT, yet the WTS doesn't disfellowship for this, they 'only' mark the person.

Apostasy is, when you read Paul's words, surely only a "marking offense", no?

28

Spanish JW's Upset Over Bethel Move

by Gary1914 in

jw
friends

on april 1, 2009 a letter was sent from the governing body of jehovahs witnesses to congregations in spain informing them that the printing, shipping, and storage of watchtower publications would be discontinued at the madrid branch office.

the letter expressed confidence that the spanish witnesses would, despite the move, continue to generously support the world wide work and ends with an appeal to remain united under the direction of the witness leadership.. at a glance, this story may seem like a non-issue, perhaps, just another example of reorganization and consolidation within a multinational corporation; however, the dissolution of the printing branch has caused considerable hard feelings among some of jehovahs witnesses in spain.

to understand the reason we must first look at the history behind the branch office and external factors that some feel prompted this abrupt move.. early in their history, jehovahs witnesses began printing their trademark watchtower magazines and associated books and tracts in-house at their bethel headquarters in brooklyn, new york.

passwordprotected

Copied and pasted from here;

Spanish JW’s Upset Over Bethel Move

34

Do You HATE The Watchtower Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

when i read some comments here, it looks like some actually hate the organization.

do you??

?.

passwordprotected

Organisation; yes.

The people in it; no.

24

Sad ending to a sad era ...

by The Berean in

jw
friends

while i am new to this network, the evidence seems to be overwhelming that the wbts is in decline.

while many voice their pleasure at this prospect, it is in many ways sad for me:.

it is sad that so many have spent such a great quantity of their early lives supporting a cause that appears to have been a waste of time.

passwordprotected

I strongly doubt many know its "wrong" or are "cowards" --
these are projections! And reveal alot about the people saying them.

I think you're missing the point. Gary is talking about those who are posting on here, knowing full well that the WTS isn't what it claims to be, yet choosing to go to all of the meetings etc because they don't want to be shunned by 'some jerk'.