omg, things like that make me really upset,
control freaks, what about the Three-fold-cord ???? man, I dont know how long I can stand this....
another gem from the same edition - article to be studied december 28 - january 3 (which most will miss lol coz of summer vacation) entitled "what do your prayers say about you?
" page 6 para 19 reads:.
19 when we are being represented in public prayer, we need to display reverential "fear of god.
omg, things like that make me really upset,
control freaks, what about the Three-fold-cord ???? man, I dont know how long I can stand this....
if you've been reading here for long, this won't come as news to you.. i don't have my elder book with me right now, but here's the gist of what it says about what the elders should do when they find out a jw talked to a dfed family member.. 'generally, disfellowshiping is not necessary when a congregation member speaks to a close relative who is dfed.
provided there is no condoning or justifying of the wrong course.'.
that is a paraphrase, but i'm pretty sure that "justifying of the wrong course" is close to verbatim.. two questions:.
here, we had some instances of relatives associating with d´f ones, they got counseled and in one case even a marking talk was given, and one elder threatened of a JC, if the course of that sister wouldnt change,...
well , she knew from that time on, how to hide it, I think she didnt change much...
personally, while I was opposed having contact to a dfd, even if related, I would have never endorsed a JC on them...after all Jesus told us mercy , right ?
admittedly, now I see the whole matter quite different...
last weekend we were invited at a family of jw.. they are some decent people, reasonable, realistic, balanced, having good jobs and a house, certianly took care of their future pension, and will give their child a good education.. you can discuss with them many different topics, and they are not blind to mistakes of brothers or even the leaders.... however, they are dubs, both being raised in the "truth", they dont know anything else really..... we have quit a number of friends like that, being down to earth, not extreme, have a good life, and still "strong" in their faith.... the other day, we also did a congregation-trip, and while you find everywhere some selfrighteous puffed-up "pioneer", "wannabe-elders" or real"elders" or "elderettes", most of the folk was fine, no worry about anybody behaving badly, getting drunk or something like that.. i was thinking, it wouldnt be so bad to be a witness, if...... yes, its the "if" that makes one worry., the mind-control thing of the gb.. anybody going through similar thoughts ?.
well, I´m IN, thats the problem, I cant get out (family reasons) and I cant even fade, for the same reasons, it would kill my parents..
there might he hope to convince my wife, but her and my family are JW since decades, its all their life, they never be convinced otherwise...
so i try to find the good, the bad and the ugly in the Borg...
last weekend we were invited at a family of jw.. they are some decent people, reasonable, realistic, balanced, having good jobs and a house, certianly took care of their future pension, and will give their child a good education.. you can discuss with them many different topics, and they are not blind to mistakes of brothers or even the leaders.... however, they are dubs, both being raised in the "truth", they dont know anything else really..... we have quit a number of friends like that, being down to earth, not extreme, have a good life, and still "strong" in their faith.... the other day, we also did a congregation-trip, and while you find everywhere some selfrighteous puffed-up "pioneer", "wannabe-elders" or real"elders" or "elderettes", most of the folk was fine, no worry about anybody behaving badly, getting drunk or something like that.. i was thinking, it wouldnt be so bad to be a witness, if...... yes, its the "if" that makes one worry., the mind-control thing of the gb.. anybody going through similar thoughts ?.
last weekend we were invited at a family of JW.
they are some decent people, reasonable, realistic, balanced, having good jobs and a house, certianly took care of their future pension, and will give their child a good education.
You can discuss with them many different topics, and they are not blind to mistakes of brothers or even the leaders...
however, they are dubs, both being raised in the "truth", they dont know anything else really....
We have quit a number of friends like that, being down to earth, not extreme, have a good life, and still "strong" in their faith...
The other day, we also did a congregation-trip, and while you find everywhere some selfrighteous puffed-up "pioneer", "wannabe-elders" or real"elders" or "elderettes", most of the folk was fine, no worry about anybody behaving badly, getting drunk or something like that.
I was thinking, it wouldnt be so bad to be a witness, IF.....
yes, its the "IF" that makes one worry., the mind-control thing of the GB.
anybody going through similar thoughts ?
i was talking to a baptised friend, and they dont like the idea of me being on here..i told them that ive mentioned it to an elder and that a few know im here,afterall im heeding the warning .
anyway, i explained to them that we are drawn out by our own desire,its whatever is in our heart....... hmmm did that come across ok???
so what im saying is yes negative thoughts or comments whatever we are warned against can harm us but its up to us what we listen to and if our heart is right we shall remain in gods love.
and please dont forget, most elders are "victims" themselves, they think, apostates spread wicked lies and half-truths.
I was thinking that before I checked matters on my own...
however, even then I never would have checked a brothers internet habit, or even ask about it, just occasional warning from stage thats all...
the watchtower society has released a new 32 minute long dvd called "the wonders of creation reveal god's glory".
it has excellent cg graphics, high quality photography, competent editing and a pleasing appearance........ and, to me, it is a breathtakingly inferior product.
what is this dvd supposed to accomplish?
watched it the other night, well, nice pictures and scenery, but nothing to convince an atheist, however, I think that is not the purpose of the DVd anyway, it is designed for dubs to strengthen their faith and hope on paradise earth, a tactic to deviate from doubts or questions, me thinks.
oh, and the first time I saw "teddy" speaking, he seems not too nice, I just imagined him as our CO...horrible...
this site is called "a discussion forum for jehovahs witnesses.
" maybe "for jehovah's witnesses entertainment" would fit better..
palmtree: thats exactly what I thought, since teaching bible principles, living a moral life etc, is certainly positive, however, like the Pharisees in Jesus time, who also had the law of God, they went overboard, and made it a burden, became judgemental and puffed up.
I really wonder what would happen, if Jesus came again and would tour as a CO through the congregations, or even better, went right to the headquarter....
we have friends who say that they have had some awful shepherdings,the things theyve been told in them were far from encouraging.. we havent ever had one so to be honest i cant comment...but would love to know if you had one?
were they regular and were they ever encouraging?
?.
isaasaustin: I guess a lot depends on the congegation, the make up of it, and mostly the elders...here we are pretty liberal, elders concentrate on more important things (according to the standard of the WTS) but at least not so much additional personal opinion garbage...
we have friends who say that they have had some awful shepherdings,the things theyve been told in them were far from encouraging.. we havent ever had one so to be honest i cant comment...but would love to know if you had one?
were they regular and were they ever encouraging?
?.
well, I can contribute from 2 sides:
I got a couple of sheperding calls, mostly encouraging, no big issues discussed, seemed ok
and I made SC myself, tried always to be encouraging, listening, clinging close to the bible and not forcing personal opinions, is sometimes not so easy, because some brothers want to hear, what they should do, instead of thinking for themselves and applying Gods word.
Isaacaustin: I was raised in the "truth" and one thing always bugged me, was the attitude towards beards, why in all the world should something God created in men be unsuitable for his people ??? stupid rules...fortunately lately it seems to become less and less an issue here in Europe at least...
this site is called "a discussion forum for jehovahs witnesses.
" maybe "for jehovah's witnesses entertainment" would fit better..
I´m also still in, trying to sift through information here and elsewhere, evaluating pros and cons,
always had doubts about some doctrines, but the core beliefs I did not doubt (like trinity, hellfire, paradies earth etc)
however, what got me thinking is theses endless rules about holidays, blood, sexual matters etc, all smelled very much "man-made" to me,..