i was thinking about this in several areas today.. 1) district conventions and house-to-house work.
if you were a witness for a long time, you probably remember a time when going to the conventions seemed perfectly "normal" to you: it was absolutely "the thing" to sit in a sports arena all day listening to bible talks and counsel from men in suits.. but at some point, did you ever start to feel like you were participating in a cultural relic, so to speak?.
as in, "here it is, the 1990's, and the society is still using fundamentally the same old format they've been using all century long.
If the borg ever produces a teaching series to televise, who would buy advertising during it?
Perhaps the following:
Preparation H
Depends
Immodium AD
Bankruptcy lawyers
Roto Rooter
It'll end up being broadcast on some low power, limited reach UHF station with all four viewers laid up in the local psych ward.
Da..Da..Da..Blauuuuuuuugh!
what made me the most ill at the district convention.
the public talk had to be it.
although the drama was a close second.
Unfortunately, there are alot of dubs who are lifers. (Like my folks.)
It will take an a-bomb to get them out.
I think they would be affected emotionally to the nth degree. I only hope they can withstand the temporary turmoil.
All of us with loved ones in the borg wish the same. (A safe exit for them.)
hi folks.
i have notice that many here are always complaining about those wonderful assemblies that we used to attend?
why is everyone so ungrateful?.
Question:
What do a JW assembly restroom and a JW key note address have in common?
(You can't think of anything either...uh!)
i've spent a good part of the afternoon reading about the judicial committee meeting at www.disfellowshipped.com.. i am more determined than ever to reread the new testament and meditate on it anew.. could faith in christ be that simple?
i've beginning to believe that it can.
if i was god, i would keep it simple too.. hugs.
Yes, it is that simple. It is man (w/ religion) who make it hard.
"Grace thru faith" - that's it!
Any questions?
i now realize that the reason i left was because i just couldn't deal with all the important issues: http://www.greatcrowd.com/159ubb/forum22/html/000161.html.
expatbrit
Barf!
my sister said that she was baptized for remission of sins are we baptized for remission of sins or dedication the the watchtower bible society?
Chacha,
We all are touched by your current situation. It is really tough. And there are no easy answers or magic words to make it all better.
What I recomend is similar to what has already been mentioned; keep loving her unconditionally. Christ can reach her and turn her around. Leave the heart and soul changing work to Him. Your responsibility is to simply love her and let her know of a more sure way to God's kingdom.
Don't sweat it, however. God is just and whatever he decides in the end will be right because He is the measuring rod of right to begin with. You can't change her heart. Only God can. And your love can greatly pave the way for that.
On a side note, most of us ex-JWs encounter comparable situations with regards to loved ones who are JWs. Whether by impending death, or simply being separated for life, the prospect of a loved one leaving this world a JW as opposed to a Christian saddens us. However, as I said before, God is just and powerful. He can change your sister just like he has changed us and is changing our loved ones.
Hang tough.
If its any consequence, I'm sure there will be some of praying for you and her.
my sister said that she was baptized for remission of sins are we baptized for remission of sins or dedication the the watchtower bible society?
Chacha,
I believe there might be some needed clarification on this. Remember, Acts is a book of recorded events, not of doctrinal teaching. The book of Romans, however, is a book of doctrine. Keeping this distinction in mind, note that scriptures in Romans and other "doctrinal" epistles strongly imply a change of heart, i.e. giving oneself over to Christ. Now note how the instances of water baptism mentioned in Acts are the outward manifestation of one's new found faith in Christ. Also note another instance of saving faith: the thief on the cross. One can deuce from this that repentance, belief (faith) in Christ and accepting His work on the cross as final is enough to be accepted by God. Water baptism is the outward testimony of our faith, not a needed work that garnishes more of God's love.
Check it out. Check Him out.
if after all the years of being shunned by family , friends , would you forgive or forget them and all the misery they handed you, or maybe let them think about it for somtime before you talked to them again.
of course this can only happen freely if they left the org.
Ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto!
just throwin' this on the table:.
who are those people outside of the conventions every year with signs?
we always called them apostates, but who knew?
I know of no national organization that organizes the protests. (That does not mean one does not exist.)
I do know, in my instance, a local support group for ex-cultists and victims of mind control sponsored the protest. (There were about 6 to 8 of us that day.)
Fun, fun, fun...
answer these questions by consulting the scriptures in the holy inspired bible:.
when did god make man and woman?
genesis 1:26,27,31 and genesis 2:4-7, 21-22. how many animals went into the ark?
Your own measuring line? Your own personal truth?
Fact: Hitler had his own measuring line.
Fact: David Koresh had his own personal truth.
Societies cannot survive without adhering to an objective "measuring line" outside of personal preferences.
Truth is truth--no matter who examines it. If what is true for me is not true for you, then it isn't truth to begin with. It should rather be called preference.
