the following is the first-draft of a letter i would like to send to the society.
any and all suggestions would be appreciated.
(don't worry, i've developed a thick-skin.
Well done, sister, excellent scriptures to use!!
My first reaction was: publish it in the newspapers!!!
My next reaction was: sign my name to it.
My final reaction was: let's ALL volunteer our names, like a petition. Would that be enough signatures for them?
Libby
for decades now, those words have appeared atop one of the watchtower societys buildings in new york city.. that exhortation may never have been more needed by jehovahs people themselves than it is today.
recent posts have asked good questions regarding what can or will sustain individual jehovahs witnesses who do truly love god, but who may be disheartened by various things they have seen in the organization.. it is clear to me that many witnesses spend far more time reading the societys publications than gods word itself.
one reason sometimes given is that the preparation and research has already been done for you, thus making it easier.
Hi Maximus,
I just read your comments and was struck by your reference to the recent DC about their imperfection.
This is something I've been contemplating recently because any problem one has with the organization is met with the phrase "their just imperfect men." And that seems to excuse the problem.
But.....how would jw's have changed if the men governing them had been perfect?
Didn't we act as though they WERE perfect? Didn't they expect that of us?
I wonder what the average jw would say if asked that question: how would you change in your obedience to the org if you found out they were perfect?
Libby
for decades now, those words have appeared atop one of the watchtower societys buildings in new york city.. that exhortation may never have been more needed by jehovahs people themselves than it is today.
recent posts have asked good questions regarding what can or will sustain individual jehovahs witnesses who do truly love god, but who may be disheartened by various things they have seen in the organization.. it is clear to me that many witnesses spend far more time reading the societys publications than gods word itself.
one reason sometimes given is that the preparation and research has already been done for you, thus making it easier.
Hi Nicodemus,
Thank you for the well-thought-out post and for the upbuilding comments.
It's interesting that you mention the CO's blistering talk....because that was my last meeting. I certainly viewed it in the light of the Bible and realized that this so-called shepherd was actually beating the flock. The words "skinned and thrown about" came to mind. He was not a minister of God, showing love and kindness and care. We were scorched for many things by him, from being too talkative---to not having our school guide books.
For me it was a final betrayal from what I had truly believed was God's organization. Further research since then has shown me that I was being betrayed all along...not by God and his word, but by those who I let take the place of God and the Bible.
It is certainly a true saying not to place your hopes in mortal man.
Libby
*** w58 8/1 478 questions from readers ***.
questions from readers.
one of jehovahs witnesses who claims to be of the anointed remnant recently went to the hospital and took a blood transfusion, voluntarily.
Thanks for the replies.
It's interesting how different points catch our attention.
This is what stood out to me:
"However, congregations have never been instructed to disfellowship those who voluntarily take blood transfusions or approve them."
Obviously this was changed at some point and congregations WERE told to disfellowship for these reasons.
Now it seems there is a "qualified" return to saying they don't disfellowship for this offense, even though we all know the skirting they are using is that of "disassociation by action".
Anyway, it was news to me that the wts at one time in the past so boldly said they don't disfellowship for taking blood.
Libby
*** w58 8/1 478 questions from readers ***.
questions from readers.
one of jehovahs witnesses who claims to be of the anointed remnant recently went to the hospital and took a blood transfusion, voluntarily.
*** w58 8/1 478 Questions from Readers ***
Questions from Readers
One of Jehovah’s witnesses who claims to be of the anointed remnant recently went to the hospital and took a blood transfusion, voluntarily. Should she be allowed to partake of the emblems of bread and wine at Memorial time?—R. J., United States.
We, of course, regret with you that this sister who professes to be one of the anointed remnant took a blood transfusion voluntarily during her stay in the hospital. We believe that she did the wrong thing contrary to the will of God. However, congregations have never been instructed to disfellowship those who voluntarily take blood transfusions or approve them. We let the judgment of such violators of God’s law concerning the sacredness of blood remain with Jehovah, the Supreme Judge. The only thing that can be done in the cases of individuals like this is to view them as immature and therefore not capable of taking on certain responsibilities, hence refusing to make certain assignments of service to such ones.
Since an individual is not disfellowshiped because of having voluntarily taken a blood transfusion or having approved of a dear one’s accepting a blood transfusion, you have no right to bar this sister from the celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. As an anointed member of Christ’s body she is under orders and command by Christ Jesus to partake. Whether she is unfaithful as to what she professes to be by virtue of taking the emblems of the Lord’s Evening Meal is something for Jehovah God to determine himself. His judgment begins at the house of God. It is not for you or anyone serving the Memorial emblems to act as the judge, but to allow the emblems to go to anyone in the audience as these are passed along in the normal manner of letting each one have the opportunity to partake.
Is the WTS returning to this position of not disfellowshipping for taking blood?
Libby
if you remember, i've been inquiring about how to discuss jw issues with my boyfriend's sister.
it appears she is accepting the watchtower driven interpretations of the bible, but we are still not giving up.
if you are willing, would you respond, in a nutshell, to the question, "what is the doctrine or belief that the jw's hold that was most instrumental in leading you to abandon this religion?
Hi Kathy,
I left after researching this question:
Who in 1914 knew that Jesus returned in that year?
The authority of the WTS to guide and direct everything one believes and does is based on the premise that Jesus selected them as the faithful slave in the 1914....1918 period. In the Greatest Man book we are told that Jesus would return in the same manner that he left... without public fanfare and with only is faithful believers aware of it, and that 1914 was when this happened.
But research shows (in their own publications) that in 1914 they were teaching that Jesus had already returned in 1874. This continued well into the 1920's, as late as 1929 in the book Prophecy by J.Rutherford, which was studied into the 1930's. I don't know the exact date that they began teaching Jesus returned in 1914, but they certainly weren't aware of his return in 1914.
So the answer to the question: Who in 1914 knew of his return in that year? No one.
Libby
my observation is that persons who 1) heal/adjust the most rapidly from their jw experience and 2) seem to have the most joy in life are those who read, read, read, in pursuit of what i call nourishment for the spirit.
i've really enjoy the pithy aphorisms you use here, which suggests you've distilled some wisdom from somewhere.
i'm going to ask your help in this thread.
After Crisis of Conscience, In Search of Christian Freedom, and The Gentile Times Reconsidered.....
"Right Hearted Living" by Bill Stonebraker unexpectedly yielded these treasures:
"More important than knowing the Bible is applying
the Bible. We don't want to just quore Scripture;
we want to let it shape our lives."
And, regarding the parable of the good Samaritan:
"The man was looking for a short list of rules, but
Jesus gave him a principle: Practice love in
relationships. It is easier to keep rules than
to love."
Libby
a significant number of former jehovah's witnesses come out of the watchtower still believing the bible and considering themselves christians.
most coming out are in a serious state of bewilderment, and they look intently and sincerely for something to fill the huge void of lost religion, lost family and friends, and lost fellowship.
they seek some viable spiritual association with others of like mind while at the same time having become very wary of any organized religion.. what is it that eventually draws so many of us (not me) to agnosticism or atheism?
Hi Ros,
I was glad to see someone start this thread. It's something I've
wondered about too.
my daughter's friend is excited about their upcoming convention.. she's been told there are many changes coming from jehovah (thru.
the fds.).
anybody know what these "changes" might be?
Zazu....I think she's going to use the loyalty "oath" to make my daughter feel guilty about me, but she can't do too much because her own brothers are df'd and my daughter will have that as a come back. They still have association with the two df'd ones and their children so they can't say too much about my daughter's relationship with me....I disassociated in March and am relieved not to have to sit through another meeting, assembly, or convention of the wt sort.
Libby,
(thinking if I'm going to sit for that long let it be in front of my computer!!)
my daughter's friend is excited about their upcoming convention.. she's been told there are many changes coming from jehovah (thru.
the fds.).
anybody know what these "changes" might be?
Good Morning, just checking in to see the news.
Thanks for the replies.
Thirdson...thanks, that's what's always been new, isn't it. Treated like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed garbage.
Farkel...thanks for the historical viewpoint. Has to be some kind of arm bending to get them to look forward to three days of sitting and yawning. My notes always went off the page in the afternoon and were never looked at again.
Osarif....thanks for the link. I haven't read it yet but I will.
Truman....Thank you!! I looked through all the pages for those threads and couldn't find them, so I decided to ask outright.
Not that I want to burst anyone's enthusiasm bubble, and my daughter pretty much figured it would be same-old same-old, I just wanted to confirm it for her.
Thanks again, Libby
