it did for me even though i eventually walked out on my terms and fully convinced of the apostasy of the watchtower pharisees and sanhedrin (governing body).. initially it was very confusing and bewildering since i was a 3rd generation born-in and the watchtower was the only "reality" i'd known for more than 40 years.. a psychologist diagnosed ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) and recommended attending a cult conference and workshop for victims of psychological manipulation.
i learnt about "triggers" that cause turmoil and upset whilst one is suffering from ptsd.. for nearly 2 years i could not answer a phone without a minor panic attack.
i could only respond to voicemails.
Not anymore ... I feel sad for them though ...
At the beginning when I became enraged and agitated at sight of them, like wanting to tear the magazines in their faces, I thought it was a "demon" inside of me LOL ... once I found out about PTSD and cults everything changed ... now I pray for them ...
to me it's pretty obvious from these verses.... matthew 23:36, matthew 24:34, mark 13:30 and luke 21:32.
...that jesus, talking to his disciples, told them that armageddon would happen in their generation (the first century).
just wondering if everyone else sees it this way, or have i missed something?.
My take is ... as Christians who confess Jesus as the Christ ... we are to wait for his return NOT armageddon ... the Watchtower and other sects capitalize on this ... some sects may have good intentions BUT the Watchtower PUBLISHING CORP has $$$ on its mind and that it is PROVEN ... just research its history ... the RETURN OF JESUS is GOOD NEWS to the believer ... I have learned to live my life as if Jesus would return today (asking God to search my mind and heart (spiritually) and convict me of things I may be doing wrong) but I also plan my life (physically) like if Jesus would return on God's timetable (days, months, few years, hundred, thousand years) and I don't have access to that knowledge, but I try to follow the instructions that Jesus left for Believers (which anyone of us can find by reading the Bible if you are a Christian); the only thing I know in this regards is that Jesus paid a huge price so that I can have ABUNDANT LIFE (unlike the enemy who comes to destroy, steal and kill; pretty much the Watchtower Corporation or other group that takes Jesus, THE WAY to the FATHER, away from you ..)
I am talking in the CHRISTIAN FAITH context, I know other main Faiths or Atheist may difer, but that it is okay, I respect your points of view.
my jw boyfriend says this all the time whenever i'm venting about life and some of its disappointments, career aspirations and how hard they are to make happen sometimes, problems with friends/family, or just random stuff that gets to me.
i'm not a negative person or anything; i only get moody occasionally.
i am a woman; it's kind of required.
My take is the same as hamsterbait's ...
the april 2012 wt study article has some of the most strongly worded statements about contact with disfellowshipped family members.. page 12, paragraph 17: -.
good that can come when a family loyally.
upholds jehovahs decree not to associate.
Love Blondie's comment!
i recieved a letter today and it reads:.
sister jennifer b****,.
we request your presence for a judical hearing.
Dear Lord ... sounds like the INQUISITION ...
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ...
QUOTE THIS TO THEM:
1 Corinthians 4: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. ...
notice that they are dumb enough to let the big reason for the sadness be loss and longing for family as the main problem, nothing to do with jehovah.. 17 consider just one example of the good that can come when a family loyally upholds jehovah's decree not to associate with disfellowshipped relatives.
a young man had been disfellowshipped for over ten years, during which time his father, mother, and four brothers "quit mixing in company" with him.
at times, he tried to involve himself in their activities, but to their credit, each member of the family was steadfast in not having any contact with him.
Do they really say this??? WOW!
"...Think of that if you are ever tempted to violate God's command not to associate with your disfellowshipped relatives."
This people should really REALLY REALLY get in line and learn from our LORD JESUS ... when betrayed by Judas, Jesus said: "Friend, what you have come to do, do it quickly" ... when he was up in the cross Jesus said: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"
im having difficulty with this.
no where else can you find a chrstian org with people like the ones ive seen in the halls.
im not talking the good ol' boy club.
Don't look for God's people ... LOOK FOR GOD HIMSELF ... OBEY GOD AND TURN TO JESUS WHO IN TURN WILL SHOW YOU THE FATHER ...
im having difficulty with this.
no where else can you find a chrstian org with people like the ones ive seen in the halls.
im not talking the good ol' boy club.
You mean you know what the people you see at the hall do 24 hours a day 7 days a week? Are you in their innermost thoughts, do you know the motives of their hearts, do you witness how they treat their wives, husbands, sons, daughters, friends in the privacy of their homes/environments ...anyone can act "decent" in the hall, but would they pass the test at home? their minds, their hearts??????? DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY LOOKS, BY WORKS ...
isaiah 9:10 says, for there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder.
and his name will be called wonderful counselor, mighty god, eternal father, and prince of peace.
in the next chapter, however, jehovah is described as the mighty god: and it will certainly occur in that day that those remaining over of israel and those who have escaped of the house of jacob will never again support themselves upon the one striking them, and they will certainly support themselves upon jehovah, the holy one of israel, in trueness.
I have always been perplexed for the title "Eternal Father" too ...we also have our Heavenly Father who is also Eternal from everlasting to everlasting ...
In my Spirit there is no doubt about anything when it comes to God ... the peace that comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus, to love Jesus surpasses all understanding ...when your teacher is the Holy Spirit ...
what exactly has god been waiting for for the past 2000 years since jesus walked this earth?.
i have been wondering if the jw beliefs of the world coming to an end are literal or if the earth will always be this way but the ones who do good will go to heaven.. of course the jws would say that the world is nearing its end since 1914.. but what is realy going on here?
anyone got any ideas?.
Tim ... Read al the books of the prophets with lots of prayers and petitions for understanding ... Nice to see you here. Happy New Year!!!
1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
2 How long, LORD, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
5 “Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
2 Then the LORD replied: (Chapter 2)
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald [b] may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it [c] will certainly come
and will not delay.
