Very brave BlackWolf. There's lots of good advice in this thread. I hope the best for you. Keep coming back asking questions and/or venting if you need to while working through this.
KiddingMe
JoinedPosts by KiddingMe
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150
I'm getting baptized
by BlackWolf ini know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.
my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.
i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.
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150
I'm getting baptized
by BlackWolf ini know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.
my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.
i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.
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KiddingMe
Below is an excerpt from this Sunday's WT.
Maybe you express that you want to do deeper study like Timothy and research of some of the questions raised. For example, you can say you would like to research the question, Why do I believe that God exists? You can say something like although you feel you know the answer, you want dig deeper. It would also help you when teaching others.
Then maybe you can actually start researching, if you haven't already, and start raising points/questions to your parents. You can possibly drag this out a while, especially if you dont have much time for researching after work, meetings, field service etc.
YOUR CONVICTIONS
3, 4. What lesson can young ones learn from the example of Timothy? 3 Think about how you would respond to these questions: Why do I believe that God exists? What convinces me that the Bible is God’s inspired Word? Why do I feel that living by God’s moral standards is better than adopting the lifestyle of the world? Those questions are not designed to create doubts in your mind. Rather, they can help you to follow the apostle Paul’s admonition: “Prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2) But why did Christians in Rome need to prove to themselves something that they had already accepted? 4 Consider a Bible example. Timothy knew the Scriptures well. He had been taught “from infancy” by his mother and grandmother. Nevertheless, Paul urged Timothy: “Continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe.” (2 Tim. 3:14, 15) According to one reference work, the original-language word for “persuaded” has the sense “to be convinced and certain of the truth of something.” Timothy had made the truth his own. He accepted it, not because his mother and grandmother told him to do so, but because he had reasoned on it for himself and had been persuaded.—Read Romans 12:1.
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150
I'm getting baptized
by BlackWolf ini know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.
my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.
i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.
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KiddingMe
Paragraph 13 of this Sunday WT states,
13 To help you set goals, we have a worksheet on pages 308 and 309 of the book Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work, Volume 2. This worksheet invites you to write your responses to such questions as “How specific are your prayers, and what do they reveal about your love for Jehovah?” “What do you include in your personal study?” “Do you engage in the ministry even if your parents do not?” The worksheet also provides space for you to write down any goals you would like to set regarding your prayers, personal study, and ministry.
Below are the questions within the worksheet. Maybe you can say you are taking your time going through these questions and setting personal goals but feel like 6 weeks is rushing it and this something you are serious about.
- yp2 pp. 308-309Should I Get Baptized?
[Box on page 308, 309]
Worksheet
Are You Thinking of Getting Baptized?
Check your progress by considering the questions and statements below. Be sure to look up the cited scriptures before writing your answers.
In what ways are you currently showing confidence in Jehovah?—Psalm 71:5. ․․․․․
How have you demonstrated that your perceptive powers are trained to distinguish right from wrong?—Hebrews 5:14. ․․․․․
How often do you pray? ․․․․․
How specific are your prayers, and what do they reveal about your love for Jehovah?—Psalm 17:6. ․․․․․
List below any goals you would like to set with regard to your prayers. ․․․․․
How regular is your personal study of the Bible?—Joshua 1:8. ․․․․․
What do you include in your personal study?․․․․․
List below any goals you would like to set with regard to your personal study. ․․․․․
Is your ministry meaningful? (Examples: Can you explain basic Bible teachings to others? Do you call back on interested ones? Are you working toward conducting a home Bible study?)
□ Yes □ No
Do you engage in the ministry even if your parents do not?—Acts 5:42.
□ Yes □ No
List below any goals you would like to set with regard to your ministry.—2 Timothy 2:15. ․․․․․
Would you describe your attendance at Christian meetings as regular or sporadic?—Hebrews 10:25. ․․․․․
In what ways do you participate at meetings?․․․․․
Do you attend when your parents cannot (if you have their permission to do so)?
□ Yes □ No
Can you say that you truly delight to do God’s will?—Psalm 40:8.
□ Yes □ No
Can you list specific instances in which you have resisted peer pressure?—Romans 12:2. ․․․․․
How do you plan to keep your love for Jehovah strong?—Jude 20, 21. ․․․․․
Would you serve Jehovah even if your parents and friends stopped doing so?—Matthew 10:36, 37.
□ Yes □ No
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150
I'm getting baptized
by BlackWolf ini know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.
my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.
i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.
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KiddingMe
I agree with the thoughts of TheListener.
I'd also like to add that the next WT article for this coming Sunday continues the discussion on baptism. Therefore, BlackWolf is in for some more stressful days ahead. I glanced at the article and there is a reference to consider questions in the Young People Ask book. If I get a moment a little later I will post them. Maybe we can give suggestions for how BlackWolf can use this to an advantage.
In the meantime BlackWolf consider that your parents' focus on baptism may die down a little after we move on from these articles.
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27
Hi everyone!
by cognac inwas just listening to a song that made me think of the jws so thought i'd say hi and see how everyone is.
i'm doing ok. kids are fine.
i'm good, making tons of friends, very successful in my career, bla bla bla.
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KiddingMe
Hi Cognac, glad to hear you and the kids are ok. -
150
I'm getting baptized
by BlackWolf ini know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.
my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.
i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.
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KiddingMe
When they ask you why, can you say that you just dont feel ready yet.. without going into detail? Keep saying, "i just dont feel ready yet" no matter the question they ask or what they say. You have a right to feel this way. Can you say, you dont know exactly why you feel this way but you just dont feel ready yet? Maybe you can say you feel overwhelmed and want to do it for the right reasons, not just because everyone else thinks you should or grandma is planning to come.
Maybe say you hate to disappoint grandma and feel even worse now that they told her.
Redirect the guilt on them for making you feel guilty. Keep saying things like, I feel so bad for not getting baptized right away but I just dont feel ready yet. I feel so bad for disappointing grandma but I just dont feel ready yet. I feel like I am disappointing everyone and all of this is confusing you. Repeat this theme to any that question you.
Maybe tell them you prayed to Jah and hope he understands what you are going through.
Hopefully it will sink in to them or the elders.
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91
My brother died last night
by LisaRose ini found out this morning that my brother died last night, he was also an ex jw, 73 years old and died of heart disease and kidney failure.
it was not totally unexpected, as he had been in poor health, but it's a blow, especially as i just lost another brother two years ago.
there were six of us, now only four.
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KiddingMe
I am sorry to that. My condolences to you and your family. -
85
My letter to Bethel about the flood
by Cornbread ini've decided to go full public with a new username on this forum.
it's been almost a decade since i've been out and i don't care at this point who knows.
that being said, here's a letter that i'm mailing to bethel.
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KiddingMe
Great thread! Marking. -
150
I'm getting baptized
by BlackWolf ini know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.
my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.
i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.
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KiddingMe
I am so sorry you are going through this. I'm not sure how the WT study went in your congregation but in ours, there were more than a few elders and older ones stressing that baptism is a personal decision and should not be done for anyone else but yourself. Not because of peer pressure from parents, siblings or other jw youths.
Can you change what you said to your parents a little and tell them something like, you been thinking about the WT article and that you take this seriously and want to make sure you are doing it for the right reasons? Maybe admit that you said yes to their question about baptism because you really care about how they view you and that shouldn't be the only reason. Maybe say you do eventually want to get baptized but feel you need to make sure your making a mature decision on your own. Or say something similar to buy yourself more time.
The article surprisingly gave some flexibility in deciding to get baptized, as well as preparing to get baptized. All of this takes time. It moreso emphasized and stressed that it is the youth's decision. I understand that parents might use this to pressure their children.
My children were also being pressured to baptized and I told them the same. That it is their personal decision that they would have to live with so they should not do it because of pressure from other family.
I think it may help if you do not say for certain that you dont want to get baptized, just not right this moment...and keep pushing it off without saying you dont plan doing it. Express that you love Jah and that you just need time to figure things out before taking that major step. Try not to give too many details but just enough to make the point.
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171
RC 2016 Leaks & Releases
by wifibandit inin an effort to reduce the number of posts, this year i will try to add links to this post.
now, on with the leaks & releases!
first up.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nzvwhflss4.
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KiddingMe
Thanks!