Posts by Faithful Witness

13

JW Child Molester in NewMexico

by clarity in

for more news about this - google mike kim - you tube.

"not in my town".

http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-daughter-raping-mother/21482170.

First Post - Emotionally Torn

by scaredtospeak in

i haven't been on here long but i found this site a couple days ago and quickly realised it had a lot of posts by people going through similar experiences as me.

i read some of the answers and it helped relieve some inner anguish i've been carrying since everything i came clean to my parents about everything i've been reading about.. .

i just have been going through a rough patch right now; that might be an under or overstatement depending on your own personal experiences with this kind of stuff.

Faithful Witness

Welcome! I look forward to reading more about your journey. You have a great story, and will find a lot of support here. You are not alone!

My husband and I studied the bible with the JW's for a long time, and seriously considered joining. It was like we were slapped in the face, when we saw some interviews with a panel of former Jehovah's Witnesses on a TV evangelist show, The John Ankerberg Show. (YouTube search: John Ankerberg Show former Jehovah's Witness)

I have to agree with you on the point you so wisely picked out: WHY can't you pay attention to outside reports about the organization? (Is it because they have something to hide?... Turns out, YES! That is exactly why!)

The JW's we studied with, loved to use the logic: "If you want to know the truth about JW's, ask a JW. Don't ask your friends. Don't look it up on the internet... the 'Truth' is right here! Listen to us, and you will see what we are like!" (blink blink)

What could be a more reliable source of true and balanced information... someone who wants you to join a group (or buy a car), or someone who gave their whole life to that same organization, only to find out there were some potential problems in that group, that need to be addressed? We thought our teacher would address those problems, and give us an explanation (Why are these nice people saying these things about the Watchtower Society?) His response: "They are APOSTATES! Liars! Fornicators!" (HUH???? What does that have to do with Beth Sarim?)

Just because you are no longer a Jehovah's Witness, does that mean that every thing you say is a lie? (These are Jehovah's Witnesses, for crying out loud!)

------------------------------

Before joining any organization that wants to claim control over your everlasting life (and never let go, as I'm sure you have seen for yourself by now), it is wise to check their references, and do a little homework. What if it were a decision that involved LESS of a commitment? A travel destination? A summer camp? A new school or even purchasing a new home?

Have your parents ever read hotel reviews online, before booking a hotel? (if not, suggest it for the next convention that requires a hotel stay... you can hear what others have to say about their experience at that hotel)

What if they were sending you to summer camp, or ever had to choose a babysitter for you? Would they take note, if someone informed them that there had been reports of child sexual abuse? Would they ignore rumors, and just trust the person in question? Is it really wise to just "take their word for it," when someone actually claims to SPEAK FOR GOD?

Ask yourself, Why is there no honorable way to leave the Jehovah's Witness organization?

34

An increase in security at this summer's conventions??

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

we've heard from friends in two separate congregations in our city that convention security will be tight.. the brothers made announcements this week and reminded everyone to be sure to wear their name badges.

those that don't may be questioned and have their belongings searched.

the same will be happen to anyone arriving during the sessions.

Faithful Witness

Maybe they are looking for recording devices.

4

"Those with Special Needs"

by Separation of Powers in

jw
friends

so, we all remember the old "special needs room request" form from the old district convention arrangement.

those with accomodations in bigger cities where the district assemblies were being held would provide a room within their homes to house brothers with nominal resources.

at times, however, where these accomodations were unavailable, the congregation itself would put up the funds to assist brothers with the cost of the room (on the list).

Faithful Witness

"Who really is the faithful and discreet slave, whom the master has appointed over his household, to give him food at the proper time?"

Apples are food!

27

Anonymous Donation - Not!

by why144000 in

jw
friends

my mother in law (in her 80's) just told me that she had the elders around to pick up her 'donation' pledge.

it was 'suggested that $20 a month was the average amount pledged but she could pledge more or less.

so, rather than an anonymous amount they have a signed document stating the amount of her pledge.

Faithful Witness

We suggest you give the "average" voluntary contribution of $20/month.

Sounds like they got the script from the telemarketer fundraisers. "Your neighbors are giving x amount..."

(are you as charitable as your neighbor????)

(are you really giving enough?)

(are you good enough?)

19

Broad and Spacious Road to Destruction, or Narrow Gate to Life??

by stuckinarut2 in

so we all know of the parable / illustration at matt 7:13.

"go in through the narrow gate, because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones finding it, or going in through it".

here is a brain snapping thought that hit me!:.

Faithful Witness

It was recently explained to me, by a friend who actually tends sheep (a modern day shepherd), that sheep actually recognize their shepherd's voice. They will not come to a stranger, even one who tries to imitate their shepherd.

I found this very interesting, in light of what Jesus said about His sheep... and the gate that His sheep would go through: Jesus is the gate!

John 10:1-10 - Jesus is the gate

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus identified himself as the gate ("door," depending which translation you read).

Take the original verse (Matthew 7:13) that was quoted, in context. If you read the entire chapter, and continue the train of thought that Jesus was on, when he spoke of the narrow gate in Matthew, you read:

Matt 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Matt 7:7

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matt 7:12 (golden rule)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matt 7:13

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matt 7:15-16

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matt 7:24-27 (**Is the Watchtower built on a rock, or does it shift on the sand?**)

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matt 7:28 - Jesus establishes His authority

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus is the gate. Jesus is the only way.

Watchtower has inserted itself as a sort of body guard, as if they can judge who can enter the gate... or have they set themselves up as the gate?

I'm still confused about current JW doctrine. Does the Governing Body claim to speak for Jehovah, or do they claim to speak for Christ?

48

Strike 3 for the elderette and me! (???) I never heard a JW talk SO much about Jesus!

by Faithful Witness in

miss k and her friend miss w arrived promptly today.

our scheduled topic of discussion: jesus' claim to be "the way, the truth and the life..." john 14:6 since she was basing this topic choice on the fact that i had quoted that verse, i'm not sure why... she spent what seemed like a very long time, hopping through scriptures that all said that jesus was the truth, the way, or the life.

ok, so we agreed... i kept waiting for her to get to a point, or sway from this principle.. of course, she summed up with scriptures that show how jesus submits to the father, and what does that mean we should do?

Faithful Witness

Chalam: Thank you. I like this train of thought. It seems to throw her off her game, when I ask a question that is not in the Reasoning book. She had a simiilar reaction, when I asked her the question, "What is the truth?" She said, "The Bible." She could not answer, when I asked, "What is the message of the Bible?"

35

Watchtower Really Does Totally Take The Position of Jesus

by OnTheWayOut in

watchtower has said that jesus is not the mediator of anyone but for the anointed.

then they tell you that they are jehovah's organization and that the flock should obey them.. basically, the watchtower corp. and it's governing body is taking the place of jesus as the mediator for people.

christianity, even by it's name, focuses on making jesus known.

Faithful Witness

This last point, about "The Truth," is excellent! I will bring this up with my elderette, if I decide to let her back into my house.

48

Strike 3 for the elderette and me! (???) I never heard a JW talk SO much about Jesus!

by Faithful Witness in

miss k and her friend miss w arrived promptly today.

our scheduled topic of discussion: jesus' claim to be "the way, the truth and the life..." john 14:6 since she was basing this topic choice on the fact that i had quoted that verse, i'm not sure why... she spent what seemed like a very long time, hopping through scriptures that all said that jesus was the truth, the way, or the life.

ok, so we agreed... i kept waiting for her to get to a point, or sway from this principle.. of course, she summed up with scriptures that show how jesus submits to the father, and what does that mean we should do?

Faithful Witness

Blondie: I should be fair. I might have misrepresented how she talked about it. After she got flustered and sort of threw up her hands, about how she didn't really see why I would be worried about filling out time cards... There was actually a moment of silence, and that is when I asked her about it another way:

"How much fruit are you producing in the door-to-door preaching work? In 40+ years, how many people have you seen join the organization, as a result of the field ministry?"

She then started remembering and thinking out loud, about "Let's see... I studied with this lady, and that lady..." etc.

When I tried to give her credit for converting them to JW, she got defensive. "I didn't CONVERT anyone! They decided on their own, to follow the truth. I didn't decide for them." I would not describe her attitude or demeanor as prideful, when she was talking about those cases. I do think she was trying to give some credibility to the usefulness of the work they are forced to do, (I mean that they volunteer to do out of LOVE).

48

Strike 3 for the elderette and me! (???) I never heard a JW talk SO much about Jesus!

by Faithful Witness in

miss k and her friend miss w arrived promptly today.

our scheduled topic of discussion: jesus' claim to be "the way, the truth and the life..." john 14:6 since she was basing this topic choice on the fact that i had quoted that verse, i'm not sure why... she spent what seemed like a very long time, hopping through scriptures that all said that jesus was the truth, the way, or the life.

ok, so we agreed... i kept waiting for her to get to a point, or sway from this principle.. of course, she summed up with scriptures that show how jesus submits to the father, and what does that mean we should do?

Faithful Witness

There are a few purposes of the field service (non)requirement... mainly CONTROL:

They keep you from associating with worldly people or non-believing relatives.
They give you a "good" excuse not to participate in family activities (especially Saturdays).
They can indoctrinate you with even more JW memes (look at the vultures! The end is near!) and reinforce their own agenda.
To monitor your behavior, make you dress up on your day off.
Keep you so busy, you don't have time to do anything personal... and keep you off sites like this one.

The same reason they make you do repetitive reading assignments and homework.

Keep the outsiders OUT, and the insiders IN... that is the motivation for all the instructions. I just saw a clip of Ray Frantz, where he said something to this effect. The decisions made by the Governing Body are not directed by God, but by their own love of power.

It is US against THEM! To a JW, it is JW's against the WORLD. To the Governing Body, it is GB vs JW independence.

Have you seen the movie 1984? Keep repeating the same ideas, and the people believe it completely. "You are doing this out of love for Jehovah. You love working for the Kingdom. You are in the Truth. Endure to the end. It is so close now. Jehovah will deliver us."