Posts by Faithful Witness

43

Need advice: Witnessing to a JW at my door

by Faithful Witness in

i have been waiting for this moment, and it has finally come!

i was actually in the middle of typing in the other thread, about householders who caused you doubts, when a jw rang my doorbell.

my barking german shepherd didnt scare him away, but did knock all his books out of his hand and onto a wet porch, which i really felt bad about.

Faithful Witness

Thanks! I'm now watching the driveway, and wishing I'd made an actual appointment.

23

Using the name Jehovah when praying

by Ding in

i know of number of jws who believe that if anyone doesn't address god as jehovah when praying that the prayer really goes to satan... especially if you pray to someone else (jesus, for example).. i haven't been able to find that specific teaching in wt literature.

they do say that we are to pray only to jehovah, but i haven't been able to locate a publication that says the prayer really goes to satan if you don't.. is there such a reference?.

.

Faithful Witness

I was having this conversation with my husband the other day. Correct me where I am wrong here (I must be):

YHWH was used to refer to the name of God the Father.

YHWH was not spoken aloud by the jews, because his name was so holy it was not to be spoken, except by certain people (???)

I can not find a single time that Jesus uses the name Jehovah or YWHW when speaking of his father. Does this appear in the NWT somewhere?

At some point in history, someone decided we should be calling God by his first name, in case He thinks we are talking to someone else. They come up with a way to pronounce it, by adding vowels in there and changing the consonants so it's easier to say worldwide. Did this instruction come from God, from Jesus who told us exactly how to pray, or was this some new light, or where did they get this policy? (I don't know)

"Jehovah" is not the way anyone would ever accurately pronounce YHWH.

When addressing your father, tradition dictates calling him by his title, not his first name. Is there a culture, where people call their dads by their first name either for respect, reverence or religious purposes?

To call your father by his first name is disrespect.

Now here is a biggie for me... Has anyone ever mispronounced your name before??

How did that feel, and what did it tell you about your relationship with them? It shows they do NOT know you.

The WTBTS has made it so that all JW's recognize the name "Jehovah" as representing God's "visible organization on earth."

When a JW hears the name Jehoval spoken, there is a connection made in the brain, and they submit.

I am not God, but if someone had convinced millions of people to call me by a mispronounced version of my name, I'd be pretty disappointed.

With all the new light that is being revealed, why doesn't God at least tell them how to say his name correctly?

I won't post my suspicions or conspiracy ideas here, but I think that using this name the way they do, could be a high crime in the eyes of God... Right up there with refusing to partake and accept the blood of Christ, as they literally pass it around and REJECT Christ every year at the memorial.

Who is the world's greatest deceiver? He has deceived many In this case.

20

JW's now believe in The Rapture

by Oubliette in

jw
friends

jw's now believe in the rapture.

notice this curious doctrinal change in the controversial july 15th, 2013 watchtower: .

one of the events mentioned in these verses is the gathering of the chosen ones.

Faithful Witness

I found it interesting, all the new light in one magazine, culminating in the redefinition of the slave... And oh, by the way, we have another member on the GB! I think the new guy wants to be raptured, so they are changing the interpretation, or at least saying it's a possibility. They never have committed to any of this, of course. They dont know, and they admit it... But we just know it's the truth, even though were not really sure, since

"Pointedly, the Bible doesn't say."

"And notice the modest, reasonable language used to introduce this possibility: This May Be Taken as an indication."

maybe and may be are not the same meaning, especially when spoken by your mother. i searched to find that 1990 article, only to find them referring back to some other thing they said in 1928, and another footnote referring to a book published in 1942. No wonder no JW can keep up with this run around! Wow.

35

Do you have any "one-liners" for drive-by witnessing?

by Faithful Witness in

i am looking for things i can say in passing, when i meet some of my jw friends.

we used to attend meetings, but have not been officially recognized yet, as apostates.

we were good and curious students, but fell away and were choked out by weeds.. since i will be renewing my bible student status soon, i am hoping this will open more windows into the organization.

Faithful Witness

Hortensia, I ran across that question also... A real mind-bender, and I might just use it sometime.

Does anyone have any "trigger" words that I should be aware of, when dealing with a JW? I think you know what I mean. I'm running a separate thread, asking for advice about reverse witnessing to the JW that is making a return visit tomorrow.

I know there are certain words and ideas that cause an automatics reflex for JW's.

Truth, Jesus, God, Jehovah, slave, cross, trinity, church...

Are there any words, concepts or ideas that should be absolutely avoided or would be possibly more effective in reaching a JW, or possibly getting them to listen better or turn on their thought receptors?

Im not sure if this question makes sense to anyone or not... But any clues about this would be helpful. I am awaiting the arrival of the books by Steve Hassan, although I don't know if they contain any tips or advice to be used for this purpose or not.

I am just thinking... If the WTS can use their language control mechanisms to control people in such a powerful way, there should be a way we can use this to reach someone, and maybe trigger something in their brain, to make them think... actually THINK... Do you know what I'm asking?

43

Need advice: Witnessing to a JW at my door

by Faithful Witness in

i have been waiting for this moment, and it has finally come!

i was actually in the middle of typing in the other thread, about householders who caused you doubts, when a jw rang my doorbell.

my barking german shepherd didnt scare him away, but did knock all his books out of his hand and onto a wet porch, which i really felt bad about.

Faithful Witness

Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers this week. I'm pretty sure the JW couple is going to come tomorrow sometime. As it looks now, my husband will be at work. I've been thinking and thinking about this next meeting all week long, and I'm going to trust the Holy Spirit to guide me, and keep a hand clamped firmly over my mouth when necessary.

I'm considering a totally different approach, and treating them like human beings. I am going to see how much I can get to know them as people, and hear their story. After all the things I have read on this forum this week, I am realizing that being a JW is not the simple and breezy life that they try to make you believe it is. Being JW for 30+ years, I'm sure they have some stories to tell. I'm going to see if they let me get to know them better. This could give me some insight into what might reach them.

I ran into our most recent Bible teacher two days ago, and even though questions were burning inside my head, I could tell this man really just needed someone to listen to what he'd been going through. Health problems and unmanageable pain. I didn't get to it, but would love to see how the people at his KH have been treating him lately. It's obvious he can't go in FS, and maybe can't even sit through meetings. Anyway, that's a differen conversation.

I'm wondering how this new one will respond if I show interest in their story. Thoughts?

In any case, please pray for me tomorrow. I hope to plant a seed of doubt at the very least, but possibly begin an ongoing conversation with this JW family. If I have to become a bible student, we will see how far that ends up going. One visit at a time, one step at a time! I can do this, hopefully without screwing it up royally from the get-go.

Thanks for all the help, and I'll be checking here to see if anyone has any last minute advice...

18

will they install credit card readers for the agm?

by hoser in

more speculation, why not?.

will they install credit card readers so the faithful, but cashless, can contribute?.

hoser.

Faithful Witness

3rdgen: they are definitely becoming more catholic!

With the new teaching about a rapture for the annointed, they are making a big shift toward one world religion.

46

No bibles at any kingdomhalls, strong rumors the annual meeting is regarding the bible...

by EndofMysteries in

from relatives and contacts in 2 states, there have been no bibles available for a couple months.

one person mentioned to me as well about supposed quotes in the magazines from other bibles.

rumors are that they will announce a new bible, or possibly tell everyone to buy a bible from another place that they approve of.

Faithful Witness

Another advantage to an online version of the Bible: tracking software can allow them to see who is visiting unapproved websites like this one.

27

Watchtower Society Has Systemically, Methodically Over The Years, Caused All JWs Diabolically To Worship Watchtower Headquarters Leadership [or G.B.]!

by bjc2read in

(of course, this will be "old news" to many of you...but, this is especially written for the "newbies" who may not know of the following.).

... i was just wondering .... .

i remember back when i was very active among the jehovah's witnesses, the watchtower society recommended a special procedure they used to do to put pressure upon bible studies of jehovah's witnesses by doing something they called: "directing attention to the organization.

Faithful Witness

Song 125

"Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order"

Yes, this is a long post, but a very good topic to discuss. This very issue is a big one for me, and one main factor in why we never were baptized. I have also challenged my father (baptized about three years ago) to think about this one. Are you serving Jehovah God, or are you serving an organization? I asked this of a JW at my door the other day, and he went on to tell me that God does require an organization on earth today.

Now that they are narrowing down the definition of this organization, they ARE worshipping the GB. Thanks for all the research and examples.

20

Please Hear My Confession, I lied to all my friends in the Kingdom Hall! Forgiveness needed!

by AuntConnie in

i ask for the forgiveness of all the brothers and sisters who heard me lie and lie and lie about how my husband lost all his weight!

please make room in your heart to forgive me, it's rare i will open up myself to the scrutiny of jehovah's witnesses net message board, i try not to reveal too many things about my life.

i come from a fleshly family that is screwed up, we learned from youth how to use theocratic warfare even with other jehovah's witnesses asking innocent questions.

Faithful Witness

Will you please be my aunt, too? Even if I was never baptized? I am a gastric bypass patient myself

Unrelated... They never implied that the surgery would prevent my being baptized, although...

The day before my surgery, I got up the nerve to speak to a sister I heard had been a gastric bypass patient. I told her my plans. She mad a horrible face at me, then told me how she almost DIED! Because of some mysterious occurrence, she developed internal bleeding. Because she was refusing blood, the hospital staff was all in a panic and disgusted with her. As the anesthesiologist was putting the mask on her for surgery, he said, "I'm just going to say goodbye to you now, since you're going to DIE without a blood transfusion!!" Apparently, she was sick for a long time and still suffers. As one other sister commented to me, after I'd lost all my weight, "It never did much for Sister Smith..." I was repeatedly disappointed in the "love" these people claimed to have for each other. I guess we were cool, since we had babies, and I was no longer fat.

anyway, I would have the surgery again in a heartbeat. It was a great tool, although I continue to struggle with food issues. The weight is chasing me, and it always will be a yo-yo for me. I was 340 pounds, and now weigh 175... Which is sometimes 165. I'm nearing the top again, and I refuse to buy more pants... So it's back on the diet I know works for me. Goodbye, cheese, wheat, dairy, chocolate bars and cookies... See you again at Christmas time, God-willing. !!

thanks for your awesome posts. You are hilarious and provide a lot of encouragement to the people on this forum, wherever they are in their path.

7

Do you sense and underlying serenity ?

by Phizzy in

jw
friends

going forward from my other thread, on the unhappiness of jw's, and thanks for your contributions to that, do you sense the opposite with xjw's ?.

not simply the happiness that we all exude, external and obvious, but an underlying serenity.. all that i have met face to face, and as far as i can tell those that are on here, have a certain serenity, due i think in the main to having the conviction that our leaving was the very best of decisions.. yes, we still have our daily struggles, perhaps the frustrations of trying to free loved ones, health problems, financial difficulties, personality faults of our own we are working on, any or all of these plus ones i haven't mentioned.. and yet i detect a peace, and contentment, that comes from being the real "you", no longer having to put on the cult personality, no longer having to suffer the noise of cognitive dissonance, no longer feeling we are not "doing enough".. that inner peace is what makes you all such lovely people..

Faithful Witness

I never suffered inside the tower, so have no comparison to base thing upon... But

i have noticed that society, as a whole, has become so reliant on technology for making connections, that the Internet has replaced human interaction. This will probably make it MORE difficult for some to feel that elusive "peace that passes understanding." There is no replacement for human contact, and the watchtower knows it. It uses this isolation and forced togetherness (field service and ministry school, especially) to reinforce your dependence on being in the intimate presence of other people frequently.

Probably not answering the original question, but it's a thought that came to me while reading the replies. Building a new family or social network, is very hard today. Everybody is too busy. I am praying for all the lonely JW's out there, both inside and outside the org. it is just terrible, the abuse these innocent people suffer in the name of serving God... Abuse from their own leaders!