Red says: “I fervently wished for someone to call on me and help me to re-activate myself. Didn't happen. I haven't received a "shepherding call" in almost 17 years, and I don't expect that I'll be getting one anytime soon.”
That is the case in most instances where publishers drift away. Contrary to popular opinion, MOST elders would rather not stir up the waters and after a long time people just seem to forget. Not always the case, but mostly so. I was a witness for over thirty years. I stepped aside as an elder and rarely go to a meeting and no one has asked why.
AChristian says:
::: "Drifting away" is the coward's way out. ::: Very narrow viewpoint. Many have children, parents, and spouses still in the stranglehold of the Society. I think most JW’s understand this.
::: Jesus said if we are ashamed of Him…::: Being prudent in no way intimates being ashamed of Jesus. Jesus himself said that we are to be ‘cautious as serpents’…
::: If you "drift away" you be forever thought of by JWs as being spiritually weak:::
If you DA yourself you will forever be thought of as the devil incarnate.
::: Did Jesus "drift away" from the corrupt religious establishment in His day, :::
Jesus attended the synagogues of his day. He stayed within the guidelines for the most part or he would have been ousted and would have lost some of his effectiveness. He even sent healed ones to the priests for the ritual cleansing.
-----------
To drift or not to drift. You will have to decide exactly what it is that you are going to do. You don’t have to do it right now but you will eventually have to decide. For example if you drift away and decide to celebrate Christmas next year with the family be prepared for a visit by the elders when one of the ‘friends’ sees the lights on your house or the tree through the window. If you begin voicing your opinions of the Society to the ‘wrong’ people, be prepared for a visit. Drifting away means also keeping a low profile as well as keeping your JW family. It will be a trade off. Personally, I think my family is worth a little of my pride.
By staying ‘in’ I have managed to influence several people already, people who are now questioning what they once accepted with eyes wide shut. I could not have done so by shouting that out loud in the back of the kingdom hall after the announcement of my da’ing myself. I hope to influence many more people in the future. Will that bring on the dreaded JC? Eventually perhaps but I’m going to get as much mileage out of my situation as I can.