Quote from: John 15:9-17 (NIV 2008)
(Jesus said to his disciples) 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
I know that former JWs and JWs feel differently about how they show their love to friends and family members. Some show unconditional love for each other like Jesus commanded his disciples in John 15:9-17. JWs may show love based on how they interpret Watchtower articles like the “God’s Rest - Have You Entered into it?”, (pg 30-32), 15 July 2011 Watchtower Study Guide and encourage former JWs to return to blindly following the WTBTS. Former JWs may show love by trying to get their friends and family members out of the WTBTS because of how betrayed the former JW feels about the WTBTS. And, numerous other reasons.
Everyone will choose for themselves how they will interact with their family and friends. I choose to interact without directly attacking the WTBTS and its doctrines and trying to ask questions about how a JW personally feels. I was inspired by “Weird, but good night” that was written by Apeman to disclose text messages between myself and a very devout JW, who is a former friend. We accidently ran into each other near a trail across the street from my home. We had a great time talking and walking with each other about a lot of different topics including scriptural, about her helping her Df’ed son, etc. Afterwards, my former friend and I exchanged the following text messages. I tried to keep my exchanges to her complimentary and without directly condemning the WTBTS or its doctrines. My former friend occasionally used typical reflexsive responses the JWs have learned, but she also showed some very authentic glimpses of her true self without the WTBTS indoctrination. I was a little curious that my friend acknowledges that she does not behave like her mother towards my former friend’s Df’ed son and that she feels that many JWs feel the same as her. I wonder if the WTBTS also feels that too many JWs feel the same as my friend, so the WTBTS feels compelled to write articles like in the 15 July 2011 Watchtower Study Guide?
Quote from: Exchange of text messages between former friend and myself
Former Friend – Hi, we just got home from shopping at Marshalls & Burlington! She got a lot of nice things….the scrpt is 1Cor 6:18 (closing)
Me – It sounds like (roomate’s name) & U shopped til U dropped. Thanks for the scriptural reference. My Bible uses sexual immorality instead of fornication & refers to 1Co 5:1. I wonder if Paul was using the definitions of sexual immorality from Le 18? It was good to see U today. (closing)
Former Friend – Hi, that’s an interesting reference. Our cross reference Gen 39:12 & 1 Thess 4:3.
Former Friend – The Greek word Porneia, translated “fornication”, refers to sexual intercourse between unmarried persons, also to extramarital relations on the part of married persons. Wickapedia it. Pleasealso read EPH 5:5. The Bible is clear, how we react to it is personal choice, our gift from God, our chance to show we uphold his standards not the Satan’s world
Me – (Salutations) What a beautiful day! I should have gone to the beach. I took your advice about looking up porneia on Wikipedia. It can mean fornication, sexual immorality, & sexual perversions. Wiki even references Lev 18. My bible also cross references 2Co 12:21, Gal 5:19, Eph 5:3, 1 Th 4:3-4, Heb 13:4, Ro 6:12, but no Gen 39:12. I do miss exchanging ideas about the scriptures with U, but I would rather send you emails and talk with U instead of sending U text msg. I want U to know how proud of U & how much I admire U for helping (son’s name)!! (closing)
Former Friend – Hi, I just want u to know every JW has their own conscience & personality & circumstance. Some feel no contact, like my Mom, who, I feel is rigid, w/ their Df’d child & many others who r like me. Still their mom & unconditional love. I try not to judge anyone
Me – Like I said I am so proud of U & I admire U for you unconditionally loving (son’s name). Like U said not all JWs behave the same. (closing)
Former Friend – Well….thank u…. I am just trying to b a balanced person. (closing)
Does anyone else want to share how they show their love to family members and friends that might inspire other former JWs and JWs to love each other, instead of following the counsel of the WTBTS or their anger directed to the WTBTS?
Peace be with you and everyone, who you know,
ABibleStudent (JWN) and BibleStudent (JWSF)