NOT WAITING ANYLONGER

by jst2laws 27 Replies latest jw friends

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  jst2laws

  Exactly one year ago three other families joined us at our vacation home for a week of relaxation and stimulating conversation. Of the four men, three were Elders and the other a Ministerial Servant. Together these four had 116 years as “appointed servants”. In another post I may talk more about families, but for now I would just like to share this experience with these men.

  I was on my way out at the time and dared to share some thoughts with these old friends. I even took them to a few of the less offensive web sites. The resulting discussions were very stimulating. Having been old friends, 2 of us ex-Bethelites, and perceiving a true camaraderie from common experience. we l
  owered our defenses and spoke form our hearts.

  We laughed at the preposterous reasoning of the Daniel book we were expected to present as legitimate. We cringed at the reality of conducting the Congregation Watchtower Study when the lesson was total BS. But at that time, last year, we were all loyally supporting the “Faithful and Discreet Slave” waiting for them to wake up and turn things around.

  WE ARE NOT WAITING ANYLONGER. By April of this year, less than 6 months after our week together, all 3 elders had resigned. The MS, who had already resigned as an elder over problems within, so far is hanging on. These four men had been pillars in their witness community, some with years in the fulltime work.

  We are still attending meetings for the sake of family and friends but we are mentally and spiritually free. We are all still Christian, looking at the Bible now with freedom to think and reason without the burden or concern for what the Watchtower says about a scripture.

  After 36 years of devoting myself to helping people, the last six months I have wondered what I can do now. But it now occurs to me, I’m still helping people. I’m going to continue helping people find freedom (Gal 5:1) until I’m caught and DF’d. And then I’ll find other ways to help.

  If you are still attending meetings how do you feel about staying on the inside, for now, and exploring ways of reaching others in the borg? I’m working on about 4 others in this congregation, including two elders. If you are doing the same, would you like to share ideas and methods?

  Jst2laws
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  ballistic

  Sounds like you've got it sussed. I wish I did it your way, but like many here, it took me 2 years of being out and wondering why I had been disfellowshipped when I was sure I had a clean concience before God before I started to doubt. Good luck with your method. Can this really be kept up, or will you like me, go through anger and much emotion at what is going on?
• 

  SixofNine

  Sounds pretty nice. But think about this: Your work "inside" will never have the impact of 4 ex-elders, still well thought of, DA'ing at one time. As a group, you could no doubt communicate your reasons to literally hundreds, if you planned and orchestrated correctly.

  Also, something to think about, would be to not DA as group, but rather quiting, all at the same time, being slightly more open with others about the problems in the org. Do the fade away, but with 4 people fading instead of just one. A powerful messege there.

  And whatever you guys do as a group, don't any of you join a church! That is, if you want to help your current cause.

  Any way you do it though, is fine. I always cheer for the methods that I think will rock the WT the most. Each individual has to deal with the consequences of their action.

  And then I’ll find other ways to help.

  I'm sure you will. My hope for any religious person who realizes it's time to actually make a difference is; more humanity, less speaking for God. There is no want for things to do to help with humanity. Heck, even just shutting the hell up about God is a powerful tonic for the earth. **nudge, nudge**
• 

  jst2laws

  Ballistic,

  Qoute: “ it took me 2 years of being out and wondering why I had been disfellowshipped when I was sure I had a clean concience before God before I started to doubt.”

  I have been doubting for many years. Waiting for many years for the GB to change. When I resigned as PO about 4 years ago I was going to quit completely and fade away. But they started letting up on some issues like Alternative to Military service, voting and blood. I kept telling myself this is no time to give up on them. But the web and Ray’s books finished off my doubts by changing them to convictions.

  Quote:; “Can this really be kept up, or will you like me, go through anger and much emotion at what is going on?”

  I have been angry for many years over experiences such as yours. I feel less angry now that I have taken a stand. I anticipate I will have some emotions if and when they catch me. But the will be my next level of liberation.

  Hope you still have your “clean conscience before God”.

  Jst2laws
• 

  jst2laws

  SixofNine,

  You said:
  “Sounds pretty nice. But think about this: Your work "inside" will never have the impact of 4 ex-elders, still well thought of, DA'ing at one time. As a group, you could no doubt communicate your reasons to literally hundreds, if you planned and orchestrated correctly.”

  Perhaps this could be true. I could only dream of having the impact on the JW community that J. Penton did when he left, even as he left. That could never happen with my exit. The other men who resigned, one under pressure when his wife reported him, each live in a different part of the country. So no one would see the impact of 3 or 4 elders in one congregation stepping out.

  From my experience there are two common reactions to a prominent elder DA’ing himself of getting DF’d for apostacy.

  1 Many people grief as one does the loss of a loved one to death.
  2 Most angrily dismiss that one as unworthy, a fraud. They remind themselves of the WT defense, “if they were of our sort they would not have gone out from us”.

  Under the right circumstances the public withdrawal you suggest can bring many out. I do not believe I could have such an impact.

  Another factor I doubt will set too well with you, is I do not want to jerk people out of the WT without first giving them a spiritual foundation to stand on. A kind old man for whom many of us have a very high regard just had one of his books published in Japanese. The first month resulted in over 900 orders. I told him this could be not just 900 books but 900 Japanese friends liberated from the organization. His response was, “But it depends on what they do afterward. Some will go right back to the churches of Christendom.” That may be better than staying in the borg, but I’m still a Christian and do not see trading one corrupt form of Christianity for another as an accomplishment.

  Thanks for your comments, SixofNine. And I agree with you: “more humanity, less speaking for God”.

  Jst2laws
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  waiting

  Hello jst2laws,

  I've read your posts for over a year now - and always enjoy & learn from them. My husband & I finally stopped attending fully 1.5 years ago, had been hassling with elders & Service Dept for full year before that. His mother, brother & family still in.

  I find it extremely hard to be around them, as we are "walk-aways" and can't be open with our thoughts. They're quite judgemental of us, (my husband has short beard), and we don't have the freedom to speak out. I finally got to the point, I won't go to his family gatherings. Too hypocritical of me, and I'm angry for days afterwards.

  I hope it goes well for you, and glad to know a little more about you. However, just one point for you to ponder:

  NOT WAITING ANY LONGER

  I should hope not - I happen to be waiting, and I don't share well.

  waiting

  ps: My husband & I wrote to Legal Department 1.5 years ago, and they said they would respond to us after reviewing matter with our elders. I'm still waiting for their response.
• 

  jst2laws

  Waiting
  My wife and I enjoy you and your sisters posts as well.

  I hope I did not convey the thought that we should keep going to the meetings. Especially once they label us and start mistreating.

  If one wants to disappear so as to not get DF'd then that is the right way for them. If we are already being mistreated there is probably an attitude among the folks that would prevent one from having much influence on them anyway.

  I had too many ugly confrontations with the CO, and disappointing response from the Society. But the folks at the KH so far think well of me, I think. So I do not feel uncomfortable so far. If I can keep it that way I will work on hearts and consciences as I have using the wonderful information I get from this site.

  As for your name "Waiting", or you suggesting the choice was a critical reference to the Service department's delayed response to your letter? If so, perhaps you should change to "NOT WAITING ANY LONGER"! Hard to type though! Take care.

  Jst2laws
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  manicmama

  I think that it is truly amazing what can happen when friends sit down and actually speak truthfully and from the heart as friends are supposed to do. If this weekend you spoke of had not happened how many would still be sitting in their uncomfortable lives wondering?? I lost a great friend this way because she was afraid to turn to me and I was the same. Her husband was an elder of the worst kind!They have since divorced and he will not give me any info on her to me as I am "labeled"! Yea, I could give him a few labels! So, she probably is sitting there thinking she has lost a friend and that I am being judgemental towards her, she left her husband for another man, honestly I think it was the best thing she could do and I hope she is happy now. It just goes to show you OPEN UP I wish I had. Congratulations jst2laws for keeping friends and helping to set them free!
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  erik

  Who is J. Penton and why did he have such a big impact when he left?
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  jst2laws

  Eric,

  Quote: “Who is J. Penton and why did he have such a big impact when he left?”

  James Penton is was a long time witness and Professor who has written a couple books on JW’s.
  His last one got him disfellowshipped. If I remember right, the action against him upset so many witnesses who knew and loved him that about 80 people left when he was put out. Hopefully the WT historians here can correct me if I’m off.

  His book Apocalypse Delayed has an excellent history of the witnesses, written and documented as you would expect of the work of a scholar. If you are interested in a copy try the links below.

  http://www.commentarypress.com/booklist-eng.html

  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-7756653-7148723

  Jst2laws