A JW with an impossible question

by jgnat 79 Replies latest members private

• 

  jgnat

  My Jehovah's Witness husband is very discouraged right now and wants some help. The advice he seeks is highly restricted, however. He does not want to be "contaminated" by apostate or worldly thinking. He wants the advice gleaned from the Watchtower materials or the bible only. (I suggested the bible as well after a little coaxing). But he comes to you because he is desperate for help.

  My hubby is under restriction right now, not allowed to comment at meetings. He is not allowed out in field service. He has not been given a definitive end date for his restriction. Now we are in the middle of an exciting campaign, and he cannot participate. The book study nights are torture, as there are often simple questions he can answer but he cannot. He must sit and bear it.

  He is very discouraged. He wants to know how he can endure this discipline and keep his faith in Jehovah and the Organization?
• 

  fokyc

  I thought my wife was writing that!

  He should be thinking, -

  'if they don't want me, I don't want or need them'.
• 

  AuldSoul

  The formula is very simple, really:

  (1) Feel incredibly guilty over having done anything requiring punishment.

  (2) Feel incredibly desirous to make it up to the elders Jehovah, and demonstrate that guilt by doing whatever the elders Jehovah says that he is not restricted from doing with fervor reminiscent, oddly enough, of a cultist.

  By demonstrating "works befitting repentance" in this way, his restrictions will be lifted in no time. If they get the hint that he is anything less than abject in his receipt of their correction, the elders and Jehovah will continue to deal harshly with him. As far as providing Scriptural help enduring unscriptural punishment and remaining faithful to an unscriptural organization at the same time, I am at a loss.

  When it comes to enduring unscriptural punishment and remaining faithful to YHWH, there are plenty of Scriptures but none of them recommend the kind of kowtowing the elders will require.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  jgnat

  As far as providing Scriptural help enduring unscriptural punishment and remaining faithful to an unscriptural organization at the same time, I am at a loss

  Aye, that's the pickle. Perhaps he needs to stew a little longer to be fully ripe.
• 

  purplesofa

  My hubby is under restriction right now, not allowed to comment at meetings. He is not allowed out in field service

  They cannot keep you from preaching. If he wants to hand out tracts, he can. I have only heard of one other instance when someone was banned from going door to door and it was because she was mentally ill and was violent.

  I have been on restricitons before and they told me what I could and could not do. The one thing they said they could not keep me from was preaching. So I am a bit confused.

  I also was DF and worked my way back. The way I handled it, was to respect the arrangement. It must have been for my own well being. I learned I was not there for any other reason than that Jehovah wanted me there. I learned to no longer be ashamed for whatever sin I committed. And I learned how to ............not care what any one else thought about me.

  I bit my tongue when I was chomping at the bit to participate.

  I will say this........my zeal was never the same. It was a cruel hardship. I learned that elders are not all knowing and only Jehovah could read my heart. The experiance changed me forever in both instances.

  But again, I want to say........unless they have refused him literature, he can pass out tracts all he wants. It might not be in the organized way of the congregation. I would still turn in time and placements.

  Dig deeper into what your motives are.

  purps

  I can't think of the scripture right now...........but its the one that says..........Jehovah disciplines the ones that he loves. I will see if I can find it
• 

  jgnat

  purplesofa, my husband's restrictions have confounded even Blondie. But there it is nonetheless. The best answer she could give is that we have a congregation that has gone "beyond what is written".
• 

  purplesofa

  4 In carrying on YOUR contest against that sin YOU have never yet resisted as far as blood, 5 but YOU have entirely forgotten the exhortation which addresses YOU as sons: "My son, do not belittle [the] discipline from Jehovah, neither give out when you are corrected by him; 6 for whom Jehovah loves he disciplines; in fact, he scourges every one whom he receives as a son."

  Hebrews 12:6

  purplesofa , my husband's restrictions have confounded even Blondie. But there it is nonetheless. The best answer she could give is that we have a congregation that has gone "beyond what is written".

  Then go over their head, write the society, make some waves.........ask where it is said that this is a rule. I will ask some friends of mine from around here and get some insight. I feel for your husband, this really does seem unjust.
• 

  garybuss

  Hi JG, I just asked a Witness and that Witness wants to know; "What's the relationship between the discipline and his faith?"
  
  
  
• 

  jgnat

  Ah, purplesofa, but deep in my heart do I want the elders to be compassionate men? Let them show their true colors I say.
• 

  slimboyfat

  That is extremely odd. I know that a publisher can be restricted from answering up without being disfellowshipped. However, I have never heard of being restricted from field service without being disfellowshipped/disassociated. I suspect that the elders are not following the rules properly, which is bad news. If they are willing to bend the rules just to single out your husband, they probably have it in for him in the long run.

  Is it possible he has a judicial committee meeting pending - which is the only reason I can figure for stopping a publisher going on the ministry.

  If he really wants to stay a Witness he needs to get in good with at least one of the elders who can stick up for him, and getting in good with the CO whenever he visits would be a good idea too.

  Although Witnesses do seem to have complex rules applied very exactly, a lot in individual circumstances can come down to personality and the dynamic of relationships within the congregation.

  Is there any more light you can shed on the situation while still being discreet?

  I wish you and your husband all the best jgnat.

  Slim