Shepherding Visit - Update

by stevieb1 3 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  stevieb1

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  You may have read my thread from last week entitled "My Personal Turmoil" in which I discussed my congregation elders wanting to meet with me to "encourage" me to believe that Jehovah is using the Watchtower Society as His organization. I said in that thread that I had told them to leave me alone, well anyway on Tuesday night the same elder phoned me to accept a "shephering visit" and again I refused. Not taking no for an answer he approached me again in the Kingdom Hall on Thursday and told me that I must accept a shepherding visit out of necessity because I was in spiritual danger and the elders wanted to "help". Again I refused.
  Anyway to cut a long story short the Presiding Overseer approaches me and literally forces me to look at Jude 22 with him which says "also, continue showing mercy to some that have doubts; save them by snatching them out of the fire..."

  I know that if I accept a shepherding visit all they will try to do is "prove" to me that Jehovah has an organization on Earth as His channel of communication, when I know full well from the Scriptures that this isn't the case. They won't be there to listen to what I have to say, because to them it seems so logical that He has an organization on Earth today. We will be just going round in circles, and because I won't accept their reasoning I will be labelled as rebellious etc, etc.

  Now this is a good bit, the PO told me that because I didn't accept all the beliefs JW's hold as their own I was reneging on my dedication vow that I made before I was baptized. I told them unequivocally that I had dedicated myself to Jehovah and not to an organization, but he told me that dedicating myself to Jehovah meant accepting all the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. Where does loyalty to TRUTH come into this? Am I contractually bound to the doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses?

  I will let you know of any further developments.......
• 

  mymailmum

  I feel so sad for you...you have given so much of your life to Jehovah and then you gave up when under test.

  Jehovah does not forget what you did for his name. But girl, you failed a test that all of Jehovah's Witnesses have to go thru. WE DO NOT SERVE AND WORSHIP PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IMPERFECT PEOPLE!

  You were tested like Job but you forgot to turn to Jehovah in pray to help you during the hardest test we all go thru. He would have guided you on what to do... then you would know for sure that He is real.

  Are you with your new church people praising Jehovah and teaching people about the only hope of the Kingdom? You know you
  are not...but you know deep down that is what we are to do.

  Jehovah has a perfect track record, EVERYTHING he says is going to happen...

  Jesus said these apostates would come. They have all decided to jump off the bridge and you have followed. Just like Judas Escariot.

  If I would have stayed in the Kingdom Hall just because of the people, imperfect people just like me, believe me I would have left a long time ago. I love Jehovah and if he allows certain things to continue for a time, then that is His decision.

  Satan is the one testing all of Jehovah's people...he wants company.
  And all those aposates that have failed their test of faith in Jehovah want company too. And they cry about it all over the internet.

  Why are they not coming to my door if they are so loving and they know what is going to happen in the future?

  I cannot begin to tell you all the stuff I have personally gone thru over the years but I can tell you, I have seen ALOT. And each time I have had to make personal adjustments and sometimes even changed congregations where there were even apostates within, girl we are close to the end and you HAVE TO have a close relationship with Jehovah to get thru this. It is the only way...Please find a Hall that you feel comfortable and loved in...I know it is there for you... for sure...I trust in Jehovah! NOT imperfect MAN!
• 

  think41self

  Hi StevieB

  I am sorry they are hounding you this way. They want to push you into a corner so they can "deal" with you...meaning slap a label on you and DF you. Depending on when you were baptised, they can say that in your baptism vows you DID in a sense vow loyalty to "God's earthly organization".

  Just a suggestion, since you can't win in open confrontation with them, as you said, they will not listen to what you have to say, I would just become an expert at politely avoiding them. Believe me, it can be done. If they want to scedule a meeting, tell them to call you sometime, you're just really busy right now. If they show up at your house, either don't answer the door, or come rushing out the door to your car and say you are late for an appt...could they come back another day? Do you get my drift? If they think you are being defiant, they will keep on hunting you down. If they think you are just weak, and VERY BUSY you will fade off their radar screen.

  And Stevie, this person Mymailmum that responded to you is spamming all the new posters with this same response. Makes you think they didn't even bother to read your story, doesn't it? Just thought you should know so you wouldn't take them too seriously.

  think41self

  "Not believing is not the same as not knowing."
• 

  sweetone2377

  I do was wondering the same question, Where does loyalty to truth come into this? If you believe what you have found to be true, then don't allow them to back you down. You did dedicate yourself to serve Jehovah, not what "mere men" says Jehovah is or what He wants of you. I agree with think41sef here. And mymailmum is not encouraging you to think for yourself. If you have found proof in the scriptures to back you up then you are in the right here. Just because THEY feel you NEED a sheparding call, that you are turning your back on Jehovah, doesn't make it so. i personally have pretty much seperated myself from religion altogether in the past year and a half, so if anyone has turned their back on Jehovah, it would definately be me. Don't let anyone label you as an apostate, etc, just because you've discovered the truth about a paticular subject. And I encourage you to keep seeking truth through the scriptures and to not believe it just because the WTS says you should. That is why God gave us free will. If he didn't want us to use it, why would He give it to us?

  SweetOne