The Prodigal Child

Lady Lee

I was just reading something posted a couple of years ago and it got me thinking.

In the post Vivamus discussed how after she made the decision to leave the witnesses she went to a birthday party for her uncle. When she walked into the room everyone just dropped thjaws in surprise. Viv then walked up to her uncle and loud and clearly she wished him happy birthday. And then sat down and the chatter in the room went on. A few minutes later she followed her aunt into the kitchen and Viv told her aunt she was leaving the JWs. She was welcomed with open arms. Her uncle came into the kitchen and she repeated to him that she was leaving the JW but was sorry she had not brought a gift. He hugged her and said he just got the best gift in the world. Now THAT is the prodigal child's welcome home.

I have a similar story. I have an uncle and his wife that left the JWs. But since they lived in a different part of the country I didn't see them again. Until I moved to Winnipeg. I stopped in their area and one of my other aunts was having a party. I had stayed with my mother on the trip and she decided we would go to the family party AND her brother and his wife would be there. I had no idea what to expect when I got there. I certainly wasn't prepared for my entrance.

As soon as my aunt saw me she held her arms wide and we embraced so hard we fell onto the sofa behind her. We hugged and wept for all the wasted years. It was unbelievable. Other family members welcomed me. My mother looked on and finally left the room. Now THAT's the way to welcome the prodigal child. This was a little more than she could take.

The WTS says that after a person is DFed they can be welcomed back just as the Prodical Son was. So how do they do this?

A person must appear before an elder or two and let their intentions be made known. They are then reminded they will have ZERO support. At all meetings no one will speak to them. They will be shunned until the elders think they are punished enough. If they meet JWs away from the hall they will be shunned - again, untilt he elders restore their privilege and let the cong know that you are off restrictions. How loving.

Then and not before then the R&F will politely welcome the person back into the fold. Once DFed people will continue to treat them as a marked person - after all they did something bad enough to be DFed.

Hmmmmm The Prodigal Son?

changeling

And they can't even clap when the announcement is made...

changeling

hibiscusfire

The prodigal son returns to his father. The JW church is not our Heavenly Father.

hibiscus

journey-on

There is no comparison, is there?

In the parable, I'm struck by how the father saw him from afar and ran out to him. He met him more than half-way with kisses and immense joy. He didn't wait for the son to arrive and beg and grovel at his feet. The father went out to him with loving tenderness and exuberance.

Jehovah's Witnesses are pathetic in their interpretation of scriptural principles. They are the most arrogant Pharasaic group of people you could ever run across. They lack real loving kindness and have no concept whatsoever of real grace and mercy. They make me sick.

hibiscusfire

journey-on: They lack real loving kindness and have no concept whatsoever of real grace and mercy. They make me sick.

You know something when you say this it shows how bitter you have become after being mislead by the JW church. Some of JW's members are genuinely and dedicated to this church but unfortunately everything seems to be all wrong...and the teachings are wrong. They are not totally true according to my God. Jesus said to love one another. However that doesn't mean you would go out of your way to be friends with that person and beg to be friends. Although If something happens, Jesus taught that we should be kind to one another and help. You know like with the Good Samaritan.

There is this verse in the bible that says," Do not cast pearls before a swine."

hibiscusfire

hibiscusfire

And they can't even clap when the announcement is made... changeling

Now that is terrible. It's like they don't care. That is why I say, it is different in the body of Christ. You are welcomed back! Jesus wants us to feel loved and special. He will take us back in his big arms. We just need to pray more to stay on the right track.

hibiscusfire

journey-on

Hibiscusfire

Bitter is the wrong word, dear. I'm disgusted and find the religion repulsive because of its hypocrisy and total disregard for Christ-like love.

WTWizard

I remember that account. The prodigal son lived a totally debauched life, and never once attended a family meeting during this time. Things got hard, and the first time he headed for the family meeting to rectify the situation, they were willing to forgive him. There was no period of having privileges retracted or where they could not talk to him. In fact, I remember the other son was not willing to forgive him (sort of reminds one of the Puketower). The father rebuked this other son for not accepting the lost-and-found son back, and Jesus pointed that out.

Yes, the prodigal son did have to suffer consequences. Not only did he have real hardship during the time he was out, but he had already wasted his inheritance. Thus, he got no further benefit from that. But, he was not additionally burdened with further problems from the process of coming back. He was allowed back immediately and without having the waiting period.

As for me, I don't think that religion has anything to offer. I blew them off, and I see nothing worth going back for. And, if things do get hard on the outside, I can see that it is even harder for those inside. And worse for all the stupid rules that they create. Every time they see someone prospering, they find out why and make a rule that cuts that off. Going back to that puke would only make things harder, even if they did take me back at once. And that is not what I want to do with my life.

Lady Lee

hibiscusfire

The prodigal son returns to his father. The JW church is not our Heavenly Father.

well the WTS sure wants dubs to think the org is the same as the father

changeling

And they can't even clap when the announcement is made...

I had forgotten about that

journey on

In the parable, I'm struck by how the father saw him from afar and ran out to him. He met him more than half-way with kisses and immense joy. He didn't wait for the son to arrive and beg and grovel at his feet. The father went out to him with loving tenderness and exuberance.

As a parent I could not imagine one of my children doing something and when they say they were sorry I would make them stay in the corner and not speak to them for a year. I would be doing what I could to show I loved them in speite of mistakes they made.

Jehovah's Witnesses are pathetic in their interpretation of scriptural principles. They are the most arrogant Pharasaic group of people you could ever run across. They lack real loving kindness and have no concept whatsoever of real grace and mercy. They make me sick.

Sadly they do what they are told. I will admit that as a JW I followed the rules and didn't talk to DFed ones. Was it unloving? Sure it was but I didn't know that then. I believed that it was a form of acceptable discipline needed to let a person know they were wrong about something. Pitiful. I know But when I was a dub I had an uncle who was DFed. At the time we were told not to talk to him so we didn't. Then there was a WT that said we could talk to them. I didn't see him again but my mother did and I remember she was happy to be able to have that freedom again - well until they changed the rules again Do they lack real loving kindness. Well my mother does but both non-JWs and JWs see she has a few problems in that area. But getting back to the point - when allowed JWs can be very different and show real concern for people. WTWizard

I remember that account. The prodigal son lived a totally debauched life, and never once attended a family meeting during this time. Things got hard, and the first time he headed for the family meeting to rectify the situation, they were willing to forgive him. There was no period of having privileges retracted or where they could not talk to him. In fact, I remember the other son was not willing to forgive him (sort of reminds one of the Puketower). The father rebuked this other son for not accepting the lost-and-found son back, and Jesus pointed that out.

Yes, the prodigal son did have to suffer consequences. Not only did he have real hardship during the time he was out, but he had already wasted his inheritance. Thus, he got no further benefit from that. But, he was not additionally burdened with further problems from the process of coming back. He was allowed back immediately and without having the waiting period.

LtCmd.Lore

You know, that's really interesting... I never thought of that.

How do you suppose a dub would respond if you mentioned the prodigal son the next time they state the no clapping rule?

Lore

The Prodigal Child

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