by Sassy 20 Replies latest members private
Holy Spirit?
The nite of my dads burial in March, I was given a bottle of Dewars from my sons local boy scout troup. I built a fire and sat down in the living room and drank half the bottle. My wife picked me up off the floor in the morning.... that is as close to the Holy Spirit that I have been.....
It's a relief to me to hear that everyone's life did not just fall apart like I always was taught it would if you "left the truth". I know it sounds silly for me to even have thought now I guess but it was so instilled in me that even when I chose to never go back, I felt I did so accepting the fact my life might be horrible if I did.
It has not been so far for me. Actually I met the most wonderful man and he has so enriched my life that I have a hard time imagining ever having felt the happiness that I am enjoying with him in my life. I can't say I remember a lot of the scriptures well, but then again that never was my strength. I still would have to look things up before. I can't help but feel if good things are happening in my life and none of you felt you experienced 'bad' things by leaving and thereby giving evididence of 'not losing protection' that it was just one of those lies told to us to keep us afraid to leave. Its amazing that they can teach us about the evils of Christendom and how they scare the people with the hell fire doctrine, but I find that many are more fearful to stop being JWs than people have ever been for leaving the churches. So who really is using scare tactics?
sns
in all seriousness re: holy spirit ( and I apologize for my previous post--but the humor struck me....)
I do not believe that there is a Holy Spirit. But then again , I have been away for quite some time ( 20 odd years). but it takes time to let go of those old beliefs. And I do believe it is natural to rely on what you have always been taught; until you can "replace" that belief system.
I am happy for you that you have met someone "nice" that you can have a healthy relationship with and possibly build a life with. In my case, THAT was what brought me the most satisfaction and healing.
Best regards!
Frank
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
sns,
I felt the same way that you do....and now I have found that it is the complete opposite. I remember sobbing and begging Jehovah to help me and send his spirit to help me in my terrible life and to help my elder husband see how wrong he was. You know what...? I never felt his spirit then, ever. I never felt that he answered my prayers. Then, for awhile I did not pray at all--I was rather pissed at god. But when I did pray, my prayer got answers, over and over. I felt like I finally knew what it meant to have him listen. Whether that was holy spirit, I don't know. But I feel way more approved by him than I ever did as a dub. One very wise elder (who later was removed for recommending that some read self help books), once said to me: "Some times you have to do something so that God has something to bless". Funny how my life got better and better the further I got from the witnesses! I view it that I did something that he could bless.
I believe in Holy Spirit. It is having a powerful influence on my life, the more I yield to its influence that is.
For many years(29) as a Jehovah's Witnesses, I was taught to believe that we had the only right religion, that all the other so-called Christian religions were false and from devil, and so those that claim should have experiences with the Holy Spirit I automatically concluded that it was either the demons, emotionalism, or they were just flat-out liars.
Needless to say, because of having ongoing experiences, I believe the Holy Spirit is a gift that God gives to all Christians if they want it.
Many of the mainline churches who are not particularly fond of having the Holy Spirit around, have over the years changed their views, and so today you have chrismatic Catholics, chrismatic Presbyterians, chrismatic Episcopalians and so forth. The powerful effect that the Holy Spirit has on a persons life, is not always welcomed. And so in many of these churches you have those Christians that are happy without any supernatural experiences, and you have those that welcomed the Holy Spirit into their lives. Both side-by-side in the same religion.
While I associate with those that are fundamentalists currently, I do not share their views of the Bible, but what I do share with them is their desire to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit and have it guide me in my Christian walk.
I would recommend, for some of you, who may have an interest, to seek out those that do practice the baptism in the Holy Spirit, if you have a desire to experience an intimate fellowship with God thru the power of the Holy Spirit. If you still have a spark in your heart for God, the Holy Spirit can fan it to a flame. I think it's a wonderful thing to be in the power of the Holy Spirit and feel it's presence while you're praying and at other times.
SNS:
I can identify somewhat with your situation of having been subjected to ?Holy Spirit scare tactics.? My dad, a long-time elder, has always (even to this day) scared me about actually sinning against the Holy Spirit (thus my forum alias, ?SAHS?) if I ever ?did anything wrong.? I remember him talking to me when I was just a child about ?everyone else enjoying unspeakably wonderful, perfect conditions? while those who ?don?t make it? would be ?rotting in their graves for all eternity.? (Lovely positive image for a young child!)
Now, I realize that people can, and should, only be expected to do their best. If someone does sin, which we all, of course, do, then that person should expect to be forgiven and receive whatever help is reasonable, and be encouraged to simply get on with life.
In my case, if I?ve been caused to eventually sin against the Holy Spirit due to wrongs I?ve committed because of having being made to think that I?ve sinned against the Holy Sprit, even when I really haven?t (at least at the time), then I say, well, ?To hell with it!? If God is planning to just destroy me no matter what I do ? well, if that?s really the case ? then he can just jolly well keep his Holy Spirit! I mean, what good is it going to do me now anyway?
Anyway, all I can say is that you?ve got to just take charge of your own life and not worry about what kind of ?spirit? you have or don?t have. If you are a reasonably good person (non-Saddam-Hussein, non-Hitler class, which I would think most of us are), then you should just expect whatever beneficial ?spirit? there is from God to just come to you ? perhaps you have more of such Godly ?spirit? than you realize.
? SAHS
sns ... what makes you think the jws have cornered the market on holy spiritTM ...? BWAHAHAHAHA!!! 
... not to fear hun ... all part of the brainwash...
ESTEE
it was what I was raised to believe.. told over and over.. yes.. brainwashed. So when I left, I made the choice with the idea in mind at first (because to begin with I left not because I thought it wasn't the true religion, but because I personally couldn't do it any more. I saw, yes, hypocrasy in many places but being the 'forgiving person I am' I told myself men are imperfect. Mistakes will be made. Who was stumbling me? who was I serving? men or Jehovah?)
so with that thought in mind, I left thinking I would be sentencing myself to death. That I would be giving up family and friends (which of course does really happen) but also any protection that God might have been giving me. I thought the little wonderful things that happened in my life over the years were due to being a JW and serving Jehovah. I never thought for a second that I would still be given gifts of miracles in my life after I left.
but I have been. Simiilar miracles that have happen in my life over the years that I thought would end, have still happened. I have lost some people I loved in my life, but at the same time, only days after making those decisions that took them out of my life, I was granted with the love of my life. He is what dreams are made of. I am afraid to blink because this is what the write movies about. So if I had been doomed to this life of hell for leaving?? then why?? would I be given such a wonderful awesome gift. Who has time to feel bad about those thing I have lost when I have gained someone to fill my life with such spectacular things. And here, the friends I have made here, are awesome. I haven't lost support in my life. Ive gained it. And as far as scriptures not being called to mind. I really don't feel like I have forgotten anything. What I have found is that I don't know that I believe to apply them in the same way any longer. I don't know what I believe. I have to figure that one out.
This thread and all the comments has helped me affirm that we can still be blessed after leaving.. it isn't just me tellling myself that to justify my leaving, but that others too know it was the right thing. It has given me reason to think I can find the strength to pray again. I know when I do, I am going to be crying. I don't know how to pray any more. I stopped when I thought I stopped pleasing God by giving up. But if we truly do not lose blessing when we leave and that isn't the ONE true religion, then why should I think I can't approach him any longer. I know some here no longer believe in God and some do. I don't think I am ready to give up in my heart there is a grand creator. I do believe there is. I just have to figure out how to reach out to him and how to fullfill that sprititual need inside me. Time I think will give me that. But alll of you give me great gifts as well. Thank you.
~~Sassy~~
I don't know how to pray any more. I stopped when I thought I stopped pleasing God by giving up.
Something I heard a long time ago that I know is true >>>> "Sometimes you can stop the Lord from blessing you, but you can NEVER stop Him from Loving you." Our actions are important, but what's more important is LOVE, and knowing that life's a journey of discovery... never give up, there's always something around the corner.
But if we truly do not lose blessing when we leave and that isn't the ONE true religion, then why should I think I can't approach him any longer.
God's approachable 24/7 ... He's GOD, not man...
I know some here no longer believe in God and some do.
Maybe a few, but you'd be surprised at how many do.... I know for me, it's kind of private, so I only try to limit what I say and only speak in generalities.
I don't think I am ready to give up in my heart there is a grand creator. I do believe there is. I just have to figure out how to reach out to him and how to fullfill that sprititual need inside me. Time I think will give me that.
You're right... time WILL give you that. As with any success in life, stay positive and keep moving forward... action will bring about a reaction, that's a universal law.
