So on my facebook feed this morning pops up a picture with the words 'Jehovahs Witnesses the Happiest people on Earth' I have no idea why i can see this must have come from a friend of a friend! Anyway i take a quick peak at the comments, about 30 of them all saying the same JW Propoganda. Then ,non JW, makes a comment about a terrible person she knows that is a JW and that JW's break up families and listen to man and not God.
JW Replies: Just because someone says they're from a certain faith doesn't mean they're living it. It's not God that breaks up families, People make that decision.
So I'm afraid this is red rag to a bull for me as i disassociated from the religion and will not take the blame for the fact that family are shunning me and I'm not sure I believe in God anymore but I'm sure he doesn't want to be blamed either, so I answer.
Me: 'JW' I think you have just agreed with 'non JW' she says you believe what man says and not God, you say God does not break up families.......So presumably the shunning of Disfellowshipped/Disassociated ones has come from Men.
JW: Thats from the Bible
Me: So GOD breaks up families then? Does he tell you to shun people? Where is that Scripture?
JW: Read the bible its pretty clear, God doesn't break up families, he tells you how to have a happy family. He doesn't force anyone to worship him, Dont worry.
Me: I like that he wants us to have a happy family, that is how it should be, but I'm Confused, you said shunning had come from the bible......how does not talking to a family member help you to have a happy family life? If God doesnt force any to worship him, how come if you leave you lose your family? Is that not emotional Blackmail? At this point i can believe she hasn't cottoned on!!!
JW: The only way you get disfellowshipped is if you are committing Gross Sin, (blah blah lists every Gross sin) Be glad he gives you guidelines and then upholds them. But it is a free will choice, we have free will to listen or not. (yeah right)! Then i get an example of a married man having an affair.......she goes on and on about this. And then says : so what breaks up families - affairs.
( i ignore the bit about the affair as i'm feeling she has issues) Me: So what if you have done nothing wrong (broken no laws) and just disassociate because you just don't want to be a witness anymore (as you said God does not force us to worship him) why then do they get shunned and again where is the scriptural basis for that?
JW: You're not (now i'm confused, is there new light, am i not shunned anymore)!
JW: (before i get to answer) She does me a screen shot of 1 Cor 5
Me: That's talking about those who have done something wrong........what about those that just disassociate?
JW: Hebrews 10.26 Once you willfully know the truth from God and Turn your back on it etc
Again before i can answer she gives me a gift from heaven JW: Again, all in the bible, even the King James Bible.
Me: The King James Bible says 'if you sin willfully there will be no sacrifice for sins' so we are still talking about sin. Maybe your bible has been changed to fit your beliefs. You still have shown no scriptural proof that says to shun those who choose (because of God given free will) to leave.
Here comes the avoidance tactic JW: I'm happy I know the truth. You sound bitter and unhappy living 'as you please', (she goes on about boundaries being there for a reason. And then harps on about the sin of christmas and easter (more avoidance) And based on this conversation you are either disfellowshipped or disassociated (finally she gets it) so i will let the bible speak for itself 1 Tim 3.16 (this killed me i think she meant 2 Tim 3.16)
I'm rumbled so i got everything off my chest, i have had a year to think about this!!
Me: You've obviously got me wrong, I am not bitter at all, I have the best life ever......I walked away and disassociated myself which is why I have the best life ever. I could not be associated with an organisation that told me that the UN were the Wild Beast and yet were members for 10 years! Your own organisation book says if someone affiliates themselves with an organisation contrary to Gods Kingdom then they have disassociated themselves, Your own organisation has done that, ironic! An organisation that has covered up over 1000 child abuse cases in Australia and are currently under investigation there. Also under investigation by the Charity Commission in the UK for their practices added to the fact that my monthly donations went to pay out of court settlements worth millions of dollars to those abused while many abusers are not disfellowshipped and enjoy good standing in the congregations. So yes I have been surprised that i am shunned for exercising my God given free will and left. I know there is no scriptural basis for shunning disassociated ones which was why I was trying to get you to use your critical thinking skills and question that teaching. As you could not answer my question and give scriptural support to your beliefs I emplore you to question what you are taught. It is mans word, not Gods. I only answered this as it came up on my fb feed and made me chuckle 'JW's happiest people on earth'....half my congregation were on anti depressants! So I am not bitter, I am happy to out of it and wouldnt trade that for anything. Perhaps you had better not reply now you know, its not worth you getting into trouble over, I genuinely wish you well.
Well that was it, needless to say it disappeared off fb but hopefully some of the previous posters had seen at least some of it ( i doubt if it will make a jot of difference but i do believe you can't unsee something once you have seen it)