You know, I think it all comes down to ...... Jehovah may forgive, but people sometimes do not. And that fact is something those of us who wish to be reinstated have to face.
But hey, who do you serve anyway??
Take for example the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32)
The father forgave his son, but the brother may never have. The story finishes, but we can assume the older brother may have resented his younger brother forever after that.
And in reality, since he had spent his fortune and had nothing left over, the younger brother may have to rely on this older brother for help later on in life. How fun was that going to be?
People are imperfect. People will always let you down.
Jehovah will not.
People who seek reinstatement should focus on Jehovah and not on the brothers and sisters.
The so called "privileges" of service that are withheld should be viewed as added burdens to the one returning. I think it is a kindness and consideration in a way that no one can instantly start burdening someone with congregational stuff right after they are reinstated.
It should be viewed as a special time for reading, meditating and healing.
One should enjoy it!!!!
How quickly one can get all embroiled in the congregation again! For what????? You dont get paid for it!
It may be that is what caused alot of the problems before! I know it did for me!!!
Take time to be with family and friends. Take vacations, walks, boat rides, go fishing.
Take a completely different approach to being a witness this time.
Just my thoughts.
Posts by anewme
-
20When DF'd ones are reinstated are they treated as if they never were DF'd?
by JH inbasically my question is, is there a difference between a person who was inactive for 15 years and missed all the meetings, compared to a disfellowshipped person who also missed 15 years of meetings.
lets say that both come back and after a few months both are active again.
is the inactive person treated the same way as the one who has been reinstated?.
-
-
anewme
-
6
Real christ like personality!
by Gill ini posted about a neighbour of mine in a more critical light a few months ago.
her young daughter of 15 was pregnant and her son of 17, his girlfriend also 17 was pregnant.
my point at the time was, how could this have happened and why hadn't she been keeping an eye on her children?
-
-
anewme
I have met a couple of witnesses who really impressed me. Thinking of them teaches me alot about how a person can be a true Christian AND be a witness at the same time.
They were not prominant in the halls, nor were they pioneers. Their Christianity was solid and strong, but not showy. In the everyday dealings with people they showed their true colors. I take pleasure in meditating on those people. -
36
praying for mass destruction and death
by Cognitive_Dissident inso i was writing a paper the other day, specifically about the skewed world view that i had had as a witness, and i typed the following - .
pain, misery, strife, these were all things that used to prove to me that jehovah's witnesses were correct in their assessment of a dying world which was soon to be liberated/obliterated by the hand of god.
this "liberation" was something that i desperately longed for.
-
-
anewme
Well, my psyche is very tender! And I strongly recommend only reading the last paragraph of any article in the Watchtower or Awake! as they focus on the beautiful paradise only.
-
36
praying for mass destruction and death
by Cognitive_Dissident inso i was writing a paper the other day, specifically about the skewed world view that i had had as a witness, and i typed the following - .
pain, misery, strife, these were all things that used to prove to me that jehovah's witnesses were correct in their assessment of a dying world which was soon to be liberated/obliterated by the hand of god.
this "liberation" was something that i desperately longed for.
-
-
anewme
But remember, it is not only the JWs who pray the Lord's prayer, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Bible readers in many religious sects believe the things written in the scriptures. Christendom goes so far as to predict the literal burning and scorching of the earth.
Who gave us this prayer? Who wrote the Bible? Not the witnesses. Like others they are only trying to figure out what the message of the Bible is to humankind.
What I think is possible is that too much attention on the Revelation destruction is putting some tender psyches out of kilter. If one was reading the Bible on one's own, would there be such emphasis placed on mass destruction?
Probably not. The problem is with the literature and talk programs that feature the Revelation misery which in my opinion is not the proper emphasis for sensitive caring individuals.
These subjects should have R ratings for violence.
I think to say that Witnesses enjoy thinking about the death of millions is not exactly true. To say they sound alarmingly callous to the death of others, is probably true. They are only trying to remind themselves to be good so they wont suffer the same. What else can they do when they are believing what the scriptures are saying? Shall we ban Bible reading? I think that has been tried.
I cherish the Bible's message but I do not focus on God's judgement. I'm sure Jesus did not either.
It is not healthy to do that. So if literature makes you uneasy when it discusses Revelation, just skip it.
If a man is having difficulty giving talks on all that stuff, then step down.
A man does not have to be an elder.
A woman does not have to be a full time preacher.
Give yourself a healthy break and focus on God's love and not on his method to bring about the kingdom.
I recommend simplifying your approach to the truth.
Pick and choose what literature you will read, or read none of it and only the lovely Bible parts that bring you joy. Focus on Jehovah's magnificence! -
20
New Revelation
by gringojj ini was just looking at some old pictures from wts magazines.
i noticed something i cant understand.
the car in the picture is a buick park avenue!
-
-
anewme
Isnt that a graphic picture?
-
29
Were there any professionals in your congregation?
by JH in.
i was just wondering if you had any doctors, lawyers, pyschologists, psychiatrists, engineers or any highly educated ones in your congregation?
.
-
-
anewme
You know in all my years as a Witness I do not remember of any professionals in my hall. In the next hall a brother was a doctor they said, but turned out to be a chiropractor. Most of the wealthier bros were business owners or guys who got jobs in the old days with IBM without degrees. I do believe some went to college a bit. Some were involved in the big computer wave here in Calif. But when that went bust they had to reinvent themselves. One young man in our hall was very bright. His mom remarried out of the truth a very rich man and this man sent the witness lad to Stanford University. If you dont go to college, its hard to become a professional.
-
36
praying for mass destruction and death
by Cognitive_Dissident inso i was writing a paper the other day, specifically about the skewed world view that i had had as a witness, and i typed the following - .
pain, misery, strife, these were all things that used to prove to me that jehovah's witnesses were correct in their assessment of a dying world which was soon to be liberated/obliterated by the hand of god.
this "liberation" was something that i desperately longed for.
-
-
anewme
No, I dont think anybody is eagerly awaiting the destruction of millions of people.
-
16
Only spirit anointed can commit the unforgiveable sin
by anewme indid i just stumble onto something here?
wasnt jesus and the bible speaking to the anointed when it warned against sinning against the holy spirit?
how can those of us who have never received the h.s.
-
-
anewme
True, those put to death in the Revelation Armageddon looks like they are judged eternally.
Oh well.
We have to accept God as he is and accept his plan whatever it is. We really have no say about it.
I had a father who loved me, yet when I needed some money in my teens and early twenties he would not let me have it. I was so bitter!
When he died he willed me a great sum of money. He had his own plans for his money. Even though he loved me he was not going to change his plans for my immediate relief. I learned a lesson from this experience with my father.
Since God is not a creation of our minds, he is his own person, we must deal with him as he is.
He is a loving, yet strict Papa. -
16
Only spirit anointed can commit the unforgiveable sin
by anewme indid i just stumble onto something here?
wasnt jesus and the bible speaking to the anointed when it warned against sinning against the holy spirit?
how can those of us who have never received the h.s.
-
-
anewme
"Moronic little dogmas"! I suppose you believe the God who created the cosmos is only interested in painting huge universe-scapes? Or is he only interested in weather phenomena? Or how about gravity? No, wait, he is interested only in chemistry. What do you think are Gods interests?????
I'd say he has a few more than most people do. Arent you the least bit impressed by his mind's greatness?
To say he is interested in his human creation and letting them know they are loved and that he has a plan for their care...(The Bible) is MORONIC??????
Do you think he is only interested in gases? Rocks? Air flow? Photosynthesis? Light speed?
These do not praise him nor can they love him and appreciate him.
How much more precious in his eyes is a human being.
My point for this discussion is to remind us all that even though we have been dfd and are shunned as Satan's ghouls by family and former friends, that is not how God views us.
Jesus gave us the story of the prodigal son to let us know the mind of God on the matter of sin and returning to him and receiving forgiveness.
I believe the majority of us fall into this category and not the category of unforgiveable sin that Christ also spoke of at Matt. 12:31,32 -
16
Only spirit anointed can commit the unforgiveable sin
by anewme indid i just stumble onto something here?
wasnt jesus and the bible speaking to the anointed when it warned against sinning against the holy spirit?
how can those of us who have never received the h.s.
-
-
anewme
Yes, but they were looking right into Jesus' eyes. They knew Lazarus had died and was resurrected and wanted to put him to death again to get rid of the evidence. Why would they want to kill him again? They were truly infected with a satanic desire. We just have to accept Jesus' words when he accused the pharisees of being offspring of Satan. And perhaps he was not referring to all of them, but just to those who had a truly evil spirit against him and who conspired against him. After all he could see into their hearts with Gods spirits help.
Adam and Eve spoke directly with God. May not see them again. Maybe not Cain either since God himself tried to calm his anger.
Satan and demons are prophesied to be destroyed forever.
The offspring of the Nephilim were destroyed at the flood.
That generation was pretty much judged by God before the flood waters started to rise.
The Canannites never got preached to really before the Israelites destroyed their towns.
Rahab the Harlot showed outstanding faith and so survived, she and her family.
The many persons put to death by the prophets and by the Israelite zealous leaders are all in question as to whether they will be seen again.
Aarons sons, the Egyptian Moses killed, those killed by the 10 plagues,
The Sodomites and Gomorites will probably come back. After all their sin was only sexual, not sin against the Holy Spirit.
Jesus hinted Judas probably will not be seen again.
Annanais and Sappira lied against the Holy Spirit as spirit anointed Christians.
I dont know. It is alot to think about.
I do think Jehovah for the most part is a forgiving God.....slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
I believe more people than anyone can imagine have a place in his heart and will be seen again!