This is the dark side of JW leadership that in their arrogance they refuse to acknowledge. 50 years later, the leadership STILL demands unquestioning allegiance and claim a vague special line of communication with Jehovah as the 'faithful slave'. Ironically, they fit perfectly the comparison in Acts 20: 29,30 as 'oppressive wolves...twisting things to draw away disciples after themselves.'
Lightgrowsbrighter
JoinedPosts by Lightgrowsbrighter
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1975 !
by Sea Breeze inhow many of you here remember 1975?
i hope the newer generations never forget.the true believers got shamed for it.
those who were hedging their bets, fared much better.
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Whatever Happened to Those who returned to JEHOVAH
by raymond frantz inhttps://youtu.be/3yylzu0bi_k?si=kku6r9szfenj3h9i.
whatever happened to those who came back to jehovah?
due to slow growth and the constant scrutiny from governments like norway in relation to their harsh disfellowshipping practices,last year in a move that no one expected the watchtower for the first time extended an olive branch to all those who left the organization or were disfellowshipped in the past.considering this practice was introduced over 60 years ago and with a rough estimate that around 100,000 leave jehovah’s witnesses every year the total number is in the several millions.so we should have expected millions to have accepted this invitation and rejoined the organization, the result though was an abysmal few thousands according to a recent jw update.. so now, for the first time, the latest watchtower study magazine for april 2025 gives us an inside view on how this reintegration is coming along, and it doesn't look good!.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Raymond- interesting post.
My understanding and viewpoint is that thus far WT leadership make policy changes because they HAVE to for legal reasons, or as the original Raymond Franz said ;) because their beliefs are so wrong that- again- they HAVE to make changes because their teachings don't make sense (i.e. 1914). The strict DF policy has recently resulted in governments turning on WT so they are trying to appear more reasonable. 1 Cor. 5 (one of the main WT references to disfellowshipping) is clear on asking someone who flagrantly flaunts accepted standards (in this case, fornicating with his stepmother) to leave the group, but individuals (see 2 Cor. 1) treat them as they see fit. WT made this the catch all for a strict DF policy for anything- scriptural or unscriptural that they disapprove of (i.e. smoking). Also, they wrongly cross reference 2 John- a totally different scenario, to support this strict policy.
To the best of my knowledge, they STILL treat anyone who disagrees with ANY of their policies as 'apostate' and enforce the strict shunning policy upon them. Ironic that they are easier on those actually violating Christian moral standards than they are on those that have honest dogma differences.
I have and continue to endure this ostracism. Born in former elder- been out for 15 years.
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Beroean Pickets- please offer encouragement
by Lightgrowsbrighter infor many who have left jw.org, there is still a spiritual need and faith in the bible.
beroean pickets is one group/website where serious bible research and commentary, weekly critical reviews of wt studies, as well expose's of flawed wt opinion/doctrine- all backed by the bible- can be considered.
this vast amount of work and research is all done by just a small group of our volunteer brothers and sisters.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Buz- I saw this. Very sad to me that what started as a very helpful place for those with a spiritual need that have left Watchtower has become yet another place of trauma. I agree with many of Eric's opinions, but have not associated with his group for quite some time as those who disagree with some of he & Wendy's actions and opinions have indeed been mistreated. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree and part ways in a mutually respectful manner. I hope Eric & Wendy avoid the path of WT leadership and try to make peace.
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GB Update #2, March 2024: Women allowed to wear pants, no ties/coats required if not giving a talk, & now able to greet DF ones in the KH!
by WingCommander inyou heard me correct, this is not a joke, and it is not april fools day!
the asl portion of the governing body updated #2 (march 2024) has been released a bit early and someone caught it.
summary: .
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Still hard line on treatment of 'apostates'- which is by their definition (not the Bible's) ANYONE who disagrees with them. Ironically, THEY are apostates by demanding unquestionable obedience and appointing themselves as 'the faithful slave'. Also, they act more like an 'evil slave' by beating up anyone who questions them.
Biblical definition of 'apostasy' is following someone other than Jesus, and/or persuading others to follow someone other than Jesus. Humbling themselves would show much more sincerity than all of these changes made largely to avoid more legal actions and retain membership.
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My Most Memorable Circuit & District Overseers
by MillennialDawn ini would love to hear from anyone who may have encountered the following the traveling overseers:.
david wesley - an incredibly kind and humble man.
just the most down-to-earth co you'll ever find.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
MD: My longtime still in dad remembers Manera. I remember Roberson from So. California back in the 90's. You are spot on, mesmerizing speaker.
I also enjoyed Don Emshoff who was a CO and DO in Colorado and So. California. He was not married and a likeable guy. He irritated some of the 'friends' when he drove a 2 door Cadillac instead of the standard 4 door 'service' car in the days before WT provided vehicles for them.
With as sharp as these guys are (or were), I think the social aspect of being a ranking JW was more important than Bible discussion as all of them would turn on any who questioned org dogma.
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Do You Think Trump Is Done?
by minimus incertain forces appear to be trying to make sure donald trump never runs for president again.
some republicans are clearly abandoning trump and of course the democratic press has been saying trump is done!
is trump’s goose cooked?
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Nothing to see here... 2020 US Presidential election numbers graph... move along.
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PFIZER DOCUMENTS and the ugly truth about the cover up
by Terry invideo : what’s in the pfizer documents?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9y_w_30hsm&t=51s.
brief summary.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Terry: The amount of corruption, cover-up, sell-out, conspiracy, flim-flam, and flap-doodle that goes on every day combined with the real-life rise of robots, Artificial Intelligence and the clamor for nuclear war by Democrats just can't be happening...but it is.
What is disturbing to me is how many people STILL ignore these facts and support the Democrats twisted agenda.
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Pursue Peace Assembly 2022 .. Joseph shares stories about his Bible days
by RULES & REGULATIONS inpursue peace assembly 2022 shows a resurrected, newly shaven joseph, the son of jacob and rachel, having a nice dinner at a beautiful restaurant in the new system.
the survivors of armageddon all want to know if joseph can share stories about his life.. ''can you tell us what egypt was like?
what was pharaoh like?''.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Joseph's English is good, although I do hear a slight Egyptian accent- or is that Hebrew??
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My story
by PimoElder inhi everyone i’m a pimo elder ex bethelite and pioneer who has been having doubts for many years.
as of late i’ve come to have even more doubts mainly due to the gb pushing the vaccines and acting like salesman for big pharma companies .
i will never take these vaccines even if it meant i couldn’t go to the hall as was previously said but the gb have done a big u turn on this now.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
BTW- I agree with you about the covid jab. PERSONAL CHOICE.
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My story
by PimoElder inhi everyone i’m a pimo elder ex bethelite and pioneer who has been having doubts for many years.
as of late i’ve come to have even more doubts mainly due to the gb pushing the vaccines and acting like salesman for big pharma companies .
i will never take these vaccines even if it meant i couldn’t go to the hall as was previously said but the gb have done a big u turn on this now.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Hi P.E. I was in your shoes also as a 3rd gen JW and PIMO elder. Very tough to ‘step down’ (I always hated that term), and I think even tougher now as you will be grilled as to why you would leave the ‘privilege’ of being an elder. After I quit being an elder, I tried to be a rank-and-file brother- next to impossible, you are viewed and treated much differently (weak in 'the truth'). My family and I left cold turkey in 2010. I understand your comment on ‘nice people’ in the org. I felt the same way. But believe me, they will abandon you if you leave- even if you fade without being DF’d as an ‘apostate’. I’ve come to the realization that JW’s are a high control social group, not interested in genuine Bible discussion as they portray. Accept it all 'as taught by JW's' or you’re out. Simply put for me: Any group (Christian or otherwise) that demands unquestionable allegiance to all their dogma is the wrong group to be involved with.