Posted by Harold [harold] on November 12, 1999 at 20:41:41 {CkRQXOxAaI61p6sL3HUsdt40fI85yM}:
In Reply to: *Apostates wrong again. posted by FRED HALL on November 12, 1999 at 13:41:10:
Hiya FRED,
It is commendable of you to treat your DF family member with such love. I suppose that I could also get the 'red carpet' treatment from my own family if I was to let them know I was seriously thinking about 'coming back'. Unfortunately, most DF'd ones get treated very coldly if the family knows it's unlikely re-instatement will ever happen. That's what the Society fails to mention. Sure, they'll welcome DFeds back with open arms, but it's very conditional. A Dfed may have stopped the behaviour that resulted in the disfellowshipping long ago, and may otherwise live a normal life with good moral character, and yet if they make it apparent to family members that there is zero intention of ever coming back - they [dfed] will be regarded as unrepentant, wordly and selfish individuals who have "turned their backs on their families". Loyal dubs do not recognize that a Dfed family member can have a meaningful relationship with God outside of the organization, therefore until one seeks to be re-instated, repentance is impossible.
And therefore the Dfed one, who may have corrected the inappropriate behavior years ago, is still made to feel the loss of affection and normalities of familial relationships. Some dfeds will try at one time or another to come back, but if this is done to please Mom and DAD, and there is no longer any belief in the BIW say, then the attempt at re-instatement most likely fails. The end result is, that even though the 'elder's manual' provides that family relationships remain normal, those who are dfed get the cold shoulder unless they begin the process of re-instatement. Those who aren't hypocritical enough to 'fake' repentance and live a lie for the sake of family must endure the lack of affection from family members until he/ she dies, or until the rest of the family leaves the organization - which ever occurs first.
-The Apostates twisted everything around. They do not appreciate that there is a high priest that can
do away with our sins.
Not exactly, FRED. The Society teaches that the only way to the high priest is through them [Society], so if a dfed one decides that he will repent and bare his soul to God and show a desire to live more righteously, but does it on his own, that won't count with the elders. According to the rules of the Society, disfellowshipped ones remain so until they do things the JW way.
The Society misleads the public by not telling them the whole story. The public neads to know that shunning is very real and that many family relationships have been destroyed simply because some no longer continued to believe in the teachings of the WTS, which caused them to QUESTION the Society, which eventually led to disfellowshipping and shunning. All of this because they are an evil person? No, although anyone who leaves the 'truth' is regarded by the remaining members as such, regardless of that person's actual character. Rather, it is the complete belief in, and subjection to the Society that is demanded. ABK and most dubs will deny this, saying that everything that the Society requires of us is really required by God, and the Society is just following the direction provided by the Bible and by God through his Holy spirit. Anyone who has ever been a JW can attest to the fact that the Society as an organization views rejecting the Society's instructions as tantamount to rejecting the instructions of God Himself. Therefore, non-compliance with the Society is not tolerated. Anyone who might have problems with the Society's doctrine and openly challenge the Society on an issue WILL BE disfellowshipped if they do not cease and desist. Those who find they have major problems with doctrine must keep their mouth shut, for if word gets around that they've been discussing this with others, they will be asked to stop, and if they don't they will be branded APOSTATE and disfellowshipped accordingly. If one has a life-time's worth of family and friends in the organization that he doesn't want to lose, one who has serious doubts may have to live a lie for the rest of their life. This is the choice many have to face. Some remain in the organization for the sakes of their families, but some can't deal with the hypocrisy that it takes to pretend to everyone around that it's business as usual. So they leave. And for that they are shunned by family and friends and forever branded an APOSTATE....
Freddie, do you feel you have the right to be here, partaking in discussions with known 'apostates'?
Obviously you do, because you post here quite frequently. How about going to your local elders and telling them you think the Society's advice on internet use contained in the November KM is going to be ignored by you, and if anyone asks you, you're going to tell them that you think it's perfectly ok to do what you please on the net. Naturally, the elders would warn you against disregarding such advice from the FDS, not to mention how openly challenging the Society is being haughty, ect. If you continue, however, to promote your own view, openly, you could bet that a judicial committee would be convened. Which means that if you, Freddie, believe it is okay to be here at H2O - contrary to the Society's admonition - you then are forced to either live a lie, or go to your elders and inform them that you participate and contribute regularly on a mainly APOSTATE web site, and that further more YOU will decide when and if you should cease your activities on the said web site, regardless of what the Society says about it. I dare you to DO IT FREDDIE!!!!
How fast can you say JUDICIAL COMMITTEE???
Think about it, FREDDIE
Harold.