Posted by PraeTell [PraeTell] on November 14, 1999 at 16:22:42 {fiuUEQ5dxUeyonal8IUEBEe53OQjk6}:
In Reply to: ***Hositlity! posted by ScienceGuy on November 14, 1999 at 13:41:55:
I too was under the influence of a teaching by a man that believed much in the way the Witnesses do, and my husband and I found ourselves depressed most of the time because we looked at the situation of the people of the world as evil if they did not believe as we did. The thing is, God doesn't want us to be a depressed people. He wants us to cast our cares on him, not worry and be like children in malace and in belief. We have since changed our attitude, and even though you hear about how wicked the "world" is, there is a GREAT number of people out there who are not. And my concern was always, if we are not to associate with anyone other than "believers", how can we let Christ's light shine, and who would be there to see it? Our situation is just the reverse than a Witness. When we were under the guidance of this "elder", we had to do the same as a witness as far as isolation from "the world". Our families were always there for us, we were the ones that had the attitude. When "we left" that line of thinking, it was only two or three people that we had to deal with, and we don't believe in the shunning or any of the disfellowshipping thing, you just find a different place to worship. There were many more people that were happy to us get away than not.
My prayers are with you, as I know you are going through a difficult time.
PraeTell