Confused.

[ellieharp]

[attachment=5:Picture_006.jpg]Hi there. My name is Ellieharp and im new to this site. could you all be so kind as to tell me whether you are still JWs or whether you have left but still believe to some extent? Thank you.

[Shibboleth]

I am one. I go to the meetings regularly (it's the only way I can get my dose of spiritual fiber to purge the world out that I have to eat daily.)

I may not agree 100% with some of the interpertations the Society has, but I believe all the things Jesus told us. The core teachings. I try and make sense of prophecies and I ask alot of questions and try my best to research both sides. I firmly believe that the Society is on the right track - in that they want us to research and find things out and study our bibles and try and live our lives to best way possible in an unclean world.

Regards,

Shibboleth

[fruitage]

Hi elli....good to see you made it here....this is a site for ones who believe that JW are Gods people....

It can be disheartening to have hostility directed at you for no reason other than you don't see things the same way they do....I think there has to be a better way for them to get their point across than just plain being unkind..

I can understand when someone is hurting they will lash out sometimes..but some of these sites are just plain hateful.

Hope you will get some encouragement here

Take Care

[barry]

Hi Ellieharp,

Welcome to this forum.
I'm a JW. We have had some difficulties lately, which made it difficult to go to meetings, but we're looking forward to go again and to go preaching.

Barry

[ellieharp]

Hi everyone. thanks for making me feel welcome. Im glad that my views wont be attacked. I was quite shocked actually by the venom these so called Christians have towards people who believe the JWs teachings. Even if you no longer wish to be a JW thats no reason to be so hatefull and hostile. i was practicularly accused of being a killer and I havent even been in a hall for four years. I used to be in the truth and was for about nine years until I drifted away for various reasons but I never became an apostate and always believed in most of the teachings. I will admit there are some I have trouble with but I do think that the JWs interpret the bible the best way. Anyway, take care and thanks again.

[Cephalon]

Hi ellieharp,

Welcome to the forum.

I (and most of us here) don't believe in everthing the WT teaches, but we believe that the core teachings of JW's are biblically strong and correct. Most of us have some kind of problems with the WT, Elders, KH etc..., that's why we are here, but I don't think that's a reason to always be negative and bash the WT and JW's at every turn.
We are here mostly to support, uplift and upbuild one another.
I regulary go to the meetings.

Cephalon

[Berean]

Yeah, what Cephalon said. Oh, and welcome to the forums! :)

[Jeshurun]

Welcome to you Ellieharp, it may be a little quiet here at the moment but the crowds are coming!

I've been a JW for 37 years, but I finally found out that Jehovah does not judge me by whether or not I can follow the Watchtower's every word! It's like finding the truth all over again!

Love

Lou

[James]

Hello Ellieharp,

I,too would like to welcome you! We are all seeking the Truth.

James

[Nambo]

Hi Ellieharp!
Iam just the same as you!, except Iam a fella,
I fell away due to having my Love of God beaten out of me by imperfect mans view of the will of God.
But still never wanted to completely let go, still went to the Memorial but had learnt I obviously wasnt good enough to benifit from Jesus ransom sacrifice.
Everywhere on the net was only sites from Witnesses who had patently never loved Jehovah in the first place.
I allways wanted to meet with other failed JWs who still wanted Jehovah and Jesus and his Kingdom to come.

Then I found this place, funny, I only initially joined and posted to defend the society over harsh critisism of its 1975 policy, but I soon learned this wasnt a JW hate and apostate site, but a forum for current and former JWs who, whilst still exepting the core doctrines of the Jehovahs Witnesses, where willing to examine and question minor points and helping us to realise the FDS are not the ones to be worshipped due to being infallible and Gods literal mouthpiece, that they dont own Jehovah, Jehovah is just using them for a purpose and he still welcomes the lost sheep that the society drive away.

Its helped many including me, rebuild our relationship and Love of Jehovah.

The Elders never came around, but Robert and this site has made me think I would Love to go back, except now of course they would disfellowship me for coming here and no longer believing the 1290 days are talking about a convention back in the 1920s!

[whoowh]

Hello Elliharp

A heartful Welcome to the board. I am a JW attend meetings and try to regulary preach on the field of sheeps. I have found this site since 3 years ago and find it encouraging in my search for knowledge in a way that are difficult otherwise. It is possible to read, studie, and discuss biblical items without to be questioned or looked on in a strange way. In many ways we try to look at different questions as the Bereoans,

(GW) The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God's message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true.

Apg. 17:11

Whoowh

[Kenneth]

Hi ellieharp

Yes I am a JW and have been so for most of my adult life. In fact being one of Jehovah's Witness is my life. However, I do not agree with everything that is taught from the oracle, even though I have a respect for much of the work they've accomplished in terms of bible teaching as far as the fundamentals go. I get to most of the meetings and participate regular in the ministry along with associating with the brothers/sisters but I maintain a low profile in the congregation.

So welcome to the forum I'm sure you will benefit for the input of others as we will benefit from you. :wave:

Kenneth

[ellieharp]

hi everyone. thank you so much for making me feel welcome and its such a relief to find other like minded people who while still retaining a love of Jehovah find some difficulties with the organisation for whatever reason. I was told on the other site that i posted on, that if I was going to defend the JWs then I was on the wrong site. In other words, clear off. I find that incredibley hypocritical considering that there were also atheists on the site and people with other religious denominations. I do find it hard to believe that they still have a love for God when they so obviously dislike his people. It really affected me and actually just made me more determined to find out the truth. Like I said before I havent been to a hall or to a meeting in a long time but Ive never forgotten how I was taught about Jehovah. my father is a Methodist minister so I have always had a spiritual base but never really understood much of the bible until I became a JW and then I really felt that they were onto something, especially the bit about a paradisic earth. When i used to go to church with my father, I always had a hard job with the fact that I would either go to heaven or hell when i die. I wanted to stay on earth forever and when I was told that I could it really made me feel that they had the truth. it was hard for me eventually though because of outside influences and doubts about some aspects of what the Watchtower said, I fell away. I sometimes see the JWs around and they always ask if im coming back. i havent been officially disfellowshipped but my life is so different that I would find it hard to go back so thats why Im so glad i found this site where I can learn more about the truth and talk to people who love jehovah still. thank you, love Ellie.

[Nash]

Hi Ellieharp! :)

I am a JW (inactive at the moment). Glad that you've found us and that you're here. I am sure that you will find much encouragement here.

Nash

[ellieharp]

Thank you Nash. Im sure I will. I feel encouraged already.

[eyes&ears]

Hello, Ellieharp

A hearty welcome to you. As has been said, it is a tad quiet right now, but we are growing and you will find positive, loving encouragement and lots of understanding.

You hold on tight now OKEY DOKEY and no matter what you see happening around you or who says what, ALWAYS MAKE SURE OF ALL THINGS. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT LET GO OF OUR FATHER, Jehovah and his precious son Jesus Christ.

Welcome again

Eyes & Ears

[Excaliber]

Hi Im excaliber,
Born and raised JW, Pioneered went to bethel...all that good stuff.
I still am a JW. that did not change. I just began to see some problems...and untill I found this site I thought I was the only one that knew about them.

So just wanted to say hi.

[Cricket]

Hi Ellieharp,

I am an "almost" JW - studied for several years and attended meetings in the past but never got baptized. I simply could not meet their requirements and felt I should not make a promise or commitment I knew I could not keep.
This site enables me to keep learning about Jesus and Jehovah and I find I spend more time reading and researching in the Bible than I would have by attending meetings. Many smart cookies on this site and it is fun to go off and investigate various topics that come up.

Big welcome to you and hope you'll like it here! :clap:

[ellieharp]

thank you for your posts and for the warm welcome. Im really glad that I found this site because ever since I fell away from the truth, I believed that I wouldnt survive the destruction of this system of things, because I was taught that being apart from the organisation meant certain death. At first, the guilt was awful and the knowledge that I was going to be destroyed but since I came on here im beginning to see things differently so thank you for that. :8:

[Molly]

thank you for your posts and for the warm welcome. Im really glad that I found this site because ever since I fell away from the truth, I believed that I wouldnt survive the destruction of this system of things, because I was taught that being apart from the organisation meant certain death. At first, the guilt was awful and the knowledge that I was going to be destroyed but since I came on here im beginning to see things differently so thank you for that. :8:[/b]

Hi Ellieharp-

First of all, welcome to our little sanctuary. I am sure you will find support, encouragement and not a little bit of spiritual insight at this site. All of us here love Jehovah and want to serve him. We just have a few issues with some of the manmade requirements of the WTS.

With regard to your post, noone is guaranteed survival from this system, but we do have the hope of the resurrection. Many of JWs think that to be in the congregation will afford them an umbrulla of protection through the coming tribulation. That is not true. Quite the contrary, we might all eventually have to choose between our lives and our love of Jehovah.

Frankly, though, I think their concept "if you are a separated from congregation you will be destroyed" is just as abusive as the hellfire idea. We may all be separated and away from the congregation before the day of Jehovah is over. That's why you need to start relying on Jehovah now. That's why what you are learning here (and hopefully at e-Watchman, too) is so important. So when events don't happen the way the WTS said, then you won't be surprised and you won't lose faith; it will just confirm your faith. Then you can help the others who will be confused.

Once again, Welcome!

Molly

[stayawake]

Dear Ellie,
welcome aboard and all you other new ones i may have missed. Must answer your first question, Ellie once one gives their heart to Jehovah, One will always be one of Jehovah's witness. Going to the Kh or not going ,does not play a merit on how much we love Jehovh.
Jesus said we must love Jehovah our God with our whole heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. These are the two greatest commandments. God does not dwell in hand made temples, but until one really grows real strong spiritually , the KH is a place to gather togerther. It was brought out in one of the post, that once one knows the truth about the truth if one is going to keep going to the meetings, then for your protection it is best to keep a low profile. If you would start rocking the boat with others with what you know, to avoid others from knowing the truth ,you will be put out as a apostate, that is so no one will speak with you,so you want to be careful . You will learn enough about the truth, where you will be able to seperate truth from unscriptual.

Like molly brought out you are among those who truly love Jehovah,so don't worry, and as i said before going to the KH doesn't make one a JW .it's our love for Jehovah, the MOst High that makes us one of his friends. ....We are here because of the many wrongs we see taken place within. Our being able to see what we do ,shows we took sides with Jah and not human appointed shepherds...


.Dear Nash never feel that you are a inactive witness,because in Jahs eyes this is not so. Didn't Jesus say where there are 2-3 gathered in his name he is in their mist, Well here we are. I will even take this a step further, as often as i see you on this board, i feel you think and eat more spiritual food now then you ever did before. In fact this is where SOLID food is being served. You are only inactive to men, who expect a time slip to be turned in, so don't even worry about it, Jehovah is our time keeper. I want you to know i love every one of you, and thank Jah for leading you here.
stayawake

[ellieharp]

thank you Molly and Stayawake for your encouraging posts. It has made me feel stronger in myself and love for Jehovah. love to you all :liefde020:

[James]

Hi Ellieharp,

I am an "almost" JW - studied for several years and attended meetings in the past but never got baptized. I simply could not meet their requirements and felt I should not make a promise or commitment I knew I could not keep.
This site enables me to keep learning about Jesus and Jehovah and I find I spend more time reading and researching in the Bible than I would have by attending meetings. Many smart cookies on this site and it is fun to go off and investigate various topics that come up.

Big welcome to you and hope you'll like it here! :clap:[/b]

Hi Cricket,
I am in the same boat as you -"An Almost JW". I have taken all the
steps leading up to Baptism...Taking in knowledge, putting faith in the bible,Jehovah and Jesus, quit my former way of life, repented for my sins and made a personal dedication to serve Jehovah but.... I have taken issue with certain teachings such as 1914, blood, and therefore have not been able to take that final step and be baptized as a JW.
It is still my goal and formost on my mind to be baptized but, probably not as a JW. I still attend the meetings every week on Sunday, as I believe as Brother King that they are still the true religion and for the most part adhere to bible teachings.

Keep the Faith alive...
James

[Cricket]

Thank you James,

I hope you do get baptized, as I would wish to do so without all the man-made rules to go with it. I keep praying that Jah will read my heart and find it acceptable to Him. :)

Cricket