I used to belong to the high control group or cult Jehovah's Witnesses as some people call it. Now I am free after 10 years. I sometimes get the urge to talk to friends I had to leave behind in the cult. I find it difficult not being allowed to talk to them because some religion tells me I can’t. Isn't it crazy that I can’t be their friend just because I don't believe in their religion? Why does religion have to come between friendships? I accept people from all types of religion as my friends! As long as they don't try and convert me I don't care what they believe.
2007-07-02 01:27:45 · 21 answers · asked by Mr Tintin 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well I think the correct word to use for the JW's is a high control group! Some people like using the word cult. It all works out to be the same thing in the end control over your thinking!
2007-07-02 01:43:12 · update #1
I am fader! I have never done anything wrong just because I left the witnesses does not mean I am living wild immoral life which a lot of witness automatically assume
2007-07-02 01:54:13 · update #2
Cults are all about control. Any outside influence could weaken the cult's control over the people.
2007-07-02 01:32:15 · answer #1 · answered by Machaira 5 · 2⤊ 5⤋
As w/ any relationship there has to be
conditions, guide lines etc...
Since u said u were a J's W's;
then you would already know that it is a
matter of conscience left to the individual.
You are the one that is not there, where ur friends are,
they didn't walk out of the friendship YOU did.
You would also, know that a mature Brother
would speak to u about a "bad association",
but, the choice is yours!
Not anyone else's.
"For each of us will render an account for himself to God"
Romans 14:12
2007-07-05 07:55:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, but ALL friendships are based on SOME conditions. Even saying that a relationship is to be unconditional, is putting a condition on it.
As for your former associates deciding not to talk to you, that is their choice. You can still be their friends, in this case it would seem that to do so, you would respect their wishes enough to not bother them.
One reason they might not want to be around you is you show a clear dislike for the beliefs they hold dear.
If you have ever looked for the Bible's teachings regarding whom Christians should look to for close associations, you know that those of us who are Christian are taught to strive to be close to fellow believers. Not that strange a concept.
Many 12 step programs encourage their members to try to be around people who will help them to pursue their goals. IE, a recovering alcoholic wouldn't want to spend unnecessary time around other alcoholics. Just the same, if you feel such utter disrespect and disdain for our beliefs, does it make sense to spend time around you, being clearly looked down on.
2007-07-02 04:27:11 · answer #3 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
the bible says "bad association spoil useful habits" If you are now of a different religion you do not share the same values or moral .jehovahs wittnesses may be aquaintances at work ,go to school with you ,be friends in that context .What kind of friendship are you after? jesus said friendship with the world equaites with enmity with god , .said you must be no part of the world just as I am no part of the world ,be in the world but no part of the world
2007-07-02 18:33:14 · answer #4 · answered by wise old,man 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Maybe your attitude has something to do with it. Since you wrongly consider Jehovah's Witnesses to be a cult, you may be sending out negative vibes to those you wish to befriend.
You are entitled to believe what you want about Jehovah's Witnesses, but since Jehovah's Witnesses do not share your opinion of them, it may be difficult to accept that you honestly want to be our friends.
The only "control" among Jehovah's Witnesses is our earnest desire to live up to the standards of the Holy Bible, the Word of God.
What we want is God's approval, and that comes from obedience to Him, not from following human wisdom.
Not even God's friendship is un-conditional. And the Lord Jesus Christ said, "If you love me, you will do what I say." So why should the friendships of Jehovah's Witnesses be less than conditional?
"Narrow is the road, and cramped the way leading to life," Jesus said, "and few are the ones finding it."
2007-07-02 01:39:00 · answer #5 · answered by בַר אֱנָשׁ (bar_enosh) 6 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Let me guess. You were disfellowshipped for conduct unbecoming a Christian and unrepentant at that.
This only occurs after many attempts to offer correction. "This is a dangerous course of action. You bring harm to yourself and others. This is what the Bible says on the matter." Even after the best efforts of the congregation, you wanted things YOUR way.
The rest of the congregation needed to be protected against such bad behavior to prevent people just starting to learn from stumbling. "They are no different from the old world we left. See what he is doing and it is put up with."
I do not know you but I know the caliber of men chosen as elders. It takes the group to disfellowship so I am inclined to believe them.
2007-07-02 01:48:40 · answer #6 · answered by grnlow 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I understand exactly what you are going through and its so sad..I too left as a JW's by choice after 30 years..I am a good clean moral person with a belief as Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior..The truth shall set you free..
God is not an impartial God. The Bible says that..and he loves everyone the same..If Jesus Christ walked this earth today, he would talk with you and love you..Just as JW's should follow his example..
They have no right to judge you, me or anyone else. They think they are the only ones who have God favor and they look at all worldly people and people who have left as not having Gods favor..Is that not judge..
The Bible says that their will be ones twisting the scriptures to their own interpretations..I always wondered when I was little how we knew it wasn't JW's doing that..as I grew up..I did my own research and found out that it is.
Love for our neighbors is so important to our Lord..He even said what have you done so great as to love your brothers, Even the tax collectors do that..Just because one is no longer a JW's or have never been one..doesn't mean that their love should fade so quickly..or was it real to begin with?
2007-07-02 07:24:49 · answer #7 · answered by Tom 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Praise God and I am glad you are free from JW.
Sometimes, religion does mess things up, but being a Christan(who still needs some work done), I have been best friends with a Muslim woman for 12 years!
The way I've heard, if you were never a JW you can be friends with someone who is a JW. But if you were once a JW and been excommunicated or renounced or whatever the term is, the other JW's have to act like your dead.
That's JUST the way I've heard it. I don't know for sure. You would know better than I.
2007-07-02 02:22:18 · answer #8 · answered by MamiZorro2 6 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Each Jehovah's Witness decides for himself who his friends are. No Jehovah's Witness should abandon a friend merely because the friend has become less active in the religion.
Some Jehovah's Witnesses become inactive because they feel unable to continue preaching or to continue certain other Christian obligations for a few months or even years. These are not counted in any JW statistics, but they are considered "brothers" and "sisters" by active Witnesses. Their standing is entirely different from those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated.
Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.
Contrary to the misinformation of anti-Witnesses, it is quite possible to become inactive in the JW religion without becoming disfellowshipped. As long as one's lifestyle does not bring reproach upon the congregation, and as long as one does not advocate one's disagreements with the religion, the congregation has no interest in "investigating", exposing, and disfellowshipping an inactive former Jehovah's Witness.
For those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated, a primary goal is to shock the person into recognizing the serious of their wrong so that they rejoin the congregation in pure worship. Since the primary bonds that are broken involve friendship and spiritual fellowship, it is well understood that family bonds remain intact. Parents, siblings, and grown children of disfellowshipped and disassociated ones sometimes choose to limit what they may feel is discouraging or "bad association" but that is a personal decision and is not required by their religion.
Former Witnesses who are disfellowshipped or disassociated are typically treated in accord with the Scriptural pattern explained in these Scriptures:
(1 Corinthians 5:11-13) Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. ...Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
(Titus 3:10) As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition
(Romans 16:17) Now I exhort you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.
(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.
(2 Thessalonians 3:14) But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed.
(2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.
(Matthew 18:17) If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations
Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. At a minimum, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness required hard work and determination at the time.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm
2007-07-02 06:45:09 · answer #9 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Look just your comments are enough to reaffirm the words found at 1Cor15:33
"Do not be misled.Bad association spoil useful habits."
Do them a favor and leave them alone.They're on the road to life.You're on the road,well you know where........(Mat.7:13)
2007-07-04 17:49:27 · answer #10 · answered by lillie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is kind of strange that they would demand the "Christian" label but cross right back over the line with the conditional friendships you mentioned, quoting scripture all the way. Sounds more like a case of Jude 4 than anything else, if you want to quote scripture.
2007-07-02 14:09:00 · answer #11 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋