JFSurvivor

http://youtu.be/hn1vqAKUL0E Thoughts?

Doesn't mean we have a right to hate them. We can hate what they do. Gods will for them is not to perish so our will for them should be that they not perish. Reject their teachings, hate what they believe, thus hating Satan but love the people because God loved them enough to create them and die for them. Feel free to point out anywhere that I have shown hate for them. I have merely said the religion is a cult and that a Christian should not follow their teachings. They should be prayed for, witnessed to etc. I never once said or implied that we should hate them. Nor has anyone else shown hate for them I think because I do not see them as a cult and a lot of people are using that word it's putting me on the defensive. Do I think they are a false religion, yes. Do they bring up good points? Yes. Should we search for answers in a Biblical manner? Yes. Using the word "Jehovah's Witness" usually kicks up a strong reaction from people because of what they believe. I may have been reading some of these comments in the wrong tone because of that and because this is the internet. Things are easily misinterpreted. I also think that because they are seen in such a negative light as Christians we should strive to see the best in them (as people) and not let their religion define them. Ya know?

Doesn't mean we have a right to hate them. We can hate what they do. Gods will for them is not to perish so our will for them should be that they not perish. Reject their teachings, hate what they believe, thus hating Satan but love the people because God loved them enough to create them and die for them.

But don't you find it cult like how they have added their own book, written from their own profit or founder ? *shrug* In all honesty I have no room to judge them. That's Gods job. I wouldn't say they are a cult and I don't agree with what they did to the Bible either. God called us to love thy neighbor. He said LOVE thy neighbor, not judge, not love conditionally. I can see both good and bad in JW's. I think about how the world views Christians and how Christians view JW's. We aren't going to change their minds by hating them. Plus some of what they believe made sense. Like about the trinity, I was genuinely confused (thanks again for those verses, Willa). I don't see the problem in questioning Christianity as long as you do it with the right motives and the right mindset. The right motives and right mindset being, wanting to find the truth and what the Bible really says. I believe that Satan has distorted our interpretation of the Bible so that's why I like asking big questions like that, so I can know FOR SURE if the Bible really means that or something else. Does all this make sense? No, I am afraid it does not make sense. You asked a question, seem to reject answers, then defend them. That does not make sense at all. Sorry ... Please show me where I rejected answers. And please show me scripture where it says that it's ok to not love someone. There are verses about not associating with certain people but it says nothing about hating, bad-mouthing, or anything of the sort. Now, if there is TRULY something LEGITIMATE that I have not been clear on, let me know and I will try to clear it up as opposed to putting words in my mouth. Thanks! ;-D

huh? lol I'm not talking about denominations. I'm talking about cliques. Like non-religious cliques. I have been left out a lot from groups and I hate this about me but I kinda wanna be part of an exclusive group of friends and I dunno why I even feel that way. I shouldn't after what I have been through. It doesn't matter what stage in life one is once they are born into this world, the feeling of wanting to be part of something outside one's self is part of our social makeup that God made us with, we can't simply escape its purpose He gave it to us for. The deepest example of it is with the concept of family. And it equally applies within the heavenly order of things too. This is why it is very important to read and understand God's Word, because He reveals this to us in conjunction with His offer to commune with Him and become part of His family through His Son Jesus Christ. Afterall, whether one is only interested in the things of this present world, one day this present world is going to end, and each soul will either join with Him and His family, or they will perish. But in the mean time, all sorts of cliques are made available as part of this present world to serve as tests upon each soul, to see who we will seek and follow. And ultimately, those social groups which do not exist in His Truth will perish also. So why care about belonging to anything else other than the Truth, since anything that abides not in the Truth will pass away? Along with wanting to belong to something our Heavenly Father put another attached emotion along with it, and that is the seeking for stability, happiness, and permanence in our lives. Can joining a group whose foundation is based on a Lie given that? No, but in this world many groups try to pass themselves off as the Truth, which once again brings us back to the need for understanding in the real Truth that God gave us in His Word. None of this involves man's idea of 'religion'. God's Word is about the Truth, not playing religion. Religion is an idea man creates in forming his own type of groups. I know it's my sinful and prideful heart wanting to sin and stuff. I just want this desire to go away because I am so disgusted by it, especially given what happened to me.

I don't go to church. I am quite peeved at the church at the moment but that's another story.

But don't you find it cult like how they have added their own book, written from their own profit or founder ? *shrug* In all honesty I have no room to judge them. That's Gods job. I wouldn't say they are a cult and I don't agree with what they did to the Bible either. God called us to love thy neighbor. He said LOVE thy neighbor, not judge, not love conditionally. I can see both good and bad in JW's. I think about how the world views Christians and how Christians view JW's. We aren't going to change their minds by hating them. Plus some of what they believe made sense. Like about the trinity, I was genuinely confused (thanks again for those verses, Willa). I don't see the problem in questioning Christianity as long as you do it with the right motives and the right mindset. The right motives and right mindset being, wanting to find the truth and what the Bible really says. I believe that Satan has distorted our interpretation of the Bible so that's why I like asking big questions like that, so I can know FOR SURE if the Bible really means that or something else. Does all this make sense?

That's actually very helpful. Thank you Willa! :-)

I have attended a JW worship service and I wouldn't call them a cult. They make some very valid points. I look in the Bible and I don't see scriptural evidence supporting the trinity or at least I can see how they interpret it that way. I am actually quite confused on the trinity issue because nowhere in the Bible does it say "He is three in one." So it's confusing. Also they do not pay their clergy, I like that a lot. And they train their members to interact with the rest of the world, something a traditional church does not. I think learning to interact as a christian with the rest of the world is important and I think the church really fell flat on that. I can also see how they can be precieved as a cult but I do not believe they are. They look and act and believe strange but isn't that the foundation of Christianity? Being seperate from the world?

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensom." -1 John 5:3 Why does it feel like his commands are burdensom at times? Is that us making them burdensom, the world or satan? And how can we make them not burdensom?

I understand. I have been where you are and it's awful. I have a few suggestions for you: 1) don't give up 2) go to **Link removed** 3) be kind to yourself, you are not repulsive 4) take care of yourself and maintain your mental health. I don't know what that looks like for you whether that means coloring, journaling, writing stories or poems. Make a list of what you can do to take care of you then start by doing one thing each day. If you need to do more, do more, but do a minimum of one a day. I also suggest praying and spending time with God in His word. When you spend time with God in the word make sure you are in a safe, healthy mindset because Satan knows scripture and when you are not in a safe place metally scripture can look a little warped. Still spend time in the word and pray but make sure that if you read the Bible you are mentally stable and healthy. Also sometimes I know it can get hard to pray so maybe write out your thoughts to God. That is what I have to do sometime. That can be done whatever your mental state. Just be careful not to blame God or blaspheme. Your feelings are valid. If you are angry at God though, seek, look, ask questions, find until you realize that it isn't his fault and your anger goes away. Nothing bad comes from God and nothing good comes from Satan. That's important. Also when you have come full circle confess your anger to God. He is a good God and He will understand and forgive you. I know this sounds like "just sin and God will forgive you." that is not what I am saying. I am saying if you happen to fall into sin (anger at God) do everything you can to get yourself out of that sin and then confess and pray. ok well always be praying but ya know what I mean. Anyway I wish you luck!

So me and my boyfriend get into constant arguments over religion and he pointed out to me that it could be a trigger for my PTSD. I think he could be right since I had a bad experience with religion at my school. I am a Christian and my school taught all five major religions. When I refused to believe what they wanted me to believe I would get in trouble not only at school but also at home too. ‘ —–example 1—- There was one time when I was sitting and discussing with this one girl about gay marriage and I said that I believed it was a sin to be gay (I did not word it correctly I should have said, having same sex, sex is a sin, being gay is not because you can have homosexual inclinations and not act on them). Any way she took offense to that and then this other girl comes in and says, **Removed** That got me pretty upset and sad so I went to tell a teacher. The teacher asked me for the whole story so I told her and she said, “Well you said something hurtful too, that being gay is a sin.” Then she walked away and did nothing about it. I know I didn’t word it correctly but I tried to be as nice as possible. Ya know? —Example 2—- There was another time when we were all seated downstairs at lunch and we were discussing religion. (My teacher sat and ate with us too). He asked me, “Can you admit that you might be wrong about God?” I looked at him and said, “What?” He said, “can you admit that there might be a chance that you are wrong about God and that he might not exist?” I said, “no.” Then he replied in front of the whole class, “then you are very arrogant.” —end of stories— So I think being TOLD what to believe is a trigger. I have also had bad experiences with the church because they weren’t there for me when I needed them. Now I can barley set foot in a church without getting defensive and angry. What do I do? Do you think this is an actual trigger? If so how can I fix it? I love God and I want a relationship with him but this has been getting in the way. Thanks for reading (sorry if this was kinda long).

Hi! So I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. No I was not in combat but I have been sexually assaulted among other things. Anyways I guess I am asking how do you make mental illness and God fit together? I have heard Bible verses and cliches but what about practical advice. I understand it's gonna be easy to just shoot me a verse but in all honesty sometimes when I am depressed the Bible just doesn't help. It can actually make things worse because satan knows scripture too. Anyway I'm not saying don't send me verses but please if you do, send me how you interpret that verse also so there is no confusion. Also some practical advice would be welcomed like how do you cope with the fact that you begged God to help you when you were at your lowest and you felt no comfort? How do you cope with feeling that empty feeling like God has just gotten up and left? And how to read the Bible when your ADHD mind is all over the place and you just don't wanna sit still? And how do you deal with the constant pressure from people to be better when it's just not possible at the moment? What do I say to people who tell me "all things are possible with Jesus!" but he didn't help me when I was really hurting. Maybe there was some spiritual warfare going on and he was protecting me in other ways, that's a thought. But I just wish that I could be like other Christians who can go around all happy with a smile on and be like "Jesus is my strength!" If you are struggling with the same stuff, lemme know? I wanna make sure I'm not crazy. Advice, Bible verses, life stories, all of it is welcome! Thanks!

OMG I totally understand! Like "be there for the hurting" helloooo I'm RIGHT HERE! hahaha anyway just happy to hear I'm not alone and I hope you find some comfort in knowing you're not alone in this aspect.

I understand. I have been where you are and it's awful. I have a few suggestions for you: 1) don't give up 2) go to **Link removed** 3) be kind to yourself, you are not repulsive 4) take care of yourself and maintain your mental health. I don't know what that looks like for you whether that means coloring, journaling, writing stories or poems. Make a list of what you can do to take care of you then start by doing one thing each day. If you need to do more, do more, but do a minimum of one a day.