ConcernForYouths: How Can I Help Young Ones Stay Faithful?

ConcernForYouths wrote [August 11, 2016 at 3:47 am]:

I've been disappointed by the fact that young ones aren't taking Jehovah seriously. Leaving, dating way too young. I feel Jehovah needs students, researchers, and staying close to the more mature older ones within the congregation, I've thought about it and the only thing I can come up with as for right now is embrace them and seek them OUT! Like actually making planned visits, on a regular bases. What are your thoughts? Scriptural?

JW Advisor: I find it necessary to speak to you about each of our own responsibilities toward those who are lacking faith. Your daily Bible reading is the best place to find what you are looking for. The faithful slave has been discretely teaching all of us to use the Scriptures to help us to make wise decisions.

In this particular matter, Paul's letter to the Romans had some very wise counsel for those of us who are strong in faith. He wrote:

We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong, and not to be pleasing ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even the Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written: “The reproaches of those reproaching you have fallen upon me.” For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant you to have among yourselves the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had, so that unitedly you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So welcome one another, just as the Christ also welcomed you, with glory to God in view. For I tell you that Christ became a minister of those who are circumcised in behalf of God’s truthfulness, so as to verify the promises He made to their forefathers, and that the nations might glorify God for his mercy. Just as it is written: "That is why I will openly acknowledge you among the nations, and to your name I will sing praises." And again he says: "Be glad, you nations, with his people." And again: "Praise Jehovah, all you nations, and let all the peoples praise him." And again Isaiah says: "There will be the root of Jesse, the one arising to rule nations; on him nations will rest their hope." May the God who gives hope fill you with all joy and peace by your trusting in him, so that you may abound in hope with power of holy spirit. (Romans 15:1-13)

So, by our strong faith, it is indeed our responsibility to look after those who have weaknesses in their faith. In so doing, we are not trying to please ourselves, to make ourselves feel better. But we should do it to please our neighbors, especially those related to us in the faith. (Galatians 6:10) For what purpose? "To build him up." He shows us our exemplar, Jesus Christ, saying that he did not do what he did to please himself, but because he felt it personally, deep down with deep concern, when he saw ones lacking faith, viewing it as reproaches that he was responsible for correcting.

Paul continues by pointing out, just as I have been here, that we have examples set before us in the Scriptures, to look to for guidance and direction. Through those things we read in the Scriptures, we gain comfort in our hope for the future that helps us to endure. And through that endurance and comfort, we can acquire the same mental attitude of our Savior, Jesus Christ, being personally cut to see ones lacking faith, because it is through that deep concern that we draw close to such ones and strengthen them so that they might glorify God along with us.

How can we do that? Paul answers: "So welcome one another, just as the Christ also welcomed you." For what purpose? To bring glory to God. Thus, we keep that glory in mind when we welcome those young ones and others lacking faith. It is by our being welcoming to them that they are drawn to God. How can we welcome them? Paul again answers. Our exemplar, Jesus, sought to turn back the hearts of his brothers. In what ways? He strengthened their faith by pointing their attention to how the promises of God had been fulfilled toward them, that he had promised toward Abraham and his descendants, so that the nations could glorify God for the mercy extended to them through sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Thus, with our lips we can warmly welcome and strengthen the faith of those who are weak with deep, warm concern.

Thus, it is we ourselves who must widen out in our affections if we are to protect our brothers. (Romans 12:10; 2 Corinthians 6:11-13) In order for us to provide the hope from God to those weak ones, we ourselves must be filled with joy and peace through our own faith in God, trusting that he is looking out for such ones through us, so that you may "abound in hope", not just for yourself, but to share it with those who are weak. Because when they see the hope you have and how it shines through in the things you both say and do, then it will rightly infect them. This will thus be the power and the spirit of God working by means of you to comfort them by their beholding your faith, hope and endurance. Observe yourself so that you will be a fine example whom they can look to.

I hope I have answered your question or at least provided you with something that will make you more capable in dealing with such ones. [August 11, 2016 at 9:22 pm]

ConcernForYouths wrote [August 22, 2016 at 5:25 pm]:

. . . [That] made good sense! . . . I've read it several times and enjoyed it. I've just been concerned with the young ones in my congregation, so I asked. It's not too late for them until the great tribulation. I've seen them grow and then go, therefore I felt like something could have been done. Only time will tell, thank you.

JW Advisor: Give thanks to Jehovah. I'm glad it helped, ConcernForYouth. Your concern is admirable. Taking some under wing who have no one in their family to look to is a good way to help them. But for those with a strong Christian role model in their family, they do not need us to intervene except in being someone to look to as another fine example and someone they can rely upon and confide in as a loyal friend as to Jehovah.

As for the great tribulation, who is judged will still be up to God and Christ. Though our message changes and false religion gets destroyed, the judgment of the nations will still be yet future. Being part of Jehovah's organization is only the surest way to survive the judgment, and even that is not a certainty. Each person will be judged individually according to the mark on their foreheads by the secretary's inkhorn.

Guest Advisor: That was tied up nicely. If I could add something I read recently and replace the expression, "single parent" with "Brother or Sister" in the December, 1, 2010 WT.

Discerning Their Needs
It may seem that the obvious thing to do is to ask a brother or sister), “How can I help?” Realistically, though, this rarely results in someone’s telling you what his or her real needs are. As noted earlier, Psalm 41:1 recommends “acting with consideration.”

One reference work explains that the Hebrew term used here can mean “the process of thinking through a complex arrangement of thoughts resulting in a wise dealing.”

Therefore, to find out the best way to help, you need to give serious thought to the challenges the single parent faces. Be observant, not just taking a superficial look at the situation.

JiltedByWords: How Can I Get the Brothers to Stop Treating Me as if I Am Bad Association?

The following is a fictionalized hypothetical question summarizing what many of those who turn apostate experience beforehand and what JW Advisor would like to say to ones experiencing this before they make a full transition to apostate. The question is generated, but the response to the question is genuine.

JiltedByWords wrote [August 2, 2016 at 6:31 am]:

The elders and the brothers and sisters in the congregations I have attended have told me I am bad association because I chose to exercise my conscience in ways that should not keep me "marked". I do not practice sin and I attend meetings every week and go out in service when I can. What should I do?

JW Advisor: Unfortunately, this is a question that often does not get careful thought like this by those affected by such circumstances.

Don't Blame the Organization

The knee-jerk reaction of complainers is to automatically assume that the attitudes of our brothers and sisters are purely the fault of the organization. The more brothers and sisters that disappoint us in a congregation, the greater our perception that it is the fault of the organization. But we have to remember that there are many more people in positions of authority in the organization than just the governing body. Thus, when one person in that chain is misusing their authority, everyone below them in that chain is affected. Problems that we perceive to be systemic on the local level, if they are not actually ourselves being critical, negative or bucking authority, would more likely be a result of one or more of the above figures of authority failing, in some capacity, to perform their duties properly.

So the problem could lie with a single elder or even with the entire body of elders in a congregation. It might even be that way in multiple congregations we have attended. Because, while congregations tend to be unique in their flavor, they all face the same problems from time to time. And if it is not the problem of an elder(s), either acting improperly or failing to act, it might be the circuit overseer who is acting improperly or failing to act. However, that is not to say that the problem you are having definitely lies with those in authority at all. It could be any number of causes, some external, but most likely internal. Take it from me: it is not likely our publications or the organization as a whole that are the issue.

Get the Facts

Now, you may know you shouldn't be marked for exercising your conscience as long as it does not lead directly to sin, and have not been disciplined by the elders, yet the congregation is treating you as marked. You need to find out why.

There are simple resolutions to this problem. One is to ask the elders directly if you have been marked. If you have not been marked, then you may ask them for help to get the congregation to stop treating you as marked. It is a legitimate request. They can then give a local needs talk to help ones determine how to show love to those who are not worthy of being marked and give ones assistance to improve their service.

If they say that the problem lies with you, then give their words some careful consideration and be introspective. They may be right. Now, if you have not already been told why they are perceiving you as bad association, ask them specifically what it is that makes you bad association. If it is no more than a conscience matter, then ask them why it is considered serious enough for you to be treated as marked though you have not been marked. You might jog their thinking by asking them what the difference is between avoiding you over this matter and keeping you marked. In fact, the resolution to all problems that lead people into apostasy is the need to ask the right questions.

Ask the Right Question

The plague among our apostates is the same plague found among many people in the world. They are not as deep of thinkers as they like to think they are. In fact, they are usually very shallow thinkers who respond to whims, rather than carefully considering their actions. It is a noble thing to sit and think carefully, not in a knee-jerk reaction to a situation, but to think about who is speaking, and whether they may be mistaken or not according to the information provided in the Bible or our publications.

When I come across someone in the ministry who makes a claim about the Bible or about Jehovah's Witnesses that is patently false, I accept that they are not likely alone in their idea and that they genuinely believe what they are saying, and are simply trying to protect themselves. Without voicing that thought, I politely and sincerely say, "That's an interesting thought. Could you tell me where I can find that in the Bible [or which of our publications]?" (Avoid acting arrogant or pompous.)

Of course, since it is not in the Bible or our publications, they will not be able to tell me where to find it. If they are certain it can be found, though not at that moment, they will no doubt tell me to look it up, to do research on it. And that is exactly what I do. When I find what they are basing their ideas on, I go back to them and address it with them politely, showing them the truth of the matter and what the Bible or our most recent publications on the matter really say, and then they have no recourse but to abandon their idea and accept what I show them from the Bible or our publications on the matter.

So the moment someone in your congregation tells you something that sounds off, try asking: "Can you tell me where to find it in the Bible or in our publications?" If they say they can't think of it off the bat, and ask you to do some research on it, then do the research. If they are mistaken, it is your job to correct them. So if it is not in the Bible, such as the college situation, look it up in the publications to find if it is based on Bible principles. If it cannot be found in the Bible or in the publications, or if you find something in the Bible or publications that contradicts the brother or sister, then show it to them. It is best to find something in the publications, not because the publications trump the Bible, but because the publications trump our personal understanding of the Bible. (I'll cover objections to that claim at another time.)

Branch Out and Develop Your Support System

Sometimes our perception of others avoiding us, is really just us avoiding them. Try reaching out. If they are indeed stand-offish, keep treating them lovingly and respectfully. Say high to them each time you see them. Be interested in them. If they refuse to return your interest, don't take it personally. It may simply be their own failing. But don't stop being nice to them. Show them respect as you would to any other brother or sister and as you would want them to treat you. (Matthew 7:12) Do this as much as you need to with all in the congregation, even if it feels one-sided. Maybe your own persistence may change the attitude of the congregation with time, patience, and most of all, your endurance.

Though, usually, you may find that the congregation warms up to your affections soon enough. Try to focus on befriending those in the congregation who seem to be good association, including elders or elder's wives, and pioneers in the congregation. Seek out those who are fine examples in hospitality and showing brotherly affection. It may start with one person who finds your positive attitude refreshing and attractive. Then another will be drawn to you and another, then another. Whether it takes a few weeks or several years, do not give up. Eventually they may come to see you as a valuable and loved member of the congregation.

We're All Human

The important thing to remember is that Jehovah's Witnesses, as individuals, are all imperfect humans. The same problems you find out in the world, you will find in any congregation. The reason is that we are not perfect. If baptism didn't make you perfect, how can you expect it to make any of them perfect? And it is not that the more brothers and sisters are gathered into one place they somehow become more perfect, but more of their flaws may in fact be visible. So always remember that neither you nor the congregation is perfect, and until the new system, no one will be perfect. So be loving, patient and kind, forgiving errors, just as Jehovah forgives your errors. (Matthew 6:11) This is the key that all of us have to exercise, or else there would be no unity at all. [August 2, 2016 at 8:08 pm]

Guest Advisor: This is a very touchy subject. Each person's experiences and demeanor both affect the way they perceive things. When we are dealing with depression (as I did for 10 years), it is easy to blame everyone else and feel persecuted. One thing that turned me around was noticing that I was the only unhappy one at the Hall. No matter how miserable I wanted others to feel, they were happy, I was not. When I stopped blaming others for my problems, things improved. Now, with over 40 years of service, looking back at the depressed time, I never stopped the ministry and never stopped the meetings. However, I did stop declaring my field service activity and my answers at the Hall were always cutting, biting, angry. I finally turned it around with Jehovah's help. [August 2, 2016 at 2:23 pm]

JW Advisor: Speaking of us all being human, there was a good illustration shared on the August JW Broadcast that helped me appreciate this. Though it was applied primarily to seeing the "bigger picture" as regards the Elders, this can serve well here also: When we zoom in on the illustrations in our magazines, all we can see are the colored spots, or the pixels (imperfections). When we zoom out, we can see the whole picture (or person), instead of just the imperfections. So the point is, we can only appreciate the depth and personality of our brothers and sisters if we "zoom out" and see their entire person, instead of only the imperfections. [August 2, 2016 at 5:15 pm]

LoverOfWisdom: Isn't Philosophy Just Thinking Correctly?

LoverOfWisdom wrote [July 26, 2016 at 11:37 am]:

My question has to do with philosophy, I'm finishing a book that gave me the impression that we use it on a daily basis. It has a quote by C.S. Lewis, basically saying that '' if there is bad philosophy, then there is good philosophy."

Also, isn't philosophy just thinking correctly? It does mean lover of wisdom. This also being a quality of Jehovah the most high God.

JW Advisor: It has to do with what philosophy is. It is a guessing game that depends upon a premise being true, relying upon ourselves and our own knowledge and wisdom, and not upon God. Adam and Eve chose to go their own way, deciding for themselves what is right and what is wrong and thus became alienated from God. (Genesis 3:1-7) Philosophy is meant to allow people to go their own way.

The reason we do not resort to philosophy is because we already have a premise and a source of correct thinking, which is the Christ and God's written word in the Scriptures. We do not need to play a guessing game. We need only to stick ever more closely to the Scriptures. As we do so, our understanding becomes clearer. We do not need to wander about in the philosophies and empty deceptions of men.

Notice what Paul said: "Look out that no one takes you captive by means of the philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8) Paul nailed it. Philosophy is an empty deception according to human tradition and the elementary things of the world, not according to Christ. Paul instructed Timothy to "guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from the empty speeches that violate what is holy and from the contradictions of the falsely called 'knowledge.' By making a show of such knowledge, some have deviated from the faith." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

What Paul is saying in these things is that philosophy is a source of apostate thinking, not relying upon "the mind of Christ". (1 Corinthians 2:11-16) Philosophies produce doubts and doubts cause ones to be "blown about by every wind of teaching". James said, "So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all." That is how we acquire wisdom, but regarding the use of philosophy, which relies upon skepticism and doubt, James says, "for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. In fact, that man should not expect to receive anything from Jehovah; he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways." (James 1:5-8)

Now, what we can do to help our thinking is to study logic and reasoning in order to learn how to identify false reasoning. But we should not "make a show" of it. We should use our thinking ability carefully, using God's word to give us the rock foundation upon which to stand, which is Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Luke 6:47-49) We do not need to play a guessing game. Jehovah is our rock. Indeed, who has more wisdom than God?

To the Corinthians, who were in a place inundated by philosophers and human philosophy, Paul wrote, "For the speech about the torture stake is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is God’s power. For it is written: 'I will make the wisdom of the wise men perish, and the intelligence of the intellectuals I will reject.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this system of things? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not get to know God through its wisdom, God was pleased through the foolishness of what is preached to save those believing.

"For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks look for wisdom; but we preach Christ executed on the stake, to the Jews a cause for stumbling but to the nations foolishness. However, to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because a foolish thing of God is wiser than men, and a weak thing of God is stronger than men.

"For you see his calling of you, brothers, that there are not many wise in a fleshly way, not many powerful, not many of noble birth, but God chose the foolish things of the world to put the wise men to shame; and God chose the weak things of the world to put the strong things to shame; and God chose the insignificant things of the world and the things looked down on, the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, so that no one might boast in the sight of God. But it is due to him that you are in union with Christ Jesus, who has become to us wisdom from God, also righteousness and sanctification and release by ransom, so that it may be just as it is written: 'The one who boasts, let him boast in Jehovah.'" (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

In fact, it could not be said better than the way Solomon put it, "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight. Do not become wise in your own eyes." (Proverbs 3:5-8 1984 NWT Reference Bible) Jeremiah wrote, "man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." Thus, to be a follower of Christ, a worshipper of Jehovah, we must reject philosophy and adopt the loving and obedient mind of Christ in loyalty to Jehovah God.

I'm not sure I could make it any clearer than that. Jehovah is our source of wisdom through Jesus Christ. So I recommend to put down the philosophy books and pick up the torture stake and follow Christ continually. (Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34 1984 NWT Reference Bible) [July 27, 2016 at 12:58 pm]

Guest Advisor: LoverOfWisdom, that JW Advisor has pretty much covered everything with excellent scripture references. I just thought, though, maybe you are confusing philosophy with critical thinking. As the JW Advisor mentions, philosophy is a kind of guess work, whereas critical thinking is using ones ability to think and analyze information in order to reach the correct conclusion. As the Bible says, philosophy is useless, whereas critical thinking is actually useful. Think Beroeans. [July 28, 2016 at 11:24 pm]

LoverOfWisdom wrote [July 29, 2016 at 6:57 pm]:

Hmmm, I think I might be confusing philosophy with critical thinking. Good point, Guest Advisor!

So what would we call the kalam cosmological argument? It's called a philosophical argument for God's existence. Or the moral argument, that is also a philosophical argument for objective morals, which refutes relativism, which is the very thing Adam and Eve did, as the JW Advisor mentioned.

JW Advisor: KCA and CA are arguments clearly stated in the Bible for the most part, but, as I will show below, the execution of KCA by William Lane Craig is flawed, or rather, incomplete. Also, moral relativism is a rather disgusting philosophy established by Satan himself.

Kalam Cosmological Argument
Simply naming the first argument as the "Kalam Cosmological Argument" does not make it an invention of Islam or of William Lane Craig except in its signature flawed conclusion which is uniquely his, and is the part based upon Islamic philosophy. The original Cosmological Argument is not even an invention of Plato. As Dr. Craig brings out himself, the Bible very clearly states the argument in the most perfect statement ever made:

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

In fact, those words go beyond both CA and KCA. All that happened with those men mentioned above is that they put it into syllogistic form, which is an attempt at critical thinking because it allows you to analyze the validity (valid or invalid) and factualness (true or false) of the statements. But the CA syllogism and the KCA's attempt at a complex sylligism is already present in the above Bible text, which implies the whole of the Kalam Cosmological Argument, saying:

Cosmological Argument
Tertiary Premise
1. True Premise: It is true that the universe has a beginning. ("In the beginning")
    Unspoken Premise: Things that have a beginning have a cause.
2. If/then Proposition: If the universe has a beginning, then
3. Conclusion: The universe has a cause. ("created")

The Kalam Cosmoloigical Argument
Secondary Premise
1. True Premise: The Cosmological Argument (above): It is true that "the universe has a cause".
    Unspoken Premise: Things that have a cause have a catalyst.
2. If/then Proposition: If the universe has a cause ("created"), then
    Unspoken  (Ignored) Conclusion: The universe has a catalyst (Creator).
3. Primary Conclusion (Asserted): "an uncaused, personal Creator of the universe exists, who sans the universe is beginningless, changeless, immaterial, timeless, spaceless and enormously powerful"

However, William Lane Craig's conclusion is imperfect (invalid) because it is an assertion without supporting evidence that introduces factors not covered by the syllogism, namely that the first cause (catalyst) is 1) a living being, 2) uncreated, 3) changeless, 4) immaterial, 5) timeless, 6) spaceless and 7) enormously powerful. That is not to say that his conclusion is incorrect, but that it is missing everything in between. This is lazy. While poetic, it is merely guess work if it has no syllogisms or proof. (That is why it is not actual logic, and demonstrates the flaws of philosophy.)

Thus the Bible's conclusion is superior when Paul said, "Of course, every house is constructed by someone, but he that constructed all things is God." (Hebrews 3:4) Why is it superior? Because he likened the universe to a house, which has many comparisons just in its mention, including its need for careful planning and execution. That illustration could be expanded in a number of ways to produce many syllogisms that can be tested and shown to be true.

Conclusion: The Kalam Cosmological argument is flawed logic because its conclusion does not proceed from the sum of its premises. Thus, it falls under the scope of guesswork, therefore philosophy.

Moral Relativism
Yes, Eve, in effect, embraced moral relativism, which proceeds from the false logic espoused by Satan that anyone can be moral, deciding for themselves what is right and what is wrong. Satan hid the true premise from Eve and instead used personal attacks against God to undermine her trust in the system of morals espoused by God. Untrained in the ways of logic, Eve did not seek to pursue Satan's underlying premise. The premise he espoused was "For God knows that in the day of your eating from it, you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad." (Genesis 1:5) In other words, God is a moral being who is trying to force his own system of morals upon Eve to get her to not be a moral being with self-determination, but to be a puppet of God.

Satan's real premise was: "I don't want to be ruled by God and I want to have others follow after me and the way to do that is to get people to become dissatisfied with God's rule over them just as I have. I felt restricted, therefore I will make them feel restricted by helping them to crave freedom apart from God." (Jude 16)

Thus, moral relativism is most definitely satanic philosophy. It is also a rejection of God's right to rule us. The correct thinking is that God created us, therefore he knows more about our needs than we do and we should trust him to set out guidelines for our benefit.

However, inversely, William Lane Craig's moral justification route is also a flawed philosophy. The claim to God-given moral superiority, as Craig espouses, is a crime of modern religious thought that allowed Catholics to persecute and kill anyone that did not belong to Abrahamic religion and even other Abrahamic faiths and Christian sects. It is the excuse behind the persecution and murder of many people, including atheists and pagans.

It is the age-old premise that we know morals because God first presented morals to us. An atheist or anti-theist purist who rejects all things based upon theocentric (deist) religion can therefore not be moral. This ignores the fact that we are provided with consciences that develop a system of morals throughout our life, apart from God. (Romans 2:14) That does not mean those morals will be correct in comparison to God's morals, but they create a system all the same. Even sociopaths and psychotics have their own system of morals, though often those morals are askew and do not include a concern for human life.

Mankind is moral because we are thinking beings. God is moral because he is a thinking being. If religionists were taught to be moral by God's law, then who taught God? Do you see the flaw? Morality is a natural outflow of intelligence and self-awareness. That is exactly why Adam and Eve could determine right and wrong for themselves. That part is not a lie. Even God said, "Here the man has become like one of us in knowing good and bad." (Genesis 3:22)

The lie is in suggesting that they could do so flawlessly on their own. It does not take God's law to tell us that murder is wrong. Pure logic could bring us to that conclusion. For example, we do not want to be killed because we fear ceasing to exist, and we do not want someone we care about to cease to exist, therefore it is wrong for they or us to be killed by our estimation, and if it affects me that way, it no doubt affects others that way, thus purposefully killing someone is wrong. God is not required to bring one to that conclusion. God certainly gave us a conscience when he created us. But it is a part of our free will to pay attention to that conscience or not and to form our own opinions about things, but it was Satan who merged opinion with morality, saying that we could form our own opinions about what is right and wrong without reliance upon God. Who, by the way, is the most intelligent being in existence and knows more about morality than anyone else in the universe he created ever could. Thus, we are under obligation to trust God's system of morals more than anyone else's in more ways than one.

So yes, moral relativism, along with moral justification, are flawed philosophies and their very nature is dependent upon guesswork. Atheists are not wicked by virtue of their not adhering to God's laws. (Romans 2:12) God does not need to guess, and he does not want us to have to guess either. Thus, trust in God's word, not in philosophy, just as God's word says:

"Trust in Jehovah with all your heart
And do not lean upon your own understanding.
In all your ways take notice of him,
And he himself will make your paths straight."

 —Proverbs 3:5-6 (1984 NWT Reference Bible)

[July 28, 2016 at 11:07pm]

Paul showed that we are not under Law. (Romans 6:14) If we are not under law, then by Dr. Craig's line of reasoning, we are "lawless". However, it is by Jehovah's undeserved kindness (Grace) that we get a reprieve from law while doing our utmost to act righteously. Atheists, too, can act righteously of their own accord by their own nature. (Romans 2:14) Thus morality is not an invention of God, but a system of moral standards has been clearly defined in God's word for our benefit.

I respect Dr. Craig, but he is a theologian (God philosopher) and his dependence upon these two philosophies (KCA and Moral Justification), which pop up in nearly every debate he is in, are corrupt ideas with no correct basis in Scripture. The Trinity is also a philosophy he subscribes to, so we can see that just being good at debate is not enough to be wise. The Scriptures alone should be the source of all teaching. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) [July 30, 2016 at 4:54 pm]

Guest Advisor: Insight On the Scriptures, Vol. 2: Philosophy

Men's empty reasonings, [which] confuse, befuddle, and muddy the clear waters of truth are typically the way I describe the babblings of the "world's" so-called wisdom. Even as scripture highlights, God's word is "foolishness" to unbelievers. In contrast, we as Jehovah's Witnesses, have come to accept that God's word can indeed make us well-rounded as a person, qualified to teach "the Word." 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 [July 31, 2016 at 12:26 pm]

Anything that devalues God and his wisdom, whether that thinking try to upstage God's wisdom by claiming it is better, or outrightly discrediting God's wisdom by some contradictory teaching, that seems to be the contrast scripture draws between God's wisdom and the philosophy of men (alienated from God's thinking). [July 31, 2016 at 12:35 pm]

JW Advisor: It is "guesswork" in exactly the sense that the article you linked to highlighted. (Thank you for the link, by the way.) The article said that it was a "human endeavor", that it lacks in God's thoughts. It also says that it seeks to "interpret" through "speculation" based upon "the whole of human experience."

Since we're covering definitions, some may be confused about the difference between philosophy and the scholastic discipline known as "critical thinking" (Logic and reasoning), which is not actually the discipline of being "critical", (a misnomer) but of being careful to analyze. The probably reason LoverOfWisdom's confusion may be because critical thinking was actually discovered, expounded and refined by philosophers over many centuries.

The difference between the two is that each and every philosophy is disputed and has counter-philosophies and refutations, but while there are many systems of critical thinking, they all share the basic belief that critical thinking is a correct and valuable practice, meaning that everyone gets benefit from it and therefore it is universally agreed that it is an actual thing and not simply guesswork, though much guesswork has taken place to get us to the point of understanding it.

These things are all universally agreed aspects of logic and reasoning:

Syllogisms produce accurate and verifiable results. In fact, we have whole disciplines of theoretical science based upon it. So it has solid footing.

Along with it are the understandings of premises, if/then propositions, and grounds/claims/conclusions. (Nomenclature depending on how it is used and who you ask.) Indeed, it is so reliable that computer programming language itself is based upon it and is the perfect expression of logic in a mechanical form. Thus, it is all a proven fact.

Of great benefit, also, is identifying the common formal and informal fallacies. Regardless of the list of fallacies you use, they are all technically correct, but simply with different means of defining the differences between different types of fallacies. The fallacies are real, but the definitions of those fallacies differs according to preference.

The word "argument" has become a misnomer in modern language, as it has come to be associated with debate, even violent disputes, so a better term is simply "line of reasoning". Thinking about it in those terms can help us to maintain a peaceful attitude when trying to persuade ones. Also, debate is two-sided. As long as we make it clear that we are there to teach and not debate, we can avoid debate. Thus, the ones listening can either accept our statements and ask us questions, or not. We want to avoid any discussion with non-believer who is trying to instruct us.

However, there is one drawback in all of this, and that is becoming "puffed up" on account of knowledge, as Paul warned us about. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3) Someone who is puffed up over their knowledge about logic and reasoning and the many fallacies is lacking in love. Thus, it is one thing to be very well versed in critical thinking, but another to let it cause you to become a debater wanting only to show off his skill as it once did me. I eventually learned that it was not loving to debate and that the Scriptures teach us that God despises debates. (Proverbs 3:7; Ecclesiastes 7:8; Romans 12:16-18; 1 Timothy 2:8, 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:23-26)

So instead of just making accusations and spouting off names of fallacies, we need to exercise love and patience and carefully show ones where their thinking is deviating, not with logic terms, but with explaining by analogous examples, like Jesus and Paul. (Paul's house analogy is a supreme example of this.) Also, instead of trying to formulate and analyze syllogisms, we should reform syllogisms into coherent statements such as the perfect statement at Genesis 1:1.

It is by these means that we can persuade ones by use of the Scriptures and our faith in Jesus Christ. (Acts 9:22; 17:11; 19:8; 2 Timothy 3:14-17) In fact, without basing our lines of reasoning upon Jesus Christ, we will only be misled. (1 John 4:1-3) [July 31, 2016 at 4:23 pm]

LoverOfWisdom wrote [August 2, 2016 at 7:57 pm]:

Agreed. Thanx for explaining the difference for me, I now can see the difference between the two. Much appreciated!

JW Advisor: You are very welcome. That is the wonderful thing about belonging to Jehovah's organization, we can speak in agreement and draw ever closer because of it, and as a result draw ever closer to our God. Thank you for bringing your question to us. May the peace of our God Jehovah guide you. [July 2, 2016 at 10:40pm]

ShepherdingNeed: Should I Ask for a Shepherding Call?

ShepherdingNeed wrote [Jul 28, 2016 at 12:44 pm]:

Hello. A little over 4 years ago, my ex-wife committed adultery and left to move in with her affair partner. At the time, our daughter was 11 and as you can imagine, it was a very painful time for both of us. At this time, my ex sees her daughter once a week, generally.

Over the past 4 years, there have been a few in our congregation who have been supportive, including two elders with whom I'm close friends, and 2 or 3 sisters have been very loving toward my daughter.

What I'm struggling with is that during the past 4 years we haven't had a shepherding call, including when the CO visits. And no  Elder has ever brought up the subject of her mother with my daughter (would of course have to be at the Hall or with me present).

I really feel a bit ridiculous asking for she and I to have an official shepherding call since it seems like a situation that obviously calls for it in my mind. I don't know that she would open up, but it would be nice for her to have the opportunity. In addition, while our meeting attendance is good, we struggle getting out in the ministry and I haven't accepted any responsibilities although they have offered them to me. So we're not really doing what we should be, another red flag that things aren't quite right.

I respect your insights and would greatly enjoy hearing your thoughts. If my thinking is off, please let me know. Thank you so much, and great background picture.

JW Advisor: Thank you for your honesty, brother.

The thing is that the elders only perform shepherding calls when they are aware of a problem. Thus, they may not actually be aware of any systemic problem with you. The fact that they offered responsibilities to you suggests that they view you as a spiritually mature brother, which is good. But as you noticed, that perception can tend to leave you without the help you need. So sometimes we simply have to bite the bullet and ask for the help we need.

So, brother, what I want you to do is approach the brothers and ask them for the shepherding call. Let them know what your needs are. Also, choose an elder to be your mentor, someone you feel you can draw close to. When you do that, you will feel more comfortable sharing your concerns with him and he can also be more attuned to your spiritual needs.

The thing is that the elders are humans and they have a limited amount of attention span to spare. As such, sometimes someone can fall through the cracks. We can be glad, though, that we have many elders in most congregations, instead of just one or two and that ministerial servants can assist in elder roles when needed. So there are usually plenty of elders and proxy elders available to assist us, even if we have to ask for the assistance sometimes.

The elders in a healthy congregation truly love everyone in the flock. The elders in my congregation do, and certainly the elder whom I currently call my mentor.

The most important thing we can do for ourselves is to develop a support system, which responsibility belongs to each one of us to do for ourselves. The support system does not simply make itself. So build a support system. Obviously, you have an apartment or home, so why not ask friends over from the congregation from time to time. Look for elder ones that you and your daughter can help. Make play dates for your daughter with others in the congregation. If she is in her teens, then encourage her to branch out to other young sisters in the congregation who are good examples, maybe even suggest a spiritually mature sister for her to view as a mentor. We all need a strong support system, and we can certainly have such a system with the loving brothers and sisters in the congregation. Just thinking about it makes my heart swell to bursting. But they may not really know your needs if you do not step forward and tell someone.

The thing is, you are not a sheep who has wandered from the flock, so that is why they have not given you the attention you may need. But instead of drawing away from the flock to get that attention, draw near to the flock and make friends with our brothers and sisters. This is the gift Jehovah has provided us in the congregation. By drawing closer to our brothers and sisters, praying for them, asking for their help, getting to know them, we draw closer to God because Jehovah want's us to draw close to them and be a family.

I have not bothered to provide scriptures here, because this is straight out of my heart in love and appreciation for your plight. God's word tells us to love our brothers and sisters, and sometimes we show that love by depending upon them and opening up to them about our own needs so that they have an opportunity to broaden out and sacrifice for us. In that way we encourage them to get benefit by becoming more than what they already are. Of course, we do not want to do that all the time, nor turn it into a dynamic, but we need to be mature enough to recognize when we are surrounded by those who love us and want to help.

And thank you for this opportunity to express my love for the brothers and sisters in our organization. They truly do make me happy, and you sharing your concern has made me very happy to be able to help you and give full vindication for my having started this site. Thank you, brother. [July 28, 2016 at 7:02 pm]

ShepherdingNeed wrote [July29, 2016 at 6:17 am]:

Hi. . . . Thanks so much for the thoughtful response, you brought up some points that hadn't occurred to me. I'll definitely be approaching the elders and requesting a shepherding call for myself and my daughter. Thanks again.

JW Advisor: We're glad to help. Thanks for sharing it with us, brother. Take care. [July 29, 2016 at 7:04 am]

ResignationStation: Could Disfellowshipping/Disassociation be Modified?

ResignationStation wrote [July 23, 2016 at 11:41 pm]:

Hey JW Advisors, hope you are doing well.

I just want to run something past you that a friend of mine sent me and see what you think. . . .

He wrote, [in effect]:

Couldn't we take just one term, "disassociation" or "disfellowshipping" and discard the other? Or maybe we could call it simply "resigning". It could provide more wiggle room, as neither term is found in the Bible. Then imagine that the things that a Witness needs to do are:

1) qualify as an unbaptized publisher.

2) dedicate your life to Jehovah in prayer.

3) tell the coordinator that you have dedicated your life to Jehovah and want to get baptized and answer the questions for baptism to be approved by all 3 elders.

4) get baptized at the next assembly or convention.

and, if you leave:

5) resign as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, either by words or by actions, resulting in being treated as a worldly person, and shunning would be left up to each member's conscience.

6) To become one of Jehovah's Witnesses again, you would have to go through steps 1-4, basically get baptised again.

What are your thoughts?

[Edit: Brackets mine. Friend's message rewritten for clarity]

JW Advisor: Disfellowshipping is a word that covers the scripture, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9) It is a calling, not a social club. Therefore, to remove them from Christ's body is to "disfellowship" them.

Paul further wrote, "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: 'I will reside among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.' '"Therefore, get out from among them, and separate yourselves," says Jehovah, "and quit touching the unclean thing"'; '"and I will take you in."' '"And I will become a father to you, and you will become sons and daughters to me," says Jehovah, the Almighty.'" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Paul's words were spoken to the entire congregation, and there was no room in his words for it being a conscience matter. If a brother does not stop speaking to them, they "become a sharer in his wicked works", and thus become worthy of being disfellowshipped their self. (2 John 10-11)

On the other hand, of apostates, we can derive the word "disassociate" from the scripture that says, "And they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to associating together, to the taking of meals, and to prayers." (Acts 2:42) Apostates have chosen not to associate with us in peace, choosing neither to believe as we believe nor to allow us to associate peacefully.

Thus, it is the place of the congregation to "disfellowship" an individual, forcing them out. While one who is "disassociated" has made a choice for themselves to leave the organization.

However, that is not to say that the distinction between the two words is not arbitrary as the word "associate" is actually used interchangeably with "fellowship" in the scriptures. The reason for the distinction we draw is because it communicates whether one left by choice or was forced out because they failed to live up to Bible standards. It may seem minor, but one has made a conscious decision to not be a part of the organization, while the other was unable to maintain Bible standards, which is why apostates are considered "disassociated" rather than "disfellowshipped", because they choose not to speak in agreement with the congregation.

It is also a matter of comfortable phonaesthetics. To say one has "disfellowshipped himself from the congregation" is awkward to the ear and gives the thought that he has punished himself. And to say that the congregation has "disassociated" a person suggests that they have caused him to remove his association from the congregation, as if the congregation is not worthy of him. However, as currently used, they are both comfortable. (At least by my personal opinion.)

But I assure you, both terms are quite scriptural, even if the terms themselves do not appear in the Scriptures, because the base words from which they are taken, and their meanings, do appear in most translations. "Excommunication" is also scriptural, but it is also very formal and does not carry with it the personal impact upon the individual or the congregation. It also does not carry the full extent to which one is to stop interacting with the person. "Resign" is neither a Scriptural term nor does it carry any of the impact of what is taking place. "Disfellowship" and "disassociate" give full indication of the complete separation to take place between our members and those who pose a spiritual danger to our members.

The Scriptures are clear about this practice, even if they do not give a name to it. It clearly involves not speaking to the person, not eating with the person, not associating with them in any way, even revoking their admittance into the congregation while they continue in their state. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 John 10-11)

Giving a name to ideas is an acceptable practice. Just because an idea does not have a name in the Scriptures does not mean we should not name it. Naming things, just as naming anyone or anything else, dignifies it and makes it easily referable for convenience.

"He was disfellowshipped" is simply more convenient to say, if a little less natural, than "he was removed from the congregation." Likewise, "he disassociated himself" is easier than "he has withdrawn his membership", and saying "he has stopped associating with us", which is also not as convenient to say, does not quite carry with it the full depth of the matter.

I hope I have been a little clearer than mud.

Your friend seems to be seeking wiggle room to choose to associate with a disfellowshipped / disassociated individual. This is dangerous thinking for both him and the one whom we seek to bring to repentance, as the goal is to sadden the individual into repenting, which they do not get if they still have fellowship. (2 Corinthians 7:8-11) I would suggest gently correcting your friend's thinking. (2 Timothy 2:24-26) [July 24, 2016 at 12:43 am]

Also, regarding the words "basically, get baptized again", the fact is that we are already dedicated to Jehovah and know what is required of us. Once we have made that dedication, there is no going back on it. We can either fulfill that dedication or not.

To dedicate anew suggests one was never dedicated in the first place, which would be false. They made their dedication, and simply by returning, it demonstrates their desire to fulfill that dedication once again. They can ask Jehovah for forgiveness and his help to live up to their dedication, but their dedication has not been revoked. They are being held to it by Jehovah.

Re-dedication is not needed, is unscriptural and is technically lacking accountability for their previous dedication and accountability is a serious matter with Jehovah. (Romans 14:12) We are the ones with the responsibility to live up to our first dedication.

To dedicate ourselves again is to declare ourselves innocent of failing to live up to our previous dedication. Such presumptuousness is unscriptural. (Isaiah 43:25) Simply by returning to fulfilling our dedication, Jehovah has promised to give us his forgiveness. (Revelation 2:4, 5)

Also, who would want to go through the hassle of answering the baptismal questions again? If they were out for 40 years, perhaps, but not for most. There's no need to make it more difficult for them to return. All that is needed is for them to live up to the dedication they already made. [July 24, 2016 at 1:37 am]

ResignationStation wrote [July 24, 2016 at 12:41 pm]:

Thanks JWA for putting my thoughts into words regarding rebaptism, and scriptures. His idea didn't sound right to me.

I don't think he is trying to seek wiggle room regarding disfellowshipping, I think he is more concerned about us being akin to a "captive organization" as described by Angus Stewart in the ARC hearing. The brother is from Australia. I wish I could just give him your email and then you could correspond, but I won't do that because I  think you have enough on your plate. But I, myself, have a few questions I would like to run past you as well. I will do that in the next email. Have to get ready for the meeting.

JW Advisor: The JW Advisor site is all about answering questions. I'd be glad to answer his questions. It doesn't take me very long to answer most questions. Thank you for being considerate, though. A stop-gap is welcome if you just want to forward the tough questions to me. [July 24, 2016 at 3:09 pm]

JW Advisor: I wonder if Mr. Stewart of the Australian Royal Commission considers Australia a "captive country". After all, it has laws, police, courts, judges, and prisons so there is no true "freedom of movement" there according the definition they are applying to Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses do not imprison wrong-doers nor do we have an armed police force.

Leaving the option to shun up to the individual members poses a couple problems I immediately identified:

1) Its not at all scriptural and...

2) Unrepentant wrong-doers would essentially be allowed to influence the congregation and would have no incentive to clean up their lives.

To address point 2 by drawing a comparison, would it be acceptable for citizens of a country to choose which laws they would obey according to their own conscience [without repercussions]? Of course not, because it would allow criminals to operate with impunity. Likewise, in the Christian Congregation, allowing individuals to basically pick and chose who to shun would allow unrepentant wrong-doers full association with anyone who does not shun them, and the entire congregation (organization) would be at risk of losing God's favor. (Revelation 2:20)

The Governing Body has no interest in forcing people to be here. The motivation behind the shunning arrangement is to maintain the spiritual and moral purity of the Christian Congregation. [July 25, 2016 at 12:09 am]

AcademicRegret: How Can My Son Find a Job After Bethel?

The following was not so much a question, but was a response to the blog post "Do Jehovah's Witnesses 'Prohibit' College Education?" over at Opposers Dismythed, which required counsel.

AcademicRegret wrote [July 16, 2016 at 11:37 am]:

I grew up in Vancouver, Washington. Our congregation elders felt in 1980's-1990's like congregations where they were attending college and especially would have a party for graduation, lacked spirituality. Those who attended college did not take the end of the system seriously.

More recently an elder in Maine frowned on me taking a three month course to help me provide for my three children. When I came back and said I was not able to attend, he said he was relieved and I made the right choice.

Additionally, when it came to my sons the circuit overseer said, why would we consider an education beyond high school when each of my children could receive the equivalent of a four year degree at Bethel? Bethel laid off. My son has no education and works 15 hours a week for a brother and lives in another brothers attic apartment. He cannot afford an apartment, wife, kids...

JW Advisor: Sister, I would like you to examine your statements. This is counsel I am giving you with all sincerity of heart.

You repeatedly stated, "elders . . ." or "circuit overseer . . .". You have the power to let them know that you have considered the issue and reviewed the November 1, 1992 Watchtower article, pp. 15-21, "Education With a Purpose" as well as the March 8th, 1998 Awake! article, p. 21, "The Bible’s Viewpoint — Does the Bible Discourage Education?".

Please, do not have a complaining spirit about the organization based upon the interpretations of overseers. Only our literature should be the last word on the subject. I simply want to bring to your attention that a complaining spirit leads to apostasy. (Jude 16) The elders represent the organization, but they are not perfect and therefore do not perfectly represent the organization. (Romans 7:14; 2 Corinthians 4:7) The publications give the final word on matters from the governing body, wrong or right. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

I would also like to remind you that the overseers cannot restrict you from any service to the organization, nor discipline you or your son, based upon going to college. Words are words, but your own words and opinions can spread like wildfire, and like gangrene. (2 Timothy 2:14-18; James 3:5-10) Please, sister, let it go before it deprives you of your relationship with Jehovah.

But most importantly, these men are simply looking out for your spiritual welfare. They too realize that such decisions are yours to make. Please treat them with respect as those who are looking out for our souls. (Hebrews 13:17) [July 16, 2016 at 12:15 pm]

Bethel does not "lay off" as it never "hired" them to begin with. What they do is ask for volunteers who are prepared and know that when they leave Bethel, they are not going to have anything more than what they came in with. (Proverbs 22:3) It's a sacrifice. You cannot blame the organization for yours or your son's own shortsightedness. They are trained in many skills, and it is advisable for your son to seek a job using those skills.

Your son does not need a college education to get a job. What he needs is to demonstrate that he has the skills necessary to do the job. He can also put his work at Bethel on his resume. They are indeed qualified skills.

I advise you to help your son be marketable with the skills he learned at Bethel. Read up on them, go on the internet and find out how to market your son's particular skillset without a college education.

Your son does not need to earn $100,000 a year. What he needs to do is learn how to live simply and maximize his potential. (Philippians 4:12, 13) That is not the organization's responsibility. It is your responsibility as a parent to help him (Proverbs 22:6) and his responsibility as someone with job skills seeking to find employment to do everything in his power to make that happen, continually. (Proverbs 14:23)

Jobs are not really that hard to find. (Proverbs 21:5) The problem often lies with the fact that some people set the bar too high for themselves to fulfill or don't put in the time necessary to achieve their goals. (Romans 12:16)

I understand you feel powerless, sister, but accountability is the beginning of success. (Galatians 6:7) A person that does not hold themselves accountable for their own decisions will go nowhere or will be of no use to anyone. What your son needs is to learn to be self-sufficient. (1 Timothy 6:8)

You can't let other people do the thinking for you. (Proverbs 14:15) You have to put in the effort. (Proverbs 31:17) [July 16, 2016 at 5:03 pm]

Then there's the fact that they never promise that the volunteers would be able to "retire" with the organization paying their way. The organization makes no promises about what will happen to them after they leave Bethel, and definitely give no promises about long-term attendance at Bethel. In fact, they make it clear that most spend only a few years at Bethel. . . . [July 16, 2016 at 6:32 pm]

Look at longshoremen. They work for a few months out of the year. What do you think they do the rest of the year? They go look for jobs with their other skills. [July 16, 2016 at 6:37 pm]

I hope you will give this counsel proper consideration and take it to heart. [July 16, 2016 at 7:12 pm]

JW Advisor: AcademicRegret, thank you for sharing. As mentioned, our publications do not prohibit you from taking classes, or going to college. As was pointed out, there are and have never been congregational sanctions for taking classes or going to college. I can agree that there were elders and COs who said the things you mentioned, but before accepting those sayings as true, always look up what's printed on the matter from our publications and make your choices based on that information...ALWAYS. No one can tell you to do something or to not do something that contradicts what's in our publications. [July 16, 2016 at 5:09 pm]

Our opposers just like to caricature it, basically. The facts are that serving at Bethel is voluntary, and Jws are not anywhere near obligated to go there.

I was thinking also, along the lines of Bethelites not just sitting in their rooms and not doing anything that would make them employable, that they are busy people. One could ask: "what do you think they do there all day?"

They gain experience, with no financial cost to themselves, working on the IT department, construction, data entry, receptionist, telecommunications, and a whole host of fields that would make them skilled workers. [July 16, 2016 at 10:19 pm]

PrioritizingTheFaith: How Do I Talk to My Boss About Withdrawing my Compromise?

PrioritizingTheFaith wrote [June 27, 2016 2:57 pm]:

I basically know what I need to do, but I would like your opinion on something. [...]

When I interviewed with this employer this year, I was asked about the schedule I wanted. I told my boss I could not work Sundays (as any shift would take me from the meetings) but I could work any other time, and he offered me the day shift as that's what he needed. He told me I would not have to worry about Sundays. He did not tell me about the projects that would require me to work some Sundays. But I'm ok with giving him some Sundays.

Shortly after getting hired, I had to work two consecutive Sundays because we have projects on the weekends at times and they will not stand up to the customer to get this changed. We do not have the manpower to have a non-negotiable Sunday project day, but that's another story.

I had to miss a meeting two Sundays ago because of this, and I have public talk July 17th that was scheduled on May 25th, and my work schedule is out, and I have to work Sunday July 10th, and Sunday July 17th (the date of my talk).

There is no way I'm missing my talk. It was scheduled over a month ago.

The advice I would need is exactly how to approach him about this. He told me I would not have to worry about Sundays, but since I've been hired, I've missed about 6 meetings this year on Sunday, and now I'm being asked to give up two more, including my talk, in back-to-back weeks.

Of course, this is upsetting and nonsense because I believe I was lied to. He knew the weekend project day, and did not tell me about it.

Any advice would be appreciated, and I am going to Jehovah about this.

JW Advisor: I commend you for seeking advice on this matter in spite of knowing what you need to do. (Proverbs 15:22) It shows humility. I can understand this situation, and did it myself once. But you should understand that the fact that you compromised after telling him you needed Sundays off gives him ammunition to use against you. (Daniel 6:4-5) So if you want to stand your ground now, it could be seen as grounds for termination and you would have to accept the consequences. However, if there is paperwork establishing that you needed Sundays off, you may have legal recourse, though the fact that you compromised weakens your case.

The fact is, if we want to represent Jehovah well, we need to be people of our word. (James 5:12) If you say you need Sundays off, never compromise, stand your ground. Don't accept their attempts at finagling your meetings. Even if you have personal issues that cause you to miss meetings, your stand in the sight of people in the world should not change or be able to be compromised. (Proverbs 29:25)

The fact is, you have a dishonest employer who is seeking to test your commitment to your ideals and your willingness to compromise your beliefs in order to put the company first. He wants to see you as a company man, not realizing that to be a good company man, one needs to be a good servant of Jehovah. Without that, you cannot have the other. (Luke 16:10-13) They hired you knowing that you did not want to work Sundays and explained to them why. If I were you, I would emphasize that to them when they try to say, "But you have worked Sundays." Also emphasize that you felt pressured and threatened by the potential of losing your job but that you are ready to correct the situation.

But before any of that, I recommend explaining tactfully that you believe you compromised your principles when you gave up even just one Sunday for work, and that you don't think it provided your employer with confidence in you to be able to represent their company. The company needs people with high standards whom they can rely upon. By compromising your stand for your faith, you showed that the company also could not rely upon you when the chips are down. But now you wish to correct that situation and stand firm and be someone the company can put their trust in for loyalty and steadfastness.

So now, as to how to provide a solution if your boss still needs more, you might be able to negotiate a work-around. (I recommend attempting that before giving a flat-out refusal to work Sundays. Maybe you could choose one other day in the week to put in some extra hours to make up for the hours you miss going to meetings, and maybe come in early or late to put in a couple of hours on Sunday before or after your meetings. But you should make it clear that your service to God comes first. Our standing firm serves as a witness. (Matthew 10:16-18)

Next time, remember that the firmness of your stand marks you as either a faithful Witness or an unfaithful one. But Jehovah is forgiving so long as you make correction to do what's right in this matter from now on. (Acts 3:19)

Jehovah loves you and will help you to succeed. Pray to him about this matter and continue to pray no matter how it goes and he will guide you. I will also pray for you. [Jun 30, 2016, 2:15 pm]

DefendingFaith: How can I maintain self-control in a religious debate?

DefendingFaith wrote [May 26, 2016 at 10:49 am]:

Hello, I was just curious as to your thoughts on the growing number of people spreading the lies about JWs. [. . .] I myself have tried to help people [on Youtube] to understand the belief but it appears they tend to pay more attention to the myths as apposed to actual truth. [(Mostly just to point out to those who could be mislead by those apostates. I try not to say anything to other people on their channels but I have gotten caught up in some arguments online with folks in the past. Only assuming they could just be misguided sheep perhaps part of Christendom or otherwise. I generally keep to myself, I do find it difficult tho, not to speak up when I hear people making accusations or posting mistruths online. So I almost feel compelled to say something on the matter.)]

I have used Elijah Daniel's blog as one of my main tools, but as usual most tend to discredit them cause they are biased, so I was also wondering if any other sites or individuals make unbiased arguments for the faith. I am a returning member of the orginization, was raised in the faith but fell out, now have had a reinvigerated spirit to learn and teach the truth. Been back for a little over a year now. Feels great, but cant seem to get over all the lies being spread. Always wanting to correct people or call people out even though I know how the bible feels on arguments. I have gotten caught up in some debates online, tends to get heated and I take the high road out of the situation.

JW Advisor: First, their numbers are not as great as they seem. The great majority of former members simply get on with their lives. Our opposers are simply becoming more outspoken because of the increasing news coverage. The reality is that all they do is parrot the statements of those who came before them. None of them give any real thought to the information from an unbiased perspective. They left because they have a complaining spirit and lack any sense of loyalty. (Jude 16-21)

However, we should never get into discussions with them. It is a disfellowshiping matter to unrepentantly talk to disfellowshiped or disassociated individuals. (2 John 8-11) They want you to get into debates with them so that they can wear down your faith and your loyalty and spread their complaining spirit to others just like gangrene; but we must reject such debates if we wish to stay loyal. (2 Timothy 2:16-19) Can bread remain free of corruption while in contact with corrupted bread? (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

Instead, we must let the dead bury their dead. (Luke 9:60) Our ministry is not to the self-righteous not seeking treatment, but to those lowly in spirit seeking a physician. (Matthew 5:6; 9:11-13; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1) My site is for disseminating the truth about these matters without debate so that some may be snatched from the fire. (Jude 22-23) Besides, deleting comments from our opposers without answering them turns out to be pretty cathartic.

I am not comfortable talking about other bloggers, except Elijah Daniels. Many either are apostates themselves who think they're doing some kind of noble thing, or else post their debates with apostates on their site, or simply share their own ideas instead of sticking to the facts or upholding established doctrine. I consider them all persona non grata and refuse to allow links to their sites in comments.

I have only made an exception for a single person because the scholarly research is very helpful despite improper linking. I link to his posts in the posts about the 607 BCE date, the UN N.G.O. issue and our policies on Child Abuse. Though I will eventually replace the two articles he does that in with my own articles.

I hope this helps. [May 26, 2016 at 12:06 pm]

JW Advisor: I hear ya, DefendingFaith. But there is a saying by Winston Churchill: "You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks." [June 26, 2016, 5:16 pm]

DefendingFaith wrote [May 26, 2016 at 12:45 pm]:

Thanks, yes this helps. I have already made some videos pertaining to these matters. Only for the sake of helping other discern, as you say pulling them out of the fire. I have had dealings with them, i have foolishly got into arguments but have since tried to steer clear of these things as i know they have ulterior motives or chips on their shoulders i suppose. Is there possibly alternative sites with the same objective as yours. I had mentioned Elijah Daniels as he has linked to a number of places such as yours for further info. Very great stuff you guys are doing here. I commend you for all the work you and the other brothers do. I'm sure this takes years to all get down packed and then put it up on a site for others to gain from.

JW Advisor: There's only one thing that matters: absolute loyalty to Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and to the organization that has proven its humility and faithfulness in holy spirit.

I know of no others that maintain as high of standards as mine and Elijah's. (Though our standards differ in a few areas, higher in some and lower in others.) That is why he is the only one I trust. [May 26, 2016 at 6:17pm]

JW Advisor: I agree. They really aren't growing in number as much as they're simply getting louder and using the same lies that others use. The internet gives them the venue.

You can get over the lies if you continually reflect on why you believe we have the Truth. If you have doubts, do not ignore them as if they do not exist. Settle them. This is where personal study is truly beneficial, and blogs like these. The links above were a big help. It gave me the organization's actual teaching on the matter in depth, and I began to see that apostates really lie a TON on the organization.

There was a bad week for me last year. I was so down spiritually that I did not even prepare for the meeting. There was an unresolved issue as regard a facet of our belief system and it had me down. But I researched and read many articles on the WT library one evening for a couple of hours, and got the organization's view on it.

After that night, I was fine. That's my recommended path of getting over lies. Check our actual teachings. Its like studying real money to spot the counterfeit. You don't study counterfeit money to know real money.

I also hope this helps too. [May 26, 2016 at 12:48pm]

Here's just a small example that popped up in my mind when thinking, DefendingFaith. Apostates will repeatedly claim that the Governing Body wants "rock star treatment" since the introductions of JW broadcasting. Do they? Well, if we just take what they say without thinking about it, we will believe that lie. But what comes to the mind of thinking Witnesses is how the GB have reduced their own roles on the station -- appearing every other month with a helper taking the lead in the month between.

Also, the article "Love does not behave Indecently" from the January 2016 WT clearly states concerning the GB and other well-known brothers:

"Second, realize that while it is good to respect these brothers and their wives, we would not want to treat them as celebrities".

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-simplified-january-2016/we-want-to-go-with-you/

That's how you deal with lies. Just check our views on the matter. [May 26, 2016, 4:53pm]

Sometimes, I look at apostates as a husband that divorces his wife, yet, he claims to have moved on but continues to stalk her and make up lies about her.

In the same vein, they "divorce" themselves from the organization, yet they read every publication that we print, every video we make, every JW broadcast episode we release, and make up lies about what we were saying in those things.

Anyone would look at them as crazy if they were doing that to an ex wife. But they got a new term for it, called "activism".

Imagine a man, standing outside the front of his ex-wife's home trying to convince her new husband that he is being "deceived" by holding up picket signs. Is that "activism" or craziness? [May 27, 2016, 12:18pm]

JW Advisor: Completely nutters. Apostates themselves are the reason I find apostasy repulsive. I would have avoided apostasy to begin with due to my strong sense of loyalty, like avoiding extramarital sex out of loyalty, but when the one trying to tempt you to fornicate is a diseased, shriveled crank-addicted transvestite with scraggly hair, a beard, cusses like a sailor, smokes like a chimney, and talks like Harvey Fierstein, it's pretty easy not to be tempted unless you're one yourself. That's how repulsed I am by apostates. [May 27, 2016 at 2:49]

JW Advisor: One more thing I wanted to point out about how "loud" opposers are is that they over-sell the negative things that go on in the organization with their daily accusations. This is simply designed to discourage us under the false notion that God's true organization would not have problems, or would never get anything wrong. I do not know where they got that from other than their own imaginations.

This is not surprising, as Revelation 12:10 says Satan is the accuser of our brothers "day and night" before God. [May 30, 2016 at 8:02pm]

DefendingFaith wrote [June 20, 2016 at 1:52pm]:

Yeah, I see the overall point. Its just as Satan wants it to be, he has his hands in every facet of life. We as either studies or full time ministers must be as pro active as possible at dismantling and setting things straight. All they want to do is slander Gods holy name and the people who serve him.

[. . .] So if I were to make a response to some of these lies and rhetoric thrown about online. What should be my way of presenting it. Should I bullet point topics commonly misinterpreted or just go out and call all the channels and websites out for what they say. Id rather not stir the pot on these subjects but rather use tact and just point out the flaws in reasoning and so on. I just need a little direction in the best ways to do this.

Like what should I reference if they want unbiased sources of info, since they tend to think they are a cult and the information is controlled and all that. Not sure how to effectively go at that one. Most of the sources iv found are of the JW faith, which is fine but just in case that don't fly, id like to have a stacked deck to combat that issue.

I'm sure this wont really get through to many of those individuals, I would rather cut off the attempts made to distort or misguide other people from the truth. That is really my main goal in the first place. Helping others discern since they don't have that ability as of yet.

JW Advisor: I'm going to reiterate what I stated in response to your very first query: We should never get into discussions with them. [Period] They are not seeking to learn from you. They are not curious about the Bible. Their cup is already full and you can't empty it for them to refill it. Leave them alone and walk away. Who cares if they think you're copping out? We shouldn't care what they think at all. They have already made up their minds. It's not up to us to change them.

If someone wants to argue about doctrine, policy or anything else, just leave them be. There is no good approach to such discussions at all. Nothing good can come of it. Anything you say is simply throwing pearls before swine. As Jesus said:

"Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving, and stay there until you leave. When you enter the house, greet the household. If the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not receive you or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more endurable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than for that city." (Matthew 10:11-15)

If a student has questions, you will have plenty of time to answer them, but anyone that wants to argue only wants to either hold you up from going door to door or to convert you.

As for online, you should not be posting on sites of our apostates and opposers. Whether you read them is a conscience matter, but to post on their sites is to bring dishonor to Jehovah. Jesus did not go chasing after the Pharisees, but the Pharisees went chasing after him.

As to making a website to defend our beliefs, or the organization's decisions, as I have done at Opposers Dismythed, it requires deep research, careful reasoning and simply putting those things in writing, but not posting anything that appears weak or lacking careful thought. Also, every article requires stating what apostates say on the subject as a matter of course in order to be addressed, but we should not directly quote any statement made by an apostate, nor post transcripts of debates. The audience does not need anything more than an accurate depiction of the facts. The more they are exposed to lies, the more likely they are to get to believing those lies. Also, try to get each point across with as few words as possible. Our apostates tend to be insufferable bores who love to hear themselves talk. So inversely, truth-seekers should be people of few words who humbly say only what needs to be said. [June 22, 2016 at 3:01pm]

JW Advisor: I completely agree. They are not seekers of truth, and that's why they're apostates to begin with, so reasoning with them is out of the question.

Some may reason that if we have the truth and are confident in it, then reading and interacting with them should pose no harm to us. I like the illustration used by the organization that if you instill strong morals into your children, would you then deliberately expose them to pornography? After all, they should resist if their morals are strong enough, right? The fact is, you protect against harmful influences by identifying them and avoiding them, not by exposing yourself to them.

This is the faulty reasoning used to lure our brothers into poisoning their own minds. If you have the truth, then what are you afraid of?

My answer is that I am afraid of believing lies.

I say that because its not that the organization is hiding something from us that they don't want us to know so they instruct us to avoid apostates. Part of the reason is that the organization has dealt with apostasy in the past, and they know that the goal is to lure you out of God's organization.

I can also understand the urge to defend the faith. Lies hurt, so I will be honest about that, and they can make one angry. But you can successfully defend against accusations because they are made out of ignorance, or misunderstanding​/misconception. You cannot make a defense to folks who simply don't care to learn, or who deliberately spread lies like apostates. [June 22, 2016 at 8:51pm]

Here is some information that I think will serve you well that can help you be aware of apostates tricks. The most often used trick is "appeals to emotion". Examples of this are: "your organization doesn't care about children", or "you deny 'life saving' medical care", and the most often used one, "you break up families".

The goal is to get you angry and to accept their statements as true based on that emotion, and since these statements trigger our inborn protective instincts, we are more prone to react by removing ourselves and others from that alleged harm, without considering whether or not the harm is real or imagined.

In your case, they want you to leave the organization, and they want non-witnesses to fear joining.

You can have better self-control when you have realized the trickery used, and the purpose of it. [July 29, 2016 at 5:58pm]

Welcome

Welcome to where you can get biblical advice and counsel on anything and everything related to Jehovah's Witnesses. There is no judgment and only loving concern to help you serve Jehovah and Jesus Christ, increase faith and remain loyal to Jehovah's organization or simply to discuss how to interact with Jehovah's Witnesses.

If you do not feel comfortable addressing your concerns to the elders in your congregation or to family, friends or your Bible teacher, and do not want to take the chance of a letter you write to the address in the Watchtower getting forwarded to your local congregation, you may post your concerns here.

Whether you have doubts, have sinned and need courage to confess to the elders, having trouble with personal sins not quite severe enough for discipline, are seeking to return to the organization, need courting advice, having trouble getting out, or simply looking for encouragement, you can post whatever questions, needs or concerns you have and we will be happy to respond with scriptural advice and counsel from the heart without judgment.

The History of This Site

Some years ago, I don't remember when, I started the website, "Ask Jehovah's Witnesses", in which I answered questions about Jehovah's Witnesses and it ran for a few years. But it was presented in a way that mimicked the publications. So when an article in one of our publications came out addressing websites designed to provide spiritual food, I discontinued the site. I want to help people, but I don't want anyone to see my site as a source of spiritual food or a replacement for any of our publications.

Then, in 2006, I got involved with the Yahoo! Answers group as a means of correcting people's understanding of Jehovah's Witnesses. Then, in 2007, I came out with the website: A Personal Witness. However, a couple of years later, I got another reminder, I think it was at a convention, that we need to avoid providing spiritual food, which the site had become a place for such.

So in 2009 I decided to start a new site that focused strictly on responding to the accusations of our opposers in order to help protect some from falling prey to their lies. It is not that the organization needs defending, but that individuals need protecting and recovery from poisonous lies. It filled a niche. I called it Opposers Dismythed and I have run that site ever since as it lives up to its purpose and does not compete with the organization's literature. However, I did not eliminate my other site, but simply took it offline, because it still had plenty of articles that I found very enlightening.

Lately, though, I noticed that there are many people, though having friends in the truth and appropriately confessing serious sins to the elders, still have a hard time expressing themselves, and for some, this can lead to a sense of being alienated, through their own self-imposed isolation, which in turn can lead to apostasy as they lose faith and drift away. (Proverbs 18:1; Hebrews 3:12)

There are also many non-Jehovah's Witnesses who have questions about how to interact with Jehovah's Witnesses, whether to turn us away, to ask us to stop calling or because they want to understand or address the actions of a Jehovah's Witness associate or the organization in general.

Thus, on Sunday, June 20th, 2016, I had an idea come to me fully formed, in which we (My blog-writing partner and I) could provide such ones with a place to anonymously air things they do not feel comfortable seeking elsewhere; or to simply provide them with a place to express themselves without judgment, sans apostasy.

After considering whether it qualified as spiritual food or was somehow competing with other services of the organization, we concluded that it was no different than any other personal conversation and fell outside the abilities of the organization's services. We simply need to avoid presenting it as anything more than personal assistance. So the next day, I posted this site.

It is not that the arrangement of the organization is lacking in anything from the Bible, nor that prayer is somehow not enough for them to have a relationship with Jehovah, but that sometimes simply having someone say what they may be unintentionally ignoring or missing, can help them to resolve issues. It is also a place they can receive "hands-on" training, so-to-speak, in becoming better servants of Jehovah.

Additionally, approaching someone who knows who you are can be intimidating and cause you to lack the desire to speak about what is bothering you in fear of the consequences or changing their perceptions of you. This site is for removing those obstacles to seeking help.

What Are Our Qualifications?

Someone may wonder how we are qualified to do this. That is a very fair question, so the following are the answers in honesty. While the advisors are anonymously listed by number here, they are not identified by number in any of the responses to those seeking advice and counsel.

JW Advisor #1: I was born in 1973 and baptized in January, 1998. I am not an elder, nor even a ministerial servant. Because of my current circumstances, I do not yet qualify for those services within the congregation, though many in my congregation find my comments and counsel to be uplifting and spiritually focused.

But the fact is, avoidance personality disorder, a severe anxiety disorder perhaps exacerbated by childhood trauma, has kept me from doing as much as others. I do not have the tendency to worry, but simply am not able to do what I want to do because my thought processes shut down when confronted with any task or thought that somehow feels daunting. It is similar to the feeling of dread some have when tax season comes around. Otherwise, I have a strong work ethic and boundless willingness, and am fully motivated the second anyone asks something of me.

To handle the anxiety, I tried medication for a little while. Unfortunately, it caused me to sleep a lot more, and I ended up missing more meetings than my disorder caused me to. There is little I want more than to make every meeting. I also suffered from a life-long depression up until 2011, which I received treatment for in 2010. For these reasons, I have failed to qualify for greater privileges within the congregation. But that does not disqualify me from being a Bible teacher and friend to my brothers and sisters.  The elders call upon me for whatever services they can outsource to me. I love my congregation and feel loved by them.

Now, why do I think I am qualified for being an anonymous counselor online? Because since I came into the truth, preserving the faith of my brothers and sisters has always been of foremost concern to me. I love the house to house preaching work, and making sure my brothers and sisters are well cared for is very important to me. I have always wanted to protect them from the lies of our opposers and to help them to reason properly, not succumbing to the false reasonings of Christendom or our opposers. So I proceeded to learn to do deep research and to improve my thinking ability, and over years of practice I got better and better at fact-checking, going down the rabbit hole no matter how far it leads or how uncomfortable it seems until I get at the original sources and the truth, going much further than our opposers dare to go. This has allowed me to vindicate the organization at every turn. I believe Jehovah is the one who has gifted me with this desire and capability and I use it to the full.

I must now allow a boast, but not boastfully and not for myself, but for those who need someone to trust, to demonstrate these qualifications. Many have expressed thanks for my efforts and my writings have been used by Jehovah to touch the hearts of at least a couple of apostates that I know of, prompting them to repent and return to Jehovah's organization in full submission. One former opposer has become my Bible student. Others have thanked me for stopping them from falling away because they had been poisoned by apostate lies. Still others have thanked me simply for helping them to answer hard questions, adjust their thinking and strengthen their faith. Since this gift is from Jehovah, it is he who deserves thanks and praise.

So my qualifications are that I have already done this for almost 2 decades in one form or another and have helped ones to return to the organization. However, my best qualifications are in the desire to strengthen the faith of my brothers and sisters, in sticking to the Bible as my sourcebook, in encouraging ones to stick to the organization and studying our publications, in promoting love for the governing body, faithful and discreet slave and the elders among us, and most importantly, in promoting faith in Jesus Christ and Jehovah God's Kingdom.

JW Advisor #2: I think this sounds good, and of course, there is no exaggeration!

Born May 18th, 1982 and raised by Witness parents. I was an unbaptized publisher by the age of 12 and gave my first talk in the Theocratic Ministry School the same year. However, I left the truth at 17 years old, and spent nearly 10 years in the world.

I decided that I needed to return to Jehovah in April 2005 while in trade school, because I had no direction in my life and no future, and the happiness I had as a youth was gone. I then obtained a Bible and began reading. Before I finished the first chapter of Genesis, I made up my mind to return home. I was baptized in April 2007, appointed as a Ministerial Servant in Nov 2010, and have happily served ever since. Having been raised in the truth and fallen away in youth gives me a valuable perspective, allowing me to give advice from those various points of view.

I met my wife in 2008, and we began dating in June 2011. We were married on May 5th, 2012. Jehovah has really blessed me with this wonderful woman. I could not successfully serve without her support. Marrying only in the Lord allows us to share not just our lives together, but our service to Jehovah in unity. Nothing is more satisfying than having two people reaching for the same goals!

The training I have received since being a regular contributor to Opposers Dismythed has not only made me a better researcher, but it has made me a more careful one, teaching me to verify sources, and to check facts. I have also studied logic and reasoning and critical thinking and am well versed in the Bible and the organization's literature. Having close association with my fellow advisor allows us to bounce ideas off of one another, laugh together, and work closely as a team!

JW Advisor Team: We have qualifications by virtue of our examples, desires and abilities, but we have no authority to command anyone, nor to enforce commands by means of this website. We can only show you the Scriptures, and it is up to you to decide if you will follow the advice and counsel we provide by means of them. We will not judge anyone for choosing, by their own free will, to not follow Biblical advice and counsel.

What Does God's Word Say About It?

We have considered the Biblical basis for this service, and here are thoughts to consider:

"For just as we have in one body many members, but the members do not all have the same function, so we, although many, are one body in union with Christ, but individually we are members belonging to one another. Since, then, we have gifts that differ according to the undeserved kindness given to us, if it is of prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or if it is a ministry, let us be at this ministry; or the one who teaches, let him be at his teaching; or the one who encourages, let him give encouragement; the one who distributes, let him do it liberally; the one who presides, let him do it diligently; the one who shows mercy, let him do it cheerfully." (Romans 12:4-8)

"On the other hand, we urge you, brothers, to warn the disorderly, speak consolingly to those who are depressed, support the weak, be patient toward all. See that no one repays injury for injury to anyone, but always pursue what is good toward one another and to all others." (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)

"All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) 

"Beware, brothers, for fear there should ever develop in any one of you a wicked heart lacking faith by drawing away from the living God; but keep on encouraging one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you should become hardened by the deceptive power of sin." (Hebrews 3:12, 13)

"Therefore, openly confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. A righteous man’s supplication has a powerful effect. . . . My brothers, if anyone among you is led astray from the truth and another turns him back, know that whoever turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save him from death and will cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:16, 19, 20)

"To the extent that each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another as fine stewards of God’s undeserved kindness that is expressed in various ways." (1 Peter 4:10)

As you can see, these are the responsibilities of all members of the congregation. So we are fulfilling these things, but doing so in a way that allows members to remain anonymous in order to more freely unburden themselves. We are not assuming a position of authority, but are using our spiritual gifts to help our brothers and sisters and provide answers to those in the world about Jehovah's Witnesses in a personal, 1-on-1 witness online.

Disclaimers

JW Advisor is a place for spiritual counsel, not spiritual food. Get your spiritual food from the faithful and discreet slave at the weekly meetings and in Jehovah's Witness publications.

This site is not for doctrine, personal opinions or organizational policy issues. For those issues, you may go to our sister site at Opposers Dismythed.

Please exhaust spiritual research in our publications available to you before coming here to receive advice or counsel that you are unable to receive elsewhere, or you are simply at the end of your rope. But most certainly we suggest talking to us before making rash decisions to leave the organization.

We are well-versed in psychological issues and are good at researching what we do not know, but we are not mental health professionals. What we are are Jehovah's Witnesses and are proficient with the scriptures, our publications, the organization and Christian history. That said, it is very healthy to have someone to talk to and to see your own feelings expressed in writing, and especially to have answers to your concerns.

The anonymity of this site is not for ones to deceive in hypocrisy, (Psalm 26:4) but to give our visitors the strength to express themselves honestly and openly to find resolution to their issues so that they do not have to hide them from anyone anymore and can deal with them and move on.

Commenting

Comments must be approved and may be edited for content. This is not a forum posting board for interacting with other commenters. Comments directed at other commenters may be rejected or edited. Trouble-making comments and comments professing to be from disfellowshipped or disassociated individuals will be rejected. (Using hypothetical "what if" scenarios is recommended.)

At the bottom of the comment form and in the contact form on the sidebar, there is a means of entering a unique pseudonym. It is recommended that you choose a pseudonym for your comment that reflects the issue you wish to discuss. (For example, "WeighedDown".) This makes it easy to locate your posts at a glance while remaining anonymous.

When you comment to this post, I will reply with a link to a new post or direct you to a related post where your personal matter can be addressed.

If you still feel too uncomfortable to post your concerns publicly despite the anonymity, you can contact us by means of the Contact Form on the sidebar.

We hope you find the answers uniquely suited to your personal questions that you are seeking here.

To our opposers: Our opposers have thousands upon thousands of websites they can go to in order to post their grievances, or they can write to the address in the Watchtower or talk to elders. This is a site for people with honest and sincere questions, not personal vendettas against the organization or trying to convert us or anyone that visits this site. If people want to seek out lies about us, they know where to find you.