Posted on 05/04/2016 12:46:01 PM PDT by Zeneta
How should I talk about Religion with my Jehovah Witness sister?
I love my slightly older sister but I think/know she's gone nuts with her adherence to the Jehovah's Witnesses.
While I rarely talk or see her, we are deeply connected, most objective people would say we are estranged. I can't go that far. Regardless of circumstance, we have always been able to connect.
She has always been an "All or nothing" person, believing virtually anything and everything. While in school she excelled in math and computer programing but ran off to the Colorado Mountains to be a Ski Bunny and married my best friend. Had kids, got divorced and is now a Grandmother. She still spends hours on end standing on street corners handing out tracts for the Jehovah's Witnesses.
While I consider myself a Christian, I can't quote a single passage from the bible. I've read it, I understand it and I have accepted Christ as my Savior.
My Sister is coming to visit next week.
In a certain sense I want to undermine what I think is a cult.
At the same time I need to be respectful.
I have the feeling that any discussion that has me quoting passage's from the bible will be fruitless. There is no way I can win in a back and forth battle.
I don't know how I should handle this and I'm seeking advice.
She’s probably thinking the same thing about you. ;)
ask her how she would feel if she was the 140,00th person in heaven but you had to go to hell because you were 140,001 because you accidentally stepped on an ant when you were a kid...
>>She’s probably thinking the same thing about you. ;)
You know she is!
I would say through the screen door next time she comes over, they seem to prefer that.
Ask her why, if they believe that only 144,000 adherents get into heaven, why are they trying so hard to recruit more members into their church?
My sister is a JW and the answer is you can’t. They are programmed in the way they discuss religion that attempts to lead you to the answer they want you to give. The best thing you can do for her is love her, pray for her, and set an example that shows her that what she is being told about you and your faith is untrue.
Don’t.
FuhGetAhBout’it
The weather and wine will be Mo-beta
People don’t change until what they are doing doesn’t work for them anymore. The most you can do is find out what the JWs supply her that she doesn’t believe she can find elsewhere, and then show her how you satisfied that need yourself in a better way. But she has to be willing to listen first.
Find out what her values and major goals are. Show her how your religion can help fulfill her values and achieve her goals better than her religion.
Avoid it if it will cause familial discord. Take care of yourself and your own religion. If you think it appropriate pray for your sister. Perhaps she prays for you?
I was with them for a while. Your sister could do worse. She may pass through it on her own but sure as shootin’ if you oppose her or try to talk her out of it the other witnesses will hear of it and she will be encouraged to separate from you.
Personally, from my experience I learned a great deal about the actual teachings in the bible, learned how to be more of an extrovert, being an introvert in a group like that is tough. I also really learned to appreciate applying the biblical principals and had a lot of help in doing so. I felt they were very sincere and honest about their beliefs.
I get the opposing ideas but one things for sure you can’t make someone believe or disbelieve in something unless they want to. Even with a lot of good pointers. She might just move on through it but I know you do not want to lose your sister, and it will be viewed by the witnesses you are going to destroy her faith.
Well, that’s my advice anyway.
In a certain sense I want to undermine what I think is a cult.
Give her the definition of a cult.
1. Do they work to insert themselves between family members as the central authority besides a personal relationship with god into your life?
2. Do they control what you eat, what you celebrate and who you may associate with?
3. Do they require that you shun other members of the community who are law abiding because they are not a member of that group, despite having similar theological beliefs.?
If 2 out of 3, then it’s a cult.
Don’t
I have a sister-in-law who is a nice person but who has pursued a religious tradition that puts her at odds with her entire family.
Fortunately, she is as right-wing as the rest of us, so we can talk about politics ad infinitum.
But when we meet at family gatherings, we don’t talk about religion.
Minor detail, but that would be 144,000th to be at the highest heaven. No one actually goes to hell in JW, but is just consigned to a lower life here on earth (if “saved.”) Otherwise, your existence just goes away.
She probably sees you as a lost soul. If you value your relationship, speak nothing of it. Shop, eat and enjoy the time you have with her.
Nobody can refute Christ’s own words about salvation and what we must “do” to achieve it. It’s a very narrow road and MANY love the broad path to destruction. We cannot work our way to Salvation. Christ did it all for us on the cross.
I’m not trying to push a “religion”. I’m pushing Truth found only in Christ. God Bless You and your sister!
John 3:36
John 14:6
John 6:29
Acts 4:11-12
Romans 10:9-10
1 John 3:23
Acts 16:31
Ephesians 2:8
google “kingdom of the cults”. It goes into JW in depth.
There are two doctrines that cause a group to be considered outside of Christianity. Those are “Who God is” and “The Plan of Salvation”. If you modify either of those two, you aren’t considered Christian.
JW have done both. They’ve denied the diety of Jesus. To do that they have their own translation of scripture that language historians agree, you can’t get that translation from the originals.
I’d focus on the scriptures that show Jesus was God.
Their salvation has elements of work in it. You have to do what they say to be saved. It’s not “saved by grace, not by works”.
If you have a somewhat “temperamental” dog like a rottweiler, just let it out the door. That’s how I “talk” to the JW’s that come to my house.
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